ANY LPN'S OUT THERE

Nurses General Nursing

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ANY LPN'S FEEL LIKE NO ONE BUT LPN'S THINK WE ARE REAL NURSE'S, NOT NA?

To all those who choose to read this.

It is the year 2000, And I cant believe that im reading the "Us vs them" messages on this board, I believe that many of you, and Not everyone, but many are missing the point. By the way I stumbled upon this discussion group by mistake. I was researching an error that happened in the hospital last night. I wanted to see how many occurances of this error were reported. In case your wondering. A new orientee nurse made probably the ultimate nursing error, and Hung an enteral feed bag, and connected it to an IV. Well that patient is expected to Die, and is on life suppport now. This occured on a M/S floor, whereas I work in the ICU of a major East Coast Tertiary Center. But back to my original point.

The fact is, the Nursing Profession Needs to have ONE standard level of Nursing education. We are the only Health Care Profession, and the largest collective group, that has Multiple entry level educations, that are both confusing to ourselves about what roles we play, and to our patients, and other Health Care professions. I.E if you want to be a doctor you go to Medical school (4 yrs) get a M.D, If you want to be a Physical Therapist, you go for 5 or 6 years now, They all get MPT now(masters). Even the EMT has a standard education level. Paramedics the same. Each with its own twist. But they all have standards!!! Whether you have been a nurse for 40 years, or 1 year, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that Nursing has an Identity crisis which is ongoing.

Lets forget about the back stabbing, name calling, and get with the program. The nursing political groups have been playing name games since the 1960's, about standards in Nursing education. Its a documented fact, do the homework. The leadership in this country doesnt want to own up to that fact that, people will loose jobs, LPN programs will close, Professors will lose their positions, and Programs will be phased out. There is a certain degree of allegiance to one's ala mater. No one wants to see the older programs go. Lets do whats good for the profession of Nursing. Besides, think of it this way, a profession is defined also as having standards too. There is plenty of money to go around to all the BSN/RN programs in this country. If nursing leadership in this country would just do some consolidation in the programs, money from phased out LPN/LVN programs can be diverted to BSN/RN programs, to offset the added costs, and make a BSN/RN education affordable for everyone. Yes everyone!!! and also to meet the demands for the increased suppply of nurses this country needs. Money even for child care, for those that think they dont have the time for it.

There are differences in the knowledge base of both RNs vs LPNs, training wise, not to mention the courts view the RNs in a supervisory role too. $$ = responsibility. Knowledge is Power! Let us impower each other, and not yap about what D.O.N has how many years experiences, and doesnt know how to do what. Basically If you dont do it , you lose it. Those people in some hospitals are even the considered reference person, but if you dont keep up to date, which many dont, and revise your skills, and adapt to new ways and new technology, then you become worthless IMHO.

just food for thought. FTR. I am a BSN/RN prepared nurse, attending graduate school. Also accredited CCRN, did an undergraduate Thesis paper on this very topic too. Id be glad to carry on the debate about this. Its something thats in my soapbox.

John

I am an LPN and proud to be an LPN I used to work in a pediatric ward in upstate NY before moving to Ohio I now work in a Rehab center and I love it. The LPN's there function as your charge nurses and I do everything an RN in a med-surg unit would do. I do all my own assessments determine if a patient is bad enough to transport to the hospital. Work on and establish careplans for them. I realize in a lot of situations the LPN's can and are made to feel inferior I have been there. Shortly after becoming an LPN the hospital I worked at took them off the med surg floor, giving them more aides and leaving the RN's for assessments and med passing. I was still working in the facilty just went to long term. I heard many negative comments about the change. Some of the RN's had admitted they hadn't passed routine medications in years. That had always been the LPN's job. I had patients make comments to me such as most of the RN's seemed more task oriented where as the majority of the LPN were more patient oriented. I don't mean that in a derogatory sense against any RN's They have my utmost respect. But by removing the LPN's and replacing them with Tech's and nursing assistants it doesn't leave a whole of time for the RN's to do much socializing with the patients. Like I said I am proud to be an LPN I worked for years as an assistant and prior to that in housekeeping in a medical facility.

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always Ped

Thank you John, definately words for the wise. The key word I think you emphasized was...STANDARDS.

