Dismayed before I begin.......

Nrs_angie, BSN, RN · May 17, 2007

Hello LVN,

You know what is funny to me? I signed up on another well known WEB site for this program they call "Answers". I checked out the HEALTH forums and saw some really good questions from everyday people. I couldn't wait to start joining in the discussions so that I could pass on some of my knowledge and perhaps help someone! It was fun at first! I got a few really nice responses back.

I noticed some questions directed towards healthcare workers...

One question asked what's the difference between LPNs and RNs...

someone responded it doesn't matter because all nurses are at the bottom of the Medical field totum pole... or something to that effect.

One quested asked What do Nurses do?

another person responded that all RNs do is paperwork and go out for smokes while the LPNs and CNAs do all the hard work

And the ignorant responses just kept coming and coming

I was soo irritated, and I began to write back trying to come up with something witty that would put that person right in his/her place. After wards I deleted it, because I thought to myself it doesn't matter!

This person has had their own life experience and reasons why they think the way they do...

But they will never know everything I went through to become an RN! All the late night studying, and getting up early for clinicals, having instructors who made you so nervous you wanted to cry! writing care plans that took you 5 days to finish and only 5 minutes for your instructor to read and give you only a B minus.

They will never know how hard we work even though it looks like all we do is paperwork... and go home at night so MENTALLY EXHAUSTED that we are too tired to talk to our husbands or families or friends!

They will never know the stress we feel when we continually page physicians who don't respond back for 30 minutes, while our patient is suffering from chest pain and may be having a heart attack! and all the while the family is standing right there thinking it is all the Nurse's fault because we told their mom/dad it's good to walk!

Or how frustrating it can be to explain to a CNA that 4 siderails up is considered a restraint and without a doctor's order we cant do that. But the CNA doesn't want to hear it because they don't want to keep going into that room when they rather stand around and gossip!

I could go on... but I think we get the idea! In the nursing shortage we have, I think being an LPN plays a valuable role! Don't let them discourage you!

lvnhopeful · May 17, 2007

Thanks for your response. It is amazing that a job as crucial as a registered nurse has lacks the support and salary commesurate with the responsibility.

I really want to become a nurse, and feel I have the aptitude and smarts for it, but I am concerned about all the posts I read about nurses saddled with 35-40 patients, and not being able to give adequate care. Serious reform needs to be done with operations that put money in the owners pockets and leaves the staff fighting to get their work done.

Nursing is supposed to be about health and wellness, and patient care, but the bottom line is the dollar sign. Being new, I have no real way to be able to relate to whats happening. I hope my fellow nurses have the strength to be able to stand together and demand more, for themselves and their patients.

lvnhopeful · May 17, 2007

At a second read Angie, I am sorry you deleted your post at that website. The only way people will ever know about nursing is though posts such as yours.

Its funny, all my life I have been in awe and respected the nursing profession. There is no higher calling in my book than to raise people to their highest possible state of health and happiness. Maybe that sounds idealistic, but I am old enough now to appreciate the joy I have from taking care of someone and seeing the difference it makes in their life.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 17, 2007

why don't you address your concerns to the administrators? there is a special forum where only you can communicate with them. maybe it's time that they start a forum for lpn/lvn nursing students and their issues.

my mother was an lvn here in california and an lpn in ohio. she went to school at the young age of 51. it was probably because of the choice she made to do this and the stories i heard from her about her ccu job later on that made me finally take the plunge to go to nursing school myself. i worked in acute hospitals at a time when nursing assistants were not utilized--lpns were. lpns did what nursing assistants did and more. since, lpns have been given the responsibility to give medications and start ivs. i worked shoulder to shoulder giving direct patient care with many fine lpns. so, i learned a great deal from many lpns over the years. i've also worked in nursing homes over the years where lpns are often the backbone of care and hold many of the charge nurse positions. in many cases you would think they were rns until you looked at their name tags.

when i am answering questions here on the student forums i try to keep in mind that there are many lpn students who are also reading and asking questions. i am aware who some of them are. others i just don't know unless i take the time to check their public profile page. i'm not defending the rn students, but many are just learning and don't yet understand themselves what is really involved in the healthcare world. all i can say is that you just have to chime in to these discussions and make your point of view heard. challenge the statements of some of the rn students. they don't know everything, believe me.

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 18, 2007

Hi! Congratulations to you in getting in.

This forum I moved your post to has lots of topics that concern you and not all of them are negative. (You weren't really asking for student nurse asstance which is why I moved it.)

You have to be aware that some friction exists between RNs and LPNs, and licensed personnel and CNA's. But it isn't overwhelming in the humdrum of daily life as a nurse. I've worked with LPNs my entire career, and thank God a couple took me under their wings when I was a new grad, because I learned a lot. Not often in the real world that I've seen are there problems. Not that there isn't. Every now and then an arrogant RN who thinks his poop doesn't stink is unkind.

Also be prepared to answer "are you going for your RN?" It isn't meant to insult who you are, but just an innocent question, for the most part.

Sometimes message boards can be skewed away from reality and towards the negative. Make your own judgements, rather than rely on a message board.

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 18, 2007

At the ripe age of 54 I fought to qualify for a position at a diploma school for LVN's. It was hard competing against all the other (and younger) applicants, but I made it, and I am proud of that.
What concerns me is that there are a lot of posts on this site that start off talking about situations concerning LVN/LPN's, and then the discussion becomes a platform for RN's to voice their opinions on why LVN/LPN's do not qualify for.
This post is not to inflame or incite, but rather to illuminate. I want to hear about LVN/LPN related material without the political issues emerging. I acknowledge that RN's are more educated, and should make more money. I just would like to be able to read about issues that pertain to me and my future.
Earlier today I saw a post that concerned LVN/LPN's, and was excited because it would have addressed something that concerned me. Instead the discussion became political and the information I was after was ignored in order for others to vent.
Well, I guess I'm venting here....

