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

KJRN79 · Aug 25, 2007

ABSOLUTELY!!!

My best friend is an LPN. I was jealous because she got out of school so much sooner than I did and she knew how to do sooo many more procedures sooner than I did!!!!

meagansmom · Aug 25, 2007

I have been an LPN for 16 years and in my facility I always worked as a "nurse".

Reading this post I am amazed that some facilties won't let you hang or push IVs or call doctors. I have always done those things. We can't pull PICC lines, hang blood, or insert dobhoffs, or do admission assessments or be charge nurse. But if I was an RN that worked in a facility that limited the LPNs to such a degree as some posted here I would be frustrated too. Because LPNs are taught and trained and capable to do those things.

An LPN ...now RN that I work with just completed her transition program and she was telling me what all the instructor was saying that LPNs couldn't/shouldn't do. She said everyone in the class was raising their hand....but we always do that.

In my area most LPNs graduate with more hands on skills than the RNs. It has always amazed me that I would be working with a new RN graduate that I had to check off inserting a foley that states, I have never done this before!!!

I believe as an LPN or an RN that you learn even more once you graduate and start working than you did in school and should be open to learn more and more and you will as you go on.

TazziRN, RN · Aug 25, 2007

I do not "consider" LPN/LVNs nurses.......they are nurses!!!! In the hospital setting I did not work with them because they were not hired for ER, but in home health they are just as busy as the RNs. When I started HH I asked what I could delegate to the LVNs. "Anything except IV stuff." We have one that absolutely rocks at wound care; I go to her with all my questions about wounds.

mesixfuture · Aug 25, 2007

It's awesome to see all the replies about RNs trusting their LPN coworkers. I'm an LPN, but am currently in school to become an RN. Several of the other LPNs on my floor are doing the same, because we don't get a heck of a lot of respect. One of the RNs we work with is especially fond of calling us "little play nurses". I've only been an LPN for a year, but some of the other girls going back have been LPNs for five and fifteen years, but they still don't get a lot of respect. And they are really great nurses! So it's great to hear that RNs everywhere don't have the same attitude!

catlynLPN · Aug 25, 2007

I seriously doubt that you would receive any negative responses to this question on an open forum like this.

What RN is going to be brave enough to stand up and say, "No I do not believe LPNs are nurses."

But I guarantee there are some RNs who do not like LPNs. I've worked with one. My very own director. She has been degrading to us, but she also knows she can't do without us, because the LPNs on my job do the hard work.....passing the meds and treatments. The state is not going to hire all RNs to do the job that we do.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 25, 2007

i've learned an awful lot about nursing from lpns!

antidote · Aug 25, 2007

LPN's are most definetly not nurses! (just kidding).

I am all for LPN's! As I've said in many other posts, I would really wish my hospital would hire LPN's and that LPN's weren't being phased out in the hospital health care setting (as in the state I live in you can find them in internal medicine, and HHC).

They are most definetly nurses and are very important to the health care industry. Just ignore those who say you're not a nurse - because you are. Besides, your answer is somewhat self-explanatory:

Licensed Practical Nurses (a.k.a Lifes Perfect Nurses)

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 25, 2007

Withoug a doubt, LPNs are indeed NURSES and have earned it.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 25, 2007

I seriously doubt that you would receive any negative responses to this question on an open forum like this.
What RN is going to be brave enough to stand up and say, "No I do not believe LPNs are nurses."
But I guarantee there are some RNs who do not like LPNs. I've worked with one. My very own director. She has been degrading to us, but she also knows she can't do without us, because the LPNs on my job do the hard work.....passing the meds and treatments. The state is not going to hire all RNs to do the job that we do.

Still I think that those who think that LPNs don't have enough education for the responsiblity and are "less than" RNs wouldn't venture so far as to say LPNs are not nurses. Obviously there's a whole lot of disrespect for LPNs, but even those who think of them as "Little Play Nurses" consider them "nurses", just beneath them.

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 25, 2007

Heck, there RN-BSN's who think RN-ADNs are not professional nurses. We can get down and dirty, but this is not the thread for that, clearly. I guess it's pretty clear that LPNs are nurses, esp seeing as their titles include the very word, "nurse" in them. Nobody will have to look far to find someone to denigrate his/her nursing education and accomplishments. So why go looking? You know better!

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Aug 26, 2007

The LPN's at the hospital where I work have identical job descriptions other than that they cannot do charge or spike blood (can run blood)and those are legal considersations, has nothing to do with skills. The LPN's often orient the RN's coming aboard. Everyone of them is awesome and I'd trust them with my life.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Aug 26, 2007

Yes....and is this really open for opinion? After all, LPNs ARE nurses. It's not negotiable. It's not debatable. It's not a question on the table anywhere that while the title is Licensed Practical Nurse they are just "faking" the nurse part, right?

They are limited in scope of practice when compared to RNs, and that limitation varies considerably by State (as well as facility policy), but they ARE still nurses.

I think the amount of energy expended on the whole "quandry" is such a waste of mental resources that some of us just can't afford to lose, LOL!