Do LPNs Get the Respect They Deserve?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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ok, well, i am a pre-nursing student. i am waiting to see if i get accepted to an lpn program right now. i later plan on finishing up and getting my degree after i have worked as an lpn for awhile. since i have made this decision i have heard nothing but horror stories about how lpns are treated by rns.

I am going to have to give my opinion on this one. I was an LPN for 4 years, then went back to school for my RN, and now have been for 6 years. I was never discriminated against, nor treated differently by RNs. I stood my ground. I am an awesome nurse and knew that. If there was something I didn't know, I found it out. I do the same thing today. I consulted with my peers, as a professional. I took orders as an LPN, and carried them out, but earned the respect of my coworkers. I do the same as an RN. I don't feel much has changed in my job. I give IV push medications, hang blood and TPN now, but my responsiblity to the patient and good care has not changed. I do have more responsibilty, by being the head nurse, but that comes with the degree. The pay, now that is the biggest difference, which I think the worst part. I make so much more as an RN, and I do believe I am worth it, but I was also worth it as an LPN. I think the LPN degree is kept is part of a corporate scam to hire cheaper, and not always better, nurses. Nursing is an individual effort. I also think all LPNS should go back to school if they think nursing is their calling, if for nothing else, the pay. :)

Finally! Somebody who has the same experience I have! Except I haven't come up with the financing to pay to finish the RN yet. Long story and not needed here, but I still hope to someday, for the money! I want to retire in the next 20 years or so! I'm 50 now.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

For the record, a lot of LPNs hear the "go back to school" speech all the time. And boy does it get old. I love how other people think that they know what's best for everyone.

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For the record, a lot of LPNs hear the "go back to school" speech all the time. And boy does it get old. I love how other people think that they know what's best for everyone.

Just once I'd like to see them toss the money at me! It's not a free and easy with loans and scholarships piling up after you are an adult with resposibilities.

Just toss that 7 grand to me and see how fast I go for the pay raise! At this time, there's no difference in job so that's not an issue for me.

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Have you checked to see if your hospital or wherever you are employed will pay for you to go back to school? Lots do.

Right now, at least two of our LPNs are going back to school to become RNs. Even though they've worked YEARS as LPNs and are wonderful nurses, they are telling me how much more they are learning in school that they didn't learn as an LPN. I just chalk it up to doctors are taught more about the same areas of medicine than an RN and RNs are taught more about those same areas than LPNs. Sure, we may all touch on the same subjects...just some degrees go further into it.

If we were all taught the same thing, then we could all become an RN or an MD in the same amount of time it takes to become an LPN.

I'm not knocking LPNs by any means, I'm just tired of the arguing by SOME LPNs that they know as much as everybody else and don't get their fair share.

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Have you checked to see if your hospital or wherever you are employed will pay for you to go back to school? Lots do.

Right now, at least two of our LPNs are going back to school to become RNs. Even though they've worked YEARS as LPNs and are wonderful nurses, they are telling me how much more they are learning in school that they didn't learn as an LPN. I just chalk it up to doctors are taught more about the same areas of medicine than an RN and RNs are taught more about those same areas than LPNs. Sure, we may all touch on the same subjects...just some degrees go further into it.

If we were all taught the same thing, then we could all become an RN or an MD in the same amount of time it takes to become an LPN.

I'm not knocking LPNs by any means, I'm just tired of the arguing by SOME LPNs that they know as much as everybody else and don't get their fair share.

I work in home care. The flexible schedule is very important right now. And yes, of course I checked. I made it through to the last couple of semesters many years ago on tuition remission at the university hospital where I worked. My husband died and I never got the opportunity to return. Anyway, I know where the money is, it's just not there for me right now.

I never said we are all taught the same thing. We all learn in the same subject areas, it is up to the student to learn as much as they can about that subject. If a student is happy to stop learning at the minimum required to pass the boards, then that's all he/she is. I don't spend a dime on education without taking it as far as I can go with it. That includes CEUs, Inservice classes, anything! I take it home and learn "the rest of the story." (Don't interject in there that I believe I am as knowledgeable as a MD. I DID NOT say that! I am a nurse and I learn what the nurse, any nurse needs to know to excel.)

Not all LPNs are capable of working the "the unit" they did not make it their business to "learn th rest of the story." Hell, even in home care I know LPNs that don't even understand why it takes so long to get equipment! How can they call themselves compitent if they don't even understand how their pts care gets paid for. It ALL matters and a nurse who excels finds out about all of it.

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We get shafted as nurses. When they talk about the nursing shortage, they don't even mention LPNs and since you are not yet a nurse I know you can not answer these questions but I'll tell you know by the time you get out of school, you will be able to ansewr yes to them.

The usual difference between the duties of the LPN and RN are:

  1. The LPN may not assess the pt.

    1. Does the LPN take classes in school on assessing the pt.
    2. Does the LPN study and have clinicals practicing this art?
    3. Does the LPN take NCLEX boards which includes pt evaluation and assessment?

      4. [*]The LPN may not write the care plan

      1. Doesn't the LPN study care plans in school?
      2. Doesn't the LPN study med-surg, peds, OB including multiple dx?
      3. Doesn't the LPN take the NCLEX to prove her ability to understand care plans and the appropriateness of that plan?