I understand totally, and I do think that we should write the administrators and state that there should be more forums that address LPNs, such as students, opportunities and such. I am a proud LPN that has no intention of going for the RN. I am not offended when people ask but I do get offended when people assume that I intend to go on and become an RN and think I am insane not to. Many look at the LPN as a stepping stone rather than an entity of it's own.

Just today, I attended a seminar on 12 Lead EKG Interpetation and after having been at that same facility last month for Basic EKG Interpetation, I didn't bother stating that I was an LPN because of the questions. I had people come out and say to me that I should not bother because I wouldn't be utilized to understand much of it anyway. Why should it be that because I am an LPN, that I should not be privy to basic things such as an EKG?

I am totally LPN oriented...I get LPN magazines and am about to join one of the LPN memberships because it is important to be involved as I am licensed to perform. I admire and respect the RNs, but that is not my goal, and I refuse to apologize or feel 'less than a nurse' because I am one. The unfortunate thing about this is that we do have to encounter and interact with RNs because we work under their auspice. This is not saying that this is a bad thing-so no flame throwing here, folks- but that because we fall under the umbrella of nursing, it is hard to find a seperate arena. But, you know, I am not letting it get me down. If they think that I am not a nurse, it is their loss, not mine. Don't be discouraged. There are many people that wish to be where we are, now. Be proud!

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 18, 2007

Thanks for your response. It is amazing that a job as crucial as a registered nurse has lacks the support and salary commesurate with the responsibility.
I really want to become a nurse, and feel I have the aptitude and smarts for it, but I am concerned about all the posts I read about nurses saddled with 35-40 patients, and not being able to give adequate care. Serious reform needs to be done with operations that put money in the owners pockets and leaves the staff fighting to get their work done.
Nursing is supposed to be about health and wellness, and patient care, but the bottom line is the dollar sign. Being new, I have no real way to be able to relate to whats happening. I hope my fellow nurses have the strength to be able to stand together and demand more, for themselves and their patients.

Not every place has this nurse to patient ratio. Depending on where you live, there are many opportunities for LPNs. One of my pet peeves in school is that the professors used to say "When you all become RNs..." and to me, that basically showed me where the professors were coming from...that even some of them felt that RNs were really the nurses and not us and I used to challenge them all the time. I felt that while it is good to promote entering into the RN program, the focus should have been more based on what current opportunities would be open for the LPN, since this was the license I was earning at that time. If a person felt limited as an LPN, they will automatically seek for more simply because it would be a natural indication. But, not all that aspire to become RNs or even LPNs for that matter are able to get accepted into a nursing program (thank goodness you were). That is what makes me say they should have focused more on what was currently at hand rather than jumping the gun. Good luck in school...you will be fine!

brendamyheart · May 18, 2007

I understand totally, and I do think that we should write the administrators and state that there should be more forums that address LPNs, such as students, opportunities and such. I am a proud LPN that has no intention of going for the RN. I am not offended when people ask but I do get offended when people assume that I intend to go on and become an RN and think I am insane not to. Many look at the LPN as a stepping stone rather than an entity of it's own.
Just today, I attended a seminar on 12 Lead EKG Interpetation and after having been at that same facility last month for Basic EKG Interpetation, I didn't bother stating that I was an LPN because of the questions. I had people come out and say to me that I should not bother because I wouldn't be utilized to understand much of it anyway. Why should it be that because I am an LPN, that I should not be privy to basic things such as an EKG?
I am totally LPN oriented...I get LPN magazines and am about to join one of the LPN memberships because it is important to be involved as I am licensed to perform. I admire and respect the RNs, but that is not my goal, and I refuse to apologize or feel 'less than a nurse' because I am one. The unfortunate thing about this is that we do have to encounter and interact with RNs because we work under their auspice. This is not saying that this is a bad thing-so no flame throwing here, folks- but that because we fall under the umbrella of nursing, it is hard to find a seperate arena. But, you know, I am not letting it get me down. If they think that I am not a nurse, it is their loss, not mine. Don't be discouraged. There are many people that wish to be where we are, now. Be proud!

:yeah:

lvnhopeful · May 18, 2007

Thank you all for your support. As a group, nurses have a lot of heart, regardless of their degree.

My future instructer has mentioned that there is a bridge program for us when we want to go on to be an RN. I don't know if I will enroll in it after I get my LVN license, but right now I am happy where I am, glad to finally be a part of the nursing community.:balloons:

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 18, 2007

Thank you all for your support. As a group, nurses have a lot of heart, regardless of their degree.
My future instructer has mentioned that there is a bridge program for us when we want to go on to be an RN. I don't know if I will enroll in it after I get my LVN license, but right now I am happy where I am, glad to finally be a part of the nursing community.:balloons:

((lvnhopeful))...you already are a part of our community! Just get your license so that you can practice! Good luck to you during your school year!

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 18, 2007

My MIL became LPN in her 50's and worked till age 65...she fully supported me to get LPN when my DH could not think of me completing college "would miss me too much" then later completing BSN program.

It's been 18 years since her death..nurses who I interact with in community still fondly remember "Nurse Nancy" and reminisce about care she provided. Wishing you that type of career and supportive colleagues.:balloons: