Do LPN's get the pay they deserve?

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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?

Thats why I left the hospital and work Home Health(florida) . Too many pts. and not enough$$$. In home health I see one pt. at a time and I hustle on my route(6 pts) BID so 72 weekly. I hit $70000 last year and if I picked up a few more pts. I could have hit $100000 last year. Mike Try Home Health-you may like it.:coollook:

Are you serious? As an LPN you hit 70,000 in home health?

I don't know how it is in Arkansas, but I might look into that when I retire in 3 years.

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Specializes in Registered Nurse.

I think LPN'S pay has come up lately, but we all could use more pay in nursing though.

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Specializes in Registered Nurse.
Are you serious? As an LPN you hit 70,000 in home health?

I don't know how it is in Arkansas, but I might look into that when I retire in 3 years.

Just call me a doubting Thomas! Was this $70,000 with OT? I have never seen a LPN make $36/hr....not even in home health. Maybe you meant with a significant amount of OT.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

"lpns get paid enough in my opinion realted to their low level of education and limited scope of practice."

lindarn, rn, bsn, ccrn

spokane, washington

:eek: :uhoh21: :stone :rolleyes:

dang ! just when i thought i had heard it all ! :coollook:

i'm an rn and i'll have you know that i don't know what i'd do without our lpns !!! they've taught me everything i know and then some ! :balloons:

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Just call me a doubting Thomas! Was this $70,000 with OT? I have never seen a LPN make $36/hr....not even in home health. Maybe you meant with a significant amount of OT.

Not me.....I was referring to a post by alatta58.

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The hospital I currently work in doesn't hire any LPN's. The hospital I worked at before my currently employment had LPN's, but they weren't hiring anymore. I believe that nursing homes is an ideal place of employment for LPN's. I personally don't have any problems with LPN's, but I would rather have my love one being taking care by an RN than a LPN.

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Hmmm...seems pretty high to me. I don't see those kind of wages here in central Florida. New grad RN's start at $17-18 base with 5-7 in noc difs and 2-3 more for weekends. I have been an LPN for a decade and the highest I made with diff is about $20.00. Good for you! What state are you in? Cali?

Karen

North Carolina. Come on up, you hear! :)

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Specializes in Home Health, Long Term, Rehab,Dialysis.

My first job as an LPN paid $5.00 an hour. I currently make a good deal more than that but I am not getting paid for my years of experience.

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Wow, if I had my BSN and was working for your wages I would be upset. I made that much plus $1 differential as a newbie in LTC here on the coast. And I'm talking north of Seattle. Cost of living can't be that much different. There must be a glut of RNs inland if they get away with that payscale. NACs at our local hospital make $13 hour. I just can't believe you would spend all that time and money going to school to accept those wages.

I have been reading these post with a very open mind. It wasn't that long ago when I was an LPN working Med/Surg for $12.07/hr. Now I am a RN and one of the night shift charge nurses for the unit. I make $14.77/hr. I currently have 3 LPNs working on my unit and the nights that they work doubles my patient load. As the RN I am responsible for the LPNs patients. I also have to do IV push meds and IV starts. My facility does not allow LPNs to call doctors or take telephone orders. IMO LPNs are not paid what they deserve, but neither are RNs. There has been nights when I was the only RN on the Med/Surg unit with 2 LPNs. These nights are horrible. The LPNs on my unit are well trained, but the LPNs still cannot perform several number of tasks that the RN must do.

Here in Spokane Washington, Sacred Heart just laid off ALL of their LPNs and are hiring more RN's and CNA's to replace them. They cited the same issues that you just did. An RN has double the patient load & responsibility when there are LPN's. They are not a bargain to have. They are too limited in their scope of practice and make more work for the RN.

To answer your question, NO, as an RN, you do not get paid enough to be responsible for someones else' patients. LPNs get paid enough in my opinion realted to their low level of education and limited scope of practice.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally Posted by Mike1991 I personally don't have any problems with LPN's, but I would rather have my love one being taking care by an RN than a LPN.

Sounds like a problem to me.:rolleyes:

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

You have a big problem with LPN's if you think they should be confined to one area of nursing. How about if your mother or grandmother was in a nursing home ,would it be ok then for me to take care of her. AHHH YES, Decisions Decisons

The hospital I currently work in doesn't hire any LPN's. The hospital I worked at before my currently employment had LPN's, but they weren't hiring anymore. I believe that nursing homes is an ideal place of employment for LPN's. I personally don't have any problems with LPN's, but I would rather have my love one being taking care by an RN than a LPN.
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What I have found reading these posts that there are many LPN's trying to expect the same recognition as an RN. They say we do the same thing for less. Unfortunately, the educational level and responsiblity level is not equal. I was an LPN for 10 years before earning my RN degree...I was amazed at all the things I took for granted or did not know. The why's behind things became clearer. LPN's do not deserve equal pay to the RN. I highly suggest that if you are tired of the but I am a nurse too and I do the same job fight, then head back to the books. UGGGHHH this debate is stupid. The LPN/VN is just that, a nurse to care for common conditions in stable predictable clients. The RN is the professional nurse with the scope of practice to treat unstable and stable patients. You will learn this as well as appropriate delegation if you further your education. I realize this sounds harsh, but it is the truth. With that said I must affirm my belief that LPN's are valuable and no they should not be confined to just LTC--they can practice in their scope in several areas. All nurses are underrespected and underpaid. We are the nurse, social worker, housekeeper, mediator, dietary services...and the list could go on!!!

Karen

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