Do LPN's get the pay they deserve?

FNP2B · Jun 15, 2004

i also agree that lpn stands for low paid nurse. i could go off on this subject for hours. i work in ltc and at my facility lpn's run the place. we have one rn that actually works the floor and that's it. (she works 2 nights a week and late night shift only-btw) the "big- wigs "get around the rn coverage law by counting the don and adon's hours as rn coverage even though they do not work the floor and the only time you see them is when they are going out to smoke or eat. they dump half of their workload onto us lpn's and can get away with it because they are our "superiors" and will write us up or cut our hours if we refuse b/c we are too busy. i truely believe lpn's do deserve higher pay and more respect . i feel this way b/c i always have to work alone and i am in charge of 75 residents and all the cna's and all the med aide's and then i'm supposed to draw blood(one of the adon's duties) and , as i'm sure alot of other lpn's do this as well- i find myself being not only an lpn but a cna, cma, housekeeper, laundry aide, handyman ,secretary/answering service, and whipping post for whatever ticked off family member or other staff member comes along.forget about taking a break or going to the bathroom too!i won't even get started on when our main dr. comes in to do rounds and sees and makes orders for 20 residents at a time. and in between all this i am supposed to find time to do my regular daily duties and actually have time to care for and nurture my residents. so ,do i think lpn's are underpaid? you bet your a** i do! (thanks for the vent! i feel much better!)

lvn=1 1/2 yrs of school (with preqs):stone

rn,bsn=4 yrs of school (with preqs)

want more money?

the question shouldnt be asked , "got milk?"..................but"got education?"

more education=more $$$$

"it's never to late to be what you might have been"

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 15, 2004

lvn=1 1/2 yrs of school (with preqs):stone
rn,bsn=4 yrs of school (with preqs)
want more money?
the question shouldnt be asked , "got milk?"..................but"got education?"
more education=more $$$$
"it's never to late to be what you might have been"

oh, simple as that huh???? :rolleyes:

(first off, you left out the adn rns and the diploma rns)

money for the education isnt growing right off the tree, and even then the pay might not be what someone deserves, no matter what the education level might be.

btw my lpn schooling was 2 years with no pre-reqs. :rolleyes:

(voting for a close on this thread)

ham22 · Jun 15, 2004

lvn=1 1/2 yrs of school (with preqs):stone
rn,bsn=4 yrs of school (with preqs)
want more money?
the question shouldnt be asked , "got milk?"..................but"got education?"
more education=more $$$$
"it's never to late to be what you might have been"

first of all- don't appreciate the sarcasm in your post. secondly- how do you think i became a nurse in the first place? had to have some education didn't i? it took me almost 2 1/2 years to finish my lpn schooling due to the fact that i went to a very small school and (the only school in my town) and had to wait for the pre-req classes i needed to open up before i could even start into the nursing program. then once i was in the actual nursing program i went through it pg and gave birth toward the end of the last semester and was able to go back and finish after that. another thing- in my post i stated "i feel this way because..." not everyone is going to agree with me i know- that's why i stated it that way. so for you to post such a smarta** comment i feel was really inappropriate . and lastly- i went to school to be an lpn. not an rn, not to get my bsn or anything else. so, why should i have to "get education", take time away from my family, rack up more student loans, and create more stress for myself just for a raise? i am very good at my job and my residents tell me they "just love me". i am an lpn and proud of it - and btw i make more than some of the rn's in my area as i am from a very small town in southwest iowa. most lpn's make anywhere from $9-$12/hr. i make $16. you know it is possible to voice your opinion w/o being so sarcastic.

Angela Mac · Jun 15, 2004

I am an LPN in SW Missouri. I make $11.50 an hour. I do 90% of the same job that the RN's do on my floor. Am I whining? Do LPN's really get what they deserve? Does LPN really stand for Low Paid Nurse?

yes.....unfortuneately, and LPN stands for el pee on......I feel the same. In fact, in the long term care facilities most of the RNs are pencil pushers and would never don a pair of gloves and perform nursing duties......

