abuse of lvn staff by rn staff

[momma mia]

just interested if any lvn/lpn's have noticed an increase in the manner that lvn's are treated not only by the degree nurses, but by managment as well?.. 20 yrs experience in high accuity settings has been a wonderful time, but since most of the larger hospitals are going to magnet status, the feel the lvn's are getting pushed out.. even though our work load is double of most of the rn's we work with... a positive attitude is hard to keep, when you just get kicked around the system.. any other lvn's having something similar to this happening in the hospital or area's you are working?..

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm so sorry you're experiencing these feelings.

Since I work at a skilled nursing facility in a state where the LVN scope of practice is very wide, I have not experienced feelings of belittlement or being pushed aside at the workplace. However, other LVNs/LPNs on these forums have been quite blunt about feeling left out, and hopefully they'll chime in with their valuable input rather soon. Good luck!

[KimmieKoo72]

I'm a newer LPN (7 months and going strong! woo hoo!) and I agree. Even the short time that I've been in the field. I don't have alot of self esteem as it is... but working with certain RN's (the one's who think they need to be "super nurse") really leaves me to feel like I'm 2 inches tall. I know RN's have different lisensure, and a much wider scope of practice so please.. I don't need a lecture as to why RN's might act that way. I know there's alot of stress on the job and essentially if something goes wrong the RN bears the burden of holding most of the responsibility for it. But what I don't understand is why they act like they are better than the LPN's.

For example.. the hospital I work in the RN is supposed to give report.. okay fine.. but I like to still sit in on hand off and add things that I may have experienced that day with the patient... the RN's look at me like I've got 3 heads and I shouldn't be talking... I'm in no way trying to take over report, but if I have something to add or something that the WONDERFUL RN missed you bet your sweet ass I'm gonna chime in!

I'm on my way to get my RN.. but I will never treat my fellow NURSES, the LPN'S, like they're nothing. Don't get me wrong. I have worked with some really wonderful RN's who respect the LPN's and treat them like they're just as important and actually value our input. But the one's who like to ride their high horse all day long... ha.. I've really gotta just bite my lip and try to keep a positive attitude for my patients. That's why I'm there.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I notice it sometimes. My hospital applied for Magnet Status as well. Had us all memorize the forces, etc... However, when the Magnet surveyors arrived, they had no real interest in what I contributed to the questions they asked, and mind you, I was a bit more detailed and articulate than a few of the RNs there. The med-surg units at my facility are known to be horrible to the LPNs. They took primary care away from them, limiting them to just administering medications to many of the patients, while the RNs may have 4-5. However, the RNs are responsible for doing the other skills such as dressings, foleys, TPN, admissions and discharges. In one way, irons out in my opinion, because I don't want to do all of what they do, either, but I feel that they should at least give the LPNs the skills (especially the new ones), because if we are ever pushed out, we would have no skills to offer another facility.

In my clinic, I am just as respected and quite a bit more autonomous (do I DARE say that word??) than the LPNs that work the floors. I do get to use critical thinking, make my own judgements and am complimented on my work. The only silly thing they do not allow us to do independently is to administer flu and pneumococcal vaccines without an RN assessing them. This is insane to me, because first off, many of the RNs are too busy with their own work, so, they say when we approach them "Did you ask the questions?" and they will just add their screening to our computerized chart. What I have done to get around this during this busy flu season is to check and see if the patient had the flu vaccine before, check for allergies to eggs or chicken, and administer. I do not chart anything in the computer until the RN "assesses" them (I say that loosely, because most times, they do not even lay eyes on the patient). They do trust my judgement, and since I would not want to jam them and decrease my integrity, I double check. But, we can administer all of the other vaccines...how silly.

We also have many opportunities available to us at this time in hospitals, nursing homes, home care, assisted living, and even coordinating managers in other facilities. If it should die down I'd do something else, mainly because I don't think that becoming an RN would make me happier. I love what I do, because I am responsible for myself.

[caliotter3]

I have noticed slights during my nursing career. Some of them have been outright insults. However, I've chalked it up to workplace behavior and have always been aware that anyone who does not like the way they are treated as LVN/LPNs has the option to become an RN. But by becoming an RN, you aren't given an automatic card that authorizes you to receive respect from people at work. Respectful treatment comes about when the person paying respect has the capacity to understand how to treat other people, not necessarily a trait possessed by all.

[akcarmean, LPN]

I have experienced abuse my Rn's but have worked with some really great RN's also.

I now studying for my RN: 1) more pay

2) Here in NV it is hard to find an LPN position at a hospital (where u have better health ins.)

3) It has always been my goal to become an RN (I want to work in NICU)

4) I already have my AA in Business Management and I have a bad back and know I won't be able to do bedside care for the rest of my life so I need to have other options to be able to stay in the health care field.

I started out as an CNA then LPN then AA in Business Management and now working on my RN

I always treat everyone I work with with respect but I also tend to after awhile of being treated like crap to treat them the same way they are treating me:innerconf I know not always the right thing to do but what can I say.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I think you get what you give. I try to treat everyone I meet respectfully and expect the same back. However, I also feel that everyone is entitled to a bad day here and there and to condone all "degree nurses" might be jumping the gun.

I want to add though that I do think our culture in the US is getting ruder and ruder and its becoming harder and harder to stay positive - lol.

Sign me, traumarus, LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN