Last week, I was attending a post-conference (for clinical) and my clinical instructor was discussing on how one of the LPNs on the unit didn't take out the foley catheter correctly and she made a comment about LPNs. She said something like no offense to LPNs but there are some things that they need to improve on. My mother is a LPN and I know that my clinical instructor didn't know that my mother is a LPN. After she made the comment, I didn't say anything. After I went back home from clinical, I felt sad (and offended of course). My mother is wonderful at her occupation.
Wow. I've had a few gripes and grumbles about my program, but we have been consistently taught to respect the working nurses we do clinicals with. A number of my classmates are already LPN's, and generally at least one has been assigned to each clinical group, as peer mentors (unofficially).
We were taught about scopes of practice, and about delegation, and we were reminded once or twice that we weren't studying to be LPNs or CNAs (usually when someone griped about all the theory) and even warned that as ASNs we would be viewed more as technical nurses than true professional nurses, but I don't recall any criticism of any group--even docs!
There were times we saw practice that was a little different from what we had been taught. We were clearly expected to do it the way we were taught. I don't think I saw any bad practice, so I don't know what would have happened in such a case. I imagine it would be handled tactfully.
Crap. Is it possible my instructors were smarter than I realized?
Specializes in Rehab., Home Health, Geriatrics, MR/DD.
It is sad that in healthcare there is such a division between the fields.
I've worked on and off as an aide for over 20 years, and am in my last semester for my ADN. That having been said, i've worked with great LPN's, RN's, Aides, etc....and i have worked with terrible ones as well.
My best friend was an LPN for 20 years, and she finally got her RN license a few years ago....
What did her facility do?
The day she recieved her RN they made her DON!!!:rotfl:
Why? Because she was a great nurse, period, and they knew it.....
Personally I would listen to someone with years of experience over one who has a gazillion years of education....bottom line, no matter what the letters behind the person's name are, give me a seasoned person who has worked in the trenches.....
We have a few instructors who seem to have a superiority complex...and some days I wonder why they really are instructors...
maybe it's because they were crappy nurses!!:chuckle
I believe it should be both. How about rewarding people for education AND experience? Letting new grads earn almost as much as nurses who have been practicing 10, 20, 30 + years is nothing short of ridiculous and is one of my biggest pet peeves about nursing.
I think I probably agree with what you mean, but the way you phrased it sounds like you would be happier is new nurses got paid less. I'll be making fairly decent money as a GN next month, but cutting my pay wouldn't help you a bit.
And, honestly, while it isn't all about the money, it's enough about the money that I wouldn't have gone to the effort and expense of nursing school for much less. (I make 10/hr now, and I'll make 20 as a nurse. One reason I didn't go for an LPN is that it only pays 2-3 dollars more than I'm getting, although if I were younger and knew what I know now, I might have done the LPN route anyway, for the clinical training).
If, as I'm sure you do, you mean that experience should count for more, that raises should do more than meet cost-of-living, and experienced nurses should get more than they do, then I'm with you.
Should an RN with 10 yrs experience make more than a new RN? Absolutely. Should an LPN with 10 years experience make more than a new RN? That's a toughie, because the two jobs are definitely not the same. If you go by what the market will bear, then definitely not, since demand for RNs is way higher than for LPNs.
I met an experienced LPN who was going for an ASN, even though it would only mean another buck an hour or so on her pay. Hmm. If I were her, I think I'd have negotiated pretty hard to have her years of nursing experience counted as nursing experience, and not accepted base starting pay for a GN. A new RN with 10 years as an LPN might not be worth as much as an RN with 10 years as an RN, but I'd think she was worth more than a brand new RN.
How very sad--we're all in this together as a TEAM (or else maybe I missed something??).
In any event, before I entered nursing school, I worked as a CNA at a long-term care facility. There were SEVERAL LPN's that I'm planning on hiring as my personal nurses after I make my first million (yeah, right, but one can dream, can't they??).
On the other hand, I also know some RN's that I wouldn't let touch me with a ten foot pole!
The title does not maketh the nurse....... :)
Janene, DNP-I
Hello everyone!
Last week, I was attending a post-conference (for clinical) and my clinical instructor was discussing on how one of the LPNs on the unit didn't take out the foley catheter correctly and she made a comment about LPNs. She said something like no offense to LPNs but there are some things that they need to improve on. My mother is a LPN and I know that my clinical instructor didn't know that my mother is a LPN. After she made the comment, I didn't say anything. After I went back home from clinical, I felt sad (and offended of course). My mother is wonderful at her occupation.
I think I probably agree with what you mean, but the way you phrased it sounds like you would be happier is new nurses got paid less. I'll be making fairly decent money as a GN next month, but cutting my pay wouldn't help you a bit.
Where did i suggest cutting your pay? I didn't. Please do not read more into my post than what is there. WHAT I SAID was that letting new grads earn almost as much as nurses who have been practicing 10, 20, 30 + years is nothing short of ridiculous. Now, does that mean that new grads HAVE to make less? Or could it possibly mean that experienced nurses should earn more. I don't care what you make as a new grad, but the experienced nurses working alongside you should make more than you do, in my opinion. THAT is what I was saying.