Where I work, in a VA hospital (Veterans Health Administration), the government does not recognize the LPN role. We are hired as 'nurses' but basically under the category of nurses aides. There are no nurses aides on the Med/Surg floor where I work however. Plus depending on what 'Grade' and 'Step' you are hired at, determines what that LPN can do... i.e. a Grade5 Step4 LPN differs from a Grade6 LPN, in that the Grade6 can hang IV's etc. The list goes on and on, we as co-workers don't even know who "can do" certain things. Skills utilized definately makes the difference. If you don't use it you loose it, at least the confidence you would have if you did it repeatedly.

Again, John thank you for pointing out the 'real' problem.

I have to agree that without practice you lose some skills. I have worked in Psych-social nursing for the past 15 years. The people we care for are generally in fair health and we monitor normals and practice what I have always called "Mommy Nursing". This a fact, not a put down. There is a very real need for nurses that enjoy this kind of nursing. But, I haven't used many technical nursing skills for years. Luckily we have a very wise and understanding DON and she works very hard at not floating any of us to highly skilled units.

My thought on the whole issue is that there is room for RNs and LPN's. Yes, we LPN's do have less education, thus we don't usually have the same knowledge base to draw on when a problem exists. That is why teamwork is so important. I have always said that "two heads are better than one". If you are part of a good supporting team you can always ask another nurse for their input. Isn't that why we have Charge nurses?

We all have a responsibility to know where our skills lie,to know our limitations , and learn to appreciate all nurses for their individual skills and work together. Yes, as John says we should have Standards for nursing, that would be ideal, but a standard RN education would be over kill for some of our positions. Maybe we do need to stop calling ourselves nurses. If you enjoy what you are doing what difference does it matter what you are called. Long term care is full of areas that need less skilled nurses. Where I work If you are an RN you almost automatically get a supervisory position. Pity the poor RN that wants to do hands on patient care,too expensive for most "for profit" LTC's.

Actually as I write this its becoming clear that there is need for change in LTC. Does anyone else see this? I think so many beome an RN for the MONEY not because they need more skills to continue with there position. We need to give more respect and PAY to CNA's and other less skilled positions. Often these workers work harder than we nurses.

I'm beginning to ramble, Thanks for letting me.

Originally posted by TNNURSE:

HI,

OH PLEASE ,IF YOU WANT THE PRESTIGE THEN DO WHAT I DID AFTER BEING AN LPN FOR 11 YEARS I WENT BACK AND AM FINALLY FINISHING UP MY RN DEGREE.I HAVE BEEN WORKING THREE YEARS ON THIS DEGREE.LETS USE SOME COMMON SENSE....THE RN PROGRAM IS HOW LONG ?4 YEARS ....THANK YOU,AND THE LPN PROGRAM IS HOW LONG?,,,,,,,,12 MONTHS.THE RN DOES HAVE A VAST AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE VS THE LPN.I ON THE OTHER HAND THINK THAT ALL NURSES SHOULD RESPECT EACH OTHER.....LPN OR RN.WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR PATIENTS.THERE SHOULD NOT BE A SUPERIORITY WAR.I THINK IT MUST BE A PRETTY SAD PLACE THAT YOU WORK AT THAT WOULD ALLOW ONE NURSE TO MAKE ANOTHER NURSE FEEL LOW OR BELITTLED.I HAVE BEEN LUCKY WORKING ALL THESE YEARS AS A LPN,I HAVE HAD THE LUXURY OF WORKING WITH SOME GREAT LPNS AND RNS.I HAVE LEARNED ALOT FROM OTHER RNS ,LPNS,AND CNAS.YES CNAS !EVERYONE IN THE HEALTH RELATED FIELD HAS KNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM.USE THIS AS A GROWTH EXPERIENCE...GO BACK AND GET YOUR RN DEGREE...OR GO GET A NEW JOB.I THINK THAT THERE ARE BETTER THINGS WAITING FOR YOU AND THIS IS YOUR OPPOURTUNITY.

