It is sad to know that I am to enter a culture that includes such negativity. RN's don't like it when people ask "why didn't you become a doctor?" We are all supposed to work together for the good of our patients. If LPN wasn't important, then it would not be a career choice. Where I work LPN's work hard and do important work, in fact, they are the ones who orient new RN's on meds, orders and charting . In my future I will be happy to work with LPN's if I get to. I have family members who are LPN's and I have yet to find better nurses
Specializes in PACU, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry, Psych.
At the place I was employed at, we had an LPN that rode us CNAs like we were mules. Between the cracking of whips, me and another CNA went on break together. The other CNA confided in me that she was secretly in the BSN program at a local college and this was her last semester.
That day she told me a new one for LPN. She said amongst the "real" nurses like she was going to be, these folks were only "practically" nurses.
I know it is wrong, but I kind of chuckled. I mean after all, I was catching hell that day and needed a good laugh. This person (the CNA) did end up quitting the job because working and RN clinicals were kicking her tail. That "practically a nurse" ended up getting fired. Apparently, she was rude to more than just CNAs and got some crazed family member's ire along with the DON.
Point is, I think there is always this undercurrent in the nursing field. Who knows, that RN that said that may be miffed because she had to put down her facebook on the iphone to do the 20th IV push for an LPN.
Plus, who knows what joke words Nurse Practitioners use for RNs or CRNAs use for RNs? Only thing is, the NPs and CRNAs that have made up words probably are not appropriate to be typed on a public board. (one CRNA I knew in particular).
Ego is ego, I guess. There is something to be said about feeling better than someone else for some.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
ctmed - I admire your friend for putting up with crap and being able to keep her BSN studies a secret! You're right, as I said on another thread today - if you think if you reach the next rung on the ladder all that belittling stuff will stop you'll be sorely disappointed. Let's not even get into what some doctors think of NPs and CRNAs. You can't escape it.
Specializes in PACU, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry, Psych.
ctmed - I admire your friend for putting up with crap and being able to keep her BSN studies a secret! You're right, as I said on another thread today - if you think if you reach the next rung on the ladder all that belittling stuff will stop you'll be sorely disappointed. Let's not even get into what some doctors think of NPs and CRNAs. You can't escape it.
Yeah...
I can also see right now how if you hold these things in you and internalize it it can follow you around no matter how much or little you move up. Scary. I have just had an epiphany here.
Case and point:
One agency gig years back, I ended up working in a PACU. A rarity and the goldmine for a CNA. Needless to say, I caught flak from RNs, LPNs, and CNAs alike who were jealous. To punish me politically, the RN directors of made me report each day to 3 of them located on three different floors because I was agency and somehow all of them needed copies of my ticket for some stupid reason beyond me.
One day the real boss I worked for, the CRNA asked me why it took me time to get to my unit. So, I told him the situation. He bust out laughing and he said something to the effect of, "You tell those drama queen b#^% that I am a CRNA. I had to deal with all these drama mamas all through when I was a CNA, an RN... and now I do not take their crap. You ASK them if they want to mess with a CRNA. I am a god to them and I can get them out of here with one phone call! You will only need to report to me... I am the one who chose you." Never caught flak again, though.
I was not sure to respond with awe because he just said what i wished I could say or be dismayed because it really never does stop. He held this inside him from when he was JUST a CNA all these decades!
Held that job for a year before they got rid of agency.
To play the role of the devil's advocate, I must point out that context is everything. Where I work, some of us LPNs call ourselves "licensed pill nurses" or "little pretend nurses" as a joke. Maybe the RN in the OP's situation who said that just has a sarcastic sense of humor? I have a very dry, sarcastic sense of humor and could see myself saying something like that in jest. When I was in PN school, I worked as a CNA at the hospital. Some of the RNs I worked with teased me about being a "pill pusher nurse", "peon nurse" etc. I knew they were just busting my chops. Stuff like that doesn't bug me. I don't know, maybe it's a guy thing?
I was standing in a group including an RN and the DON, when the RN made a snide remark about my BSN nursing program being "BS" or something. Although I was offended at the time, I happened to agree with the premise, and I didn't want to get into it about her remark in front of the DON. Since that particular RN did not have a BSN, I believe she was expressing professional jealousy. BTW, she was later fired for poor performance and misconduct. So, I guess people can make snide comments about lots of situations where they feel inadequate.
I've heard "little pretend nurse", "let's play nurse", "low paid nurse" ... I'm sure there are many more. I've heard just about as many for RN/BSN. I hate to disagree with everyone out there, but grow a little thicker skin.
I doubt the nurse you were talking with realized how belittling the comment was to LPNs. She could have said " Your goal to be a RN is commendable, but why are you taking a place in an LPN school if that isn't what you want to do for a career? There are many who want to practice LPN nursing for a career but cannot get into the program- I think you would be better served making the choice to attent RN training before you waste the schools efforts in training you for a career you don't intend to practice." Even you (at least by your stated education plans) seem to see LPN nursing as not what you want to do for a career, so I can understand the question. I find your goal of seeking an LPN licence to pave the way to your real career goal of becoming an RN much more insulting to the practice of practical nursing than some silly word play.