Last week, I was attending a post-conference (for clinical) and my clinical instructor was discussing on how one of the LPNs on the unit didn't take out the foley catheter correctly and she made a comment about LPNs. She said something like no offense to LPNs but there are some things that they need to improve on. My mother is a LPN and I know that my clinical instructor didn't know that my mother is a LPN. After she made the comment, I didn't say anything. After I went back home from clinical, I felt sad (and offended of course). My mother is wonderful at her occupation.
What do you think?
I think your instructor should teach you nursing skills and keep personal opinions out of the discussion. I had a teacher make a very offensive political joke one day, and it really bothered me. Then, I thought about it, and decided so what! People are going to always say the "wrong thing" and offend someone. Don't be so sensitive!! Be proud of your mother, and all the LPNs out there, and to heck with what the rest say!
How very sad--we're all in this together as a TEAM (or else maybe I missed something??).
In any event, before I entered nursing school, I worked as a CNA at a long-term care facility. There were SEVERAL LPN's that I'm planning on hiring as my personal nurses after I make my first million (yeah, right, but one can dream, can't they??).
On the other hand, I also know some RN's that I wouldn't let touch me with a ten foot pole!
The title does not maketh the nurse....... :)
Janene, DNP-I
I was proud to be an LVN for 5 yrs. , while I worked my way thru RN program. I worked full time while going to LVN school& most of our instructors were very supportive. Then when in c/c RN program, one instructor was soooooo hostile , she went out of her way to belittle, flunk, & criticize the LVN /RN students.They knew they held our future employability in their hands. By the way, when she retired, no one came to her "tea".I was offered a job to teach LVN's which I'd love to do, BUT @ 1/2 of my current salary. I just can't . It's a double edged sword. Keep on , we NEED each other!
The title RN is so over rated. I've seen many RN's who don't have the sense God gave a goose.
I have seen many LPN's and MD's and PharmD's about whom I could say the same thing. I find your comment insulting. Just because you have seen SOME RN's whom you obviously do not respect, does not mean that the title is "over rated". It is a title I have earned and I do not appreciate your belittling it.
Before I became an RN, I worked as an LPN. There will always be animosity between the 2. It has been my experience that most LPNs come out of school with far better clinical skills than the RNs. When faced with a "nasty" comment one time about LPNs, I looked at the person and said, Wow, that is funny. That is exactly what Nurse Practioners and Physicians say about the RNs! She very quickly shut her mouth.
For whatever the reason, many RNs have what I consider RNitis. I chalk it up to their own insecurties. I would rather have an excellent LPN under my Charge than an inept RN.
Before I became an RN, I worked as an LPN. There will always be animosity between the 2. It has been my experience that most LPNs come out of school with far better clinical skills than the RNs. When faced with a "nasty" comment one time about LPNs, I looked at the person and said, Wow, that is funny. That is exactly what Nurse Practioners and Physicians say about the RNs! She very quickly shut her mouth.
For whatever the reason, many RNs have what I consider RNitis. I chalk it up to their own insecurties. I would rather have an excellent LPN under my Charge than an inept RN.
I have the privilege to work with some aides who have decades of experience and in many ways are as sharp as an LPN or an RN. When I start as a nurse, I will listen to them and benefit as much as I can from their wisdom--but I will be the nurse. The decisions and the responsibilties of the nurse will be mine, and that's how it has to be.
The law says that when I graduate and pass my boards, I will be authorized to do some things that aides and LPNs can't do. I may not be able to do them smoothly or efficiently, at first, but I can do them legally. It doesn't make me a superior human being, nor will I genuflect to the Chief of Surgery, but I will expect to be respected in my role, just as I respect others in theirs.
I've mentioned elsewhere that the closer I get to being an RN, the smarter the RNs I work with appear. It isn't just vanity. It's a lot of very hard work just to get where I am, and it seems a bit petty to belittle that accomplishment if, for whatever reason--and I'm sure there are many very valid ones--you haven't accomplished it yourself.
I think your instructer is full of herself. In my opinion, a lot of clinical instructors are so rusty on their own skills, that they are full of hot air.
We had a gal hired in our small hospital who had been a clinical instructor for 20 years. Before that, back in the day, she had supposedly been an ICU nurse. She was being oriented to our small CCU, med/surg, and OB.
She was one of those nurses that seems afraid to ask questions because of pride. She started making people nervous. She hung a pitocen gtt without a pump, made a mistake with some type of drip in CCU and deflated a foley balloon while trying to take a UA. Meanwhile, she tried to impress people with her great knowledge. When told she needed more orientation, she quit.
Meanwhile, she tried to impress people with her great knowledge. When told she needed more orientation, she quit.
nursemike, ASN, RN
1 Article; 2,362 Posts
Wow. I've had a few gripes and grumbles about my program, but we have been consistently taught to respect the working nurses we do clinicals with. A number of my classmates are already LPN's, and generally at least one has been assigned to each clinical group, as peer mentors (unofficially).
We were taught about scopes of practice, and about delegation, and we were reminded once or twice that we weren't studying to be LPNs or CNAs (usually when someone griped about all the theory) and even warned that as ASNs we would be viewed more as technical nurses than true professional nurses, but I don't recall any criticism of any group--even docs!
There were times we saw practice that was a little different from what we had been taught. We were clearly expected to do it the way we were taught. I don't think I saw any bad practice, so I don't know what would have happened in such a case. I imagine it would be handled tactfully.
Crap. Is it possible my instructors were smarter than I realized?