Angela Mac · Jun 15, 2004

First of all- don't appreciate the sarcasm in your post. Secondly- How do you think I became a nurse in the first place? Had to have some education didn't I? It took me almost 2 1/2 years to finish my LPN schooling due to the fact that I went to a very small school and (the only school in my town) and had to wait for the pre-req classes I needed to open up before I could even start into the Nursing program. Then once I was in the actual Nursing program I went through it PG and gave birth toward the end of the last semester and was able to go back and finish after that. Another thing- in my post I stated "I feel this way because..." Not everyone is going to agree with me I know- that's why I stated it that way. So for you to post such a smarta** comment I feel was really inappropriate . And lastly- I went to school to be an LPN. Not an RN, Not to get my BSN or anything else. So, why should I have to "get education", take time away from my family, rack up more student loans, and create more stress for myself just for a raise? I am very good at my job and my residents tell me they "just love me". I am an LPN and proud of it - and BTW I make more than some of the RN's in my area as I am from a very small town in southwest Iowa. Most Lpn's make anywhere from $9-$12/hr. I make $16. You know it is possible to voice your opinion w/o being so sarcastic.

I agree with you whole heartedly. And to be honest with you- I would rather have an LPN caring for me than an RN. The person, obviously, prefers clerical work over hands on care........some nurses become nurses because they care & others because they want top dollar for office positions.... Don't get me wrong though, this is based on what I have witnessed...and I am sure there are many, many great RNs out there. Please don't take it personal, unless yu are just a clerical nurse and the explanation below- describes you.....I worked in a facility where the LPN/floor nurses were expected to do the care plans & MDSs because the care plan RN was too overwhelmed, even though that was her only duty & I had 37 lives to look out for, & all my duties...

FNP2B · Jun 15, 2004

i agree with you whole heartedly. and to be honest with you- i would rather have an lpn caring for me than an rn. the person, obviously, prefers clerical work over hands on care........some nurses become nurses because they care & others because they want top dollar for office positions.... don't get me wrong though, this is based on what i have witnessed...and i am sure there are many, many great rns out there. please don't take it personal, unless yu are just a clerical nurse and the explanation below- describes you.....i worked in a facility where the lpn/floor nurses were expected to do the care plans & mdss because the care plan rn was too overwhelmed, even though that was her only duty & i had 37 lives to look out for, & all my duties...

i have to agree with lpn2b2004, ....close this thread....this is getting ridiculous...angela mac to say one would rather have an lpn caring for them than an rn:stone ...you were joking right. i know it comes down to a matter of opinion...but that is one ridiculous opinion. and for angela mac to have the nerve to refer to rn's as pencil pushers....this thread is becoming a joke...its becoming a lpn vent thread...but i guess this is the only place( and other forums) were you think your opinion matters. because away from this thread(in the real world) rn's are still going to make more money( and to say an lpn with the same exp. as an rn should or does make the same is a huge joke..and you wont find anyone laughing accept lpn's wishing it were true) rn's have more education (no matter if its a diploma, adn, bsn, or msn, and if a lpn tries to say they have just as much education..again that will work in these forums..but not in the real world), and last but not least society will look at someone with their rn as a bigger accomplishment( and it is). i have said it before and i will say it again. rn's are not better than lpn's, but they are more educated, rn's are not superior to lpn's, but they are on a higher rung in reference to the business ladder, look lpn's its not you against the world....its you against yourselves..if you are an lpn be proud...but your insecurity leaks through when you try to bash rn's.

close this crazy thread already!!!!!!

"it's never to late to be what you might have been"

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 15, 2004

Still voting for a close, this thread took a nasty turn.

missmercy · Jun 15, 2004

I don't want to start anything here...but do RN's get paid what they deserve? They have a Bachelor's degree or higher (well, some have an ADN)...LPN education is much shorter, is it not? And don't RN's have more responsibility than an LPN?
We have a nurse who is working on her nursing law degree -- has her MSN, CNS etc -- glutton for punsihment -- EXCEPTIONALLY intelligent woman BTW
In her view, LPNs need to be very careful about saying that they are doing 90% of what the RN does -- she believes that that is putting them out of their "legal scope of practice". I hear her, but REAL life says that that happens alot! In institutions that are financially strappped and understaffed -- it is apparent that many LPNs are doing the 90%! So where does that leave them: underpaid? in legal limbo? HMMMM! Maybe health care needs to reevaluate something here -- YA think!?