Hmmmm. . I am an insult to practical nurses? What a joke that is. I am actually MORE offended by your comment considering the fact i bust my a&$ to be in LPN school and i am bridging to my RN to have a larger scope of practice and get into different aspects of nursing such as owning my own home care agency. I choose this route for the affordability and experience. I never knocked anyone who just wants to be an LPN thats their personal choice. Your comment baffles me bc if thats insulting than RNs going to get a BSN or BSN to MSN or MSN to NP or CRNAs all must be insults also for obtaining a higher degree. LMAO. Think about what you post next time :)
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.
I was a CNA and CMT before I went to school to become an LPN. I did not feel the need to advance beyond that, as my position was very responsible and I truly enjoyed it. However, I soon found myself performing many of the same duties of the RN, with exceptions of course, such as Iv push, blood,etc.. I found myself in charge 2-5 days per week and felt that if I was going to do the job of an RN (a lot of it anyway), I might as well be paid for it!!! I obtained an ASN, passed NCLEX, first try and became an RN. If my role in the hospital had been different, I would not have gone on for RN at that time, or maybe never. I respect, admire and listen to all staff who work with me, CNA'S, CMT'S, LPN's and RN'S. (I may not like that person, but I respect their position).
As an LPN, I heard that same comment and others, I just laughed at them. The "joke" where I worked was that BSN stood for B***S**t Nurse, as many we saw were straight thru to BSN with no more experience than clinicals, but "knew" everything. Of course, there WERE good BSN's, as well. Little practicing nurse, Really a Nurse, yep..heard them all.
I had a patient tell me one day to go out and get a nurse, "you know the real one, the one with a cap". She was an RN who wore her cap, and there were 2 RN's ans 2 LPN's at the charting table when I marched up and repeated exactly what the pt said. Got quite a giggle from all the nurses. I guess I just take things like that with a grain of salt...
I've heard "little pretend nurse", "let's play nurse", "low paid nurse" ... I'm sure there are many more. I've heard just about as many for RN/BSN. I hate to disagree with everyone out there, but grow a little thicker skin.
I doubt the nurse you were talking with realized how belittling the comment was to LPNs. She could have said " Your goal to be a RN is commendable, but why are you taking a place in an LPN school if that isn't what you want to do for a career? There are many who want to practice LPN nursing for a career but cannot get into the program- I think you would be better served making the choice to attent RN training before you waste the schools efforts in training you for a career you don't intend to practice." Even you (at least by your stated education plans) seem to see LPN nursing as not what you want to do for a career, so I can understand the question. I find your goal of seeking an LPN licence to pave the way to your real career goal of becoming an RN much more insulting to the practice of practical nursing than some silly word play.
I don't think anyone needs to grow thicker skin. What I think more people need to do is THINK before they speak. I'm all for opinions, but insulting someone is totally different.
I realize that at the end of the day (it's my end of the day, I start before 7am) I can have a somewhat warped sense of humor. Knowing this, I still thought this funny: your charge nurse on a NEURO unit speaks in a manner that strikes me like someone who has had a stroke or advanced dementia--someone who speaks without "filtering out" what should be a THOUGHT and not a verbal STATEMENT!
Time to get her assessed on the stroke scale? LOL.....
Anyway, I'm sure you've figured out by the numerous responses that there will always be people who do the Power Trip thing with licenses...."hey! MY license is bigger than YOUR license!"....sigh.
When I come across insulting attitudes towards LPNs, I use the opportunity to educate that there's a difference in the scope of practice, BUT they are still nurses. No, they cannot do everything my RNs can do, BUT they can do absolutely everything you NEED them to do. End of story.
Only time *I* get a little cranky is when I have an LPN (there's always one, right?) who gets snarky about how she can do everything the RNs can do, etc etc, there's NO difference....and then I have to educate HER. But overall, as long as everyone just does what they're supposed to do, all the nursing gets done and all the patients are happy :)
Wonder if your charge nurse is an ADN or BSN? The devilish side of me wants you to ask her if she plans to "finish" her education at some point and become a BSN or MSN?
I'm sorry she was so rude to you. I'm an RN and I constantly get "Congratulations on becoming an RN, but we were really hoping for MD" jokes. It's demeaning, but most of the time I feel the people saying those things don't realize how bratty they're being. Feel proud about what you're doing! Best of luck in school.
I don't think anyone needs to grow thicker skin. What I think more people need to do is THINK before they speak. I'm all for opinions, but insulting someone is totally different.
SweetPEI
214 Posts
It is sad to know that I am to enter a culture that includes such negativity. RN's don't like it when people ask "why didn't you become a doctor?" We are all supposed to work together for the good of our patients. If LPN wasn't important, then it would not be a career choice. Where I work LPN's work hard and do important work, in fact, they are the ones who orient new RN's on meds, orders and charting . In my future I will be happy to work with LPN's if I get to. I have family members who are LPN's and I have yet to find better nurses