SINCERELY,

TNNURSE

and from what prestigious kingdom do you write from princess. just for the record prestige and nursing, does that really go together? Respected, yes. noble, yes. selfless,yes. prestige, no. since when is tube feeding on your scrub top, urine on your pants, and working an eight hour day without eating or relieving your bladder prestigious? that's dedication, and sometimes at the end of the day there's no better feeling than a job well done.but if you want to write about prestige go be a senator or CEO for Clinque, but don't get into a mind fram that your a princess now that you're back in school. that's silly.

keep up the good work LPN's!!

[This message has been edited by lorrie (edited December 05, 2000).]

Lorrie-----YOU GO GIRL!!!!!

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Here's looking at you biggrin.gif

Originally posted by Jo_deye_yuh:

TNNURSE~ Congratulations on your academic and professional successes. However, the underlying theme on this forum is not, I repeat, is not about 'PRESTIGE', it is about R E S P E C T, and acknowledgment.

I intend on attaining my RN some day. Not for the 'prestige', but to further my personal education. Education is priceless regardless of the level. Thank you for recognizing CNA's and their knowledge and skill they offer to the field. All those that participate in the cares of a patient are valuable hands, hearts, and minds of healing.

I, too, encourage others to always further their education. Whether it be CME's or degrees. Whether it be for a CNA going to school for 12 months to become a LPN, or a LPN going to school for 1-2 years to become an ADN or 4 years to become a BSN, etc. However, if a person is content to be a CNA for their career, that should not be looked down upon. Likewise, if a LPN chose to stay in that role for their career, applauds and accolades to them. If it is an individuals perogitive to do and excell in the 'job' of their choice, who are those that go on for more degrees entitled to look down on them for not? That is wrong. To each his own.

LPN's are not 'Licensed Pretend Nurses', or 'Lowly Peon Nurses', or 'Less Prepared Nurses', or 'Less Participating Nurses', or 'Low Prestige Nurses'!!! Instead, LPN's are "Licensed Practical Nurses". Regardless, we are nurses and after the work is done, it speaks for itself.

As my DON once told me, "Just like there are different types of Doctors (MD, DO, etc) there are different types of Nurses, the RN and the LPN. The initials do not separate but include them into the category of Nurse." We are all of one goal, united. I do not and will not judge an individual by the initials behind their name. I will and do value an individual by their attitude and contributions. This whole RN vs LPN thing gives me nausea and a headache. I don't get it, I don't like it, and I won't agree with the continuing of such behavior.

TNNURSE said-"THE RN PROGRAM IS HOW LONG ?4 YEARS ....THANK YOU,AND THE LPN PROGRAM IS HOW LONG?,,,,,,,,12 MONTHS.THE RN DOES HAVE A VAST AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE VS THE LPN."

-if length of education is a true measure of knowledge, prestige, and entitlement, I ask if you remember Lisa Steinberg? She was the 6 yr old little girl that was sexually, mentally, physically abused and ultimately beat to death by her adoptive parents. The father was highly educated and a lawyer. Degrees and all, I fail to see the prestige. It is the individual not the degree that earns prestige. I know some Doctors that I would respect, admire and befriend without the MD initials or education. I respect, admire and befriend them on the grounds of their personality, compassion, generosity, integrity and ethics. I also know some Doctors that regardless of the initials and education they attained, I despise, pity, and avoid due to the lack of the above mentioned favorable characteristics. If Charles Manson was a RN would that give him more prestige or respect? It is the individual and their life's experience and personality that make any title or initials prestigious.

I used to work as a physician's nurse in a clinic, and the RN's and LPN's were equal. We treated eachother with respect and valued each for their intelligence, talent and skills. I did not view/respect each nurse by their initials, rather by the knowledge and skill they possessed and shared. Where I am working now, it is frustrating to see the descrimination and ignorance. The masses need to be educated and the stigma stopped as to what it is to be a LPN--we are a valuable part of the medical professional team--we are NURSES. And within the perimeters of our license, can achieve gratification and success. There are those LPN's that further their education through CME's, lectures and application of skills, that retire as highly respected and valued LPN's. Instead of encouraging LPN's to change and get their RN, they should be embraced, valued, and utilized for the skill and knowledge they offer. It should not be a condition of workplace acceptance to 'have' to become a RN.

Best of luck to those that choose to further their education AND to those that continue to strive for excellence in their current positions.

Heath and Blessings~ Jodie

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