      [*]The LPN may not hang blood products.

      1. Does the LPN understand the blood, it's chemistry and function in the body?
      2. Does the LPN understand the implications of lab tests? H&H, etc?
      3. Does the LPN understand the VS when monitoring a pt on tx?

      [*]The LPN may not push IV meds.

      1. Does the LPN take a course in pharmacology and have a thorough understanding of drug action and interaction.
      2. Does the LPN pass the NAPNES or another exam in pharmacology which includes having knowledge of IV medications?

      [*]The LPN must work under the direction of an MD, RN, Dentist or Podiatrist.

      1. Not a problem. A staff RN can't give a Tylenol without an order so what's the difference? They must work under the direction of a Dr. Even a nurse practitioner must work with/under an MD.

      The RN should have a more understanding, however, that does not mean the LPN doesn't have a quality understanding which makes him/her perfectly capable of doing these things. Besides, sticking the bag (or lock) is not the issue when these procedures are performed, it is monitoring the pt for action/reaction. And the RN who "sticks" is not the one doing these things. The LPN is.

      No, LPNs get the shaft everytime. They should change our titles to "real nurses" and "little play nurse" tho I haven't been little for a lot of years.

      Above is where I got the part where I took it as you saying that we all get the same education. I apologize if I misunderstood what you are trying to say...and still am not sure at this point. No, I never said you compaired anything to an MD. I was just making a statement that you cannot compare everything that an LPN learns in school to what an RN learns and cannot compare what an RN learns to what an MD learns. We all take care of the patients...within our individual scopes of practice. Bravo to you for going over and beyond what you learned in school and I do mean that sincerely. I am sorry for the loss of your husband and that you weren't able to finish school. But from what I'm reading in your posts, either you are stressed about something or are being misunderstood by more than just me.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Have you checked to see if your hospital or wherever you are employed will pay for you to go back to school? Lots do.

No, sorry i have not. Working 45-60 hours a week, 32 hours of school, plus study time, for some reason lately i haven't had the time to check about furthing my education.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I'm not knocking LPNs by any means, I'm just tired of the arguing by SOME LPNs that they know as much as everybody else and don't get their fair share.

I'm just as tired of (and not singling out anyone, this is just my own experience):

1) getting asked when i'm going back to school, neverMIND that i AM in school right now.

2) some RNs that have the my-poo-don't-stink attitude towards LPNs

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Above is where I got the part where I took it as you saying that we all get the same education. I apologize if I misunderstood what you are trying to say...and still am not sure at this point. No, I never said you compaired anything to an MD. I was just making a statement that you cannot compare everything that an LPN learns in school to what an RN learns and cannot compare what an RN learns to what an MD learns. We all take care of the patients...within our individual scopes of practice. Bravo to you for going over and beyond what you learned in school and I do mean that sincerely. I am sorry for the loss of your husband and that you weren't able to finish school. But from what I'm reading in your posts, either you are stressed about something or are being misunderstood by more than just me.

I am not saying an LPN comes out of school with an identical education to an RN, just that the items listed in a previous post are some of the things the separate duties on the floor. I also pointed out that LPNs DO study these things and are knowledgeable in these areas. Maybe not as knowledgeable as the RN but that certainly does not make her incapable of performing the duties. (again I will state that I know LPNs who are more knowledgable than some RNs and I also know some LPNs I wouldn't let change my cats' litter box.)

My point repeatedly has been the LPNs are not given enough credit for what they are capble of.

Most of the RNs I have worked with, in home care and in the hospital, treated me just like one of them. However, the hospital treated the LPNs as if they were second class citizens.

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I am not telling any LPN to go back to school, that is by far a personal decision! Being an LPN is a wonderful and satisfying position. I just know from experience, I went back to school, and instead of making 10.68/h I am now making 33$/h. And my duties have changed some, but me as a nurse, I have only grown. And my pay has too! So how could I not urge my fellow nurses to get the compensation by pay I think they deserve???? Nursing is a hard job! We all deserve to be paid to do it! I am looking out for nurses......not here to preach.:)

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Specializes in Case Manager, LTC,Staff Dev/NAT Instr.

Hello Truly Blessed to put my two cents in to answer your question "Do LPN get the respect they deserve?" I can actually speak for the LPN and RN, WE (I said WE do not get the respect WE deserve) I am a LPN now finishing up my RN BSN and frankly this is a hard and stressful career, it can be rewarding, but anyway I don't feel we should single LPN's out from RN's because RN's get heat too. As nurses we get heat from family members of the pt.'s and from doctors etc. I enjoyed being a CNA, LPN and soon to be RN and from all those positions I can view with how others on these posts feel, but all in all none of us as LPN or RN get the respect we really deserve I hope this helps you. Look at it like this at the end of the day you can go home after all is said and done and say you made a difference in somebody's life.....:)

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Hi everyone!

Thank you all for this wonderful discussion. I feel that this has been covered each and every way possible. Everyone's ideas are valid, and, it is a constant issue, but, like I just said, its been done over and over again.

as previously posted (and, I let it go over about 10 posts) I will now be closing this post, as it is hashing and rehashing the same info over and over. The horse has been kicked :)

Again, Thank you, and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to PM me.

--Barbara

Moderator

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