Are LPN's really nurses in the eyes of RN's

[LUVyourCNA]

I am an LPN and would like for all of the RN's to be honest and answer this one question. Do you as RN's really consider an LPN a nurse? Please reply and explain why you answered yes or no. Thanks so much for your opinions.

[KellNY, RN]

To me they're considered a nurse.

Why? Um...because they're a licensed practical NURSE. Not being sarcastic, just not sure how else to explain it.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Absolutely! My mother was an LPN instructor for over 30 years. Some of the sharpest nurses I know are LPN's. Anyone who says "you're only a ..." is not being fair or respectful. I have had two separate clinical instructors in my RN program who started as LPN's.

[Becca608]

Please look at the Nurse Practice Act in your state.

[whiskeygirl, LPN]

Absolutely!!!

LPNs went to nursing school and took the NCLEX too!

Rock on LPNs!

[Bopeepinwv]

I absolutely believe LPN's are nurses. I guess I'm alittle bias, I started out as an LPN. [banana]Go LPN's[/banana] I worked hard to make my way thru school and even harder to pass that dang NCLEX.

Alot of the LPN's I work with know a heck of a lot more then I do.

[nightmare, RN]

Some of the best nurses I know are SEN's (our equivelent of LPN) They are best at direct patient care which after all is the basis of nursing.

[EmmaG, RN]

Absolutely! I have worked with some incredible LPNs. In my last permanent job, most nights it was just me and LPNs staffing nights. They could run circles around most RNs I've known and me too lol.

[EmmaG, RN]

Absolutely! My mother was an LPN instructor for over 30 years. Some of the sharpest nurses I know are LPN's. Anyone who says "you're only a ..." is not being fair or respectful. I have had two separate clinical instructors in my RN program who started as LPN's.

I had to have surgery during a break in LPN school. As I lay on the OR table, my doc told the nurses in the room that I was in nursing school. They all "awwwwed" and stuff, and I said "it's only LPN school".

Oops LOL.

There were several LPNs in the room who promptly but gently set me straight

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

My mother was a LVN and I was well-educated about what the role of the practical nurse is. I worked with LPNs most of my career as many hospitals were not using nursing assistants. I have always considered LPNs as colleagues. I depended on LPNs as equals in just about all things except for the few, by law and facility policy, that they couldn't do. Want to get my panties in a bunch however, is be an LPN and complain to me and everyone else on the staff that I am being unfair about leaving you to take over some of the patient care while I am calling a doctor to get orders or starting an IV transfusion, two things that the facility won't allow you to do. Respect goes both ways. I'll give you some free rein and autonomy if you want it and demonstrate to me that you can handle it.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Yes. Because it says so in their job title and job description and the nurse practice act says so.

When I was a new grad the LPNs on the unit had been there for a minimum of 20 years. They took me under their wing and taught me how to be a nurse.

[sasha1224]

Yes. In my opinion. I work in a facility that has a high population of LPNs. They are used as Nurses. Not Aides(as in another position I worked in). I have no problem with this as every one I have worked with knows there stuff. These people are good! But sometimes there is a downside to this. In general, we are assigned the same patient load. Occasionally it may be one more for the LPN as in 3 or 4 for me and 4 or 5 for them). Mind you we have nurse aides too, so it is not total care. my only problem with this situation is, if the LPNs patient needs something IV(atb, narcotic, blood draw, transfusion) they come to me and want me to complete this task) and in this facility it could be all their patients b/c they have PICC lines. That is fine. However, what is NOT fine is that they NEVER and I mean NEVER offer to take over one of MY tasks thay can perform in order for ME to do those tasks they can't legally perform. I should not be running between every patient on the unit(my unit is a small unit) when my LPN co-worker is sitting at the desk playing with their IPOD because their "tasks" are done. This is a real problem and why my current facility cannot retain more nurses.