Angela Mac · Jun 16, 2004

i have to agree with lpn2b2004, ....close this thread....this is getting ridiculous...angela mac to say one would rather have an lpn caring for them than an rn:stone ...you were joking right. i know it comes down to a matter of opinion...but that is one ridiculous opinion. and for angela mac to have the nerve to refer to rn's as pencil pushers....this thread is becoming a joke...its becoming a lpn vent thread...but i guess this is the only place( and other forums) were you think your opinion matters. because away from this thread(in the real world) rn's are still going to make more money( and to say an lpn with the same exp. as an rn should or does make the same is a huge joke..and you wont find anyone laughing accept lpn's wishing it were true) rn's have more education (no matter if its a diploma, adn, bsn, or msn, and if a lpn tries to say they have just as much education..again that will work in these forums..but not in the real world), and last but not least society will look at someone with their rn as a bigger accomplishment( and it is). i have said it before and i will say it again. rn's are not better than lpn's, but they are more educated, rn's are not superior to lpn's, but they are on a higher rung in reference to the business ladder, look lpn's its not you against the world....its you against yourselves..if you are an lpn be proud...but your insecurity leaks through when you try to bash rn's.
close this crazy thread already!!!!!!
"it's never to late to be what you might have been"

the person who bashed me, and highighted my name, has no clue of what really goes on. this person, is after all, a nursing student. if you don't have the experience to know what you are talking about, please refrain from doing so. i have been a medical professional since 1978, and have witnessed many things that go against the code of ethics. i am entitled to an opinion. you were born in 1979 and are a student nurse--------enough said..............

FNP2B · Jun 16, 2004

the person who bashed me, and highighted my name, has no clue of what really goes on. this person, is after all, a nursing student. if you don't have the experience to know what you are talking about, please refrain from doing so. i have been a medical professional since 1978, and have witnessed many things that go against the code of ethics. i am entitled to an opinion. you were born in 1979 and are a student nurse--------enough said..............

ok.....here we go...age has become a factor all of a sudden...like i said before and i will repeat it.....angela mac (notice the highlighted name) every one is entitled to an opinion:stone ......but your insecurity leaks through more and more with every thread.....enough said.

and angela mac remember,

"it's never to late to be what you might have been"

jkaee · Jun 19, 2004

I agree with you whole heartedly. And to be honest with you- I would rather have an LPN caring for me than an RN. The person, obviously, prefers clerical work over hands on care........some nurses become nurses because they care & others because they want top dollar for office positions.... Don't get me wrong though, this is based on what I have witnessed...and I am sure there are many, many great RNs out there. Please don't take it personal, unless yu are just a clerical nurse and the explanation below- describes you.....I worked in a facility where the LPN/floor nurses were expected to do the care plans & MDSs because the care plan RN was too overwhelmed, even though that was her only duty & I had 37 lives to look out for, & all my duties...

I have to respectfully disagree with you on some points, Angela. I am an RN that has worked primarily LTC for over 9 years. I have done it all in LTC, from floor nursing to MDS coordinator to supervisor. While I can agree with you that some NURSES (RN or LPN) would rather not get their hands dirty, I have seen that attitude with LPN's as well. When my floor worked short, I did rounds with the CNA's. No LPN I worked with would do that. There were nights that I had a wing to be the floor nurse on and had to be supervisor for the house, and yet the LPN would still call me over to do things she could very well do for herself. Then again, I have worked with BSN nurses that I wouldn't want to take care of my loved ones.....and guess who was her supervisor who she came to with all her nursing problems? That's right, the little old ADN nurse! I have worked with LPN's that could out nurse any RN, and vice versa. The fact still remains that RN's have more responsibility than LPN's....whether they are pencil pushers or not, that's the way it is. I work with LPN's every day, and don't look down on them in the least, but you cannot speak for a group of people when you haven't worked in their position.

I must also respectfully tell you that you are DEAD wrong in your attitude about your MDS coordinator. I have worked as one in 2 different facilities, and you cannot comprehend the HUGE amount of work and responsibility that's involved in that "one" job. I couldn't even begin to explain it here, but in most every other place I have worked the floor nurses completed the MDS's, simply because there was so much that the RNAC had to coordinate, complete and submit to the state every day. Once again, unless you have worked it yourself, you can't rightfully determine whether these nurses are working hard (in your eyes) or not. You have no idea how much responsibility the "pencil pushers" and "office people" have, and remember, the MDS coordinator is the one that get's the money from Medicare/Medicaid and the insurance companies. So, if you like your raises and paychecks, I'd give her a little more respect.

Dixiedi · Jun 19, 2004

I only make 2 bucks an hour less than the RNs I work with. Not hardly worth arguing about.