Comment about LPNs made by clinical instructor

Jo Dirt · May 8, 2005

I have seen many LPN's and MD's and PharmD's about whom I could say the same thing. I find your comment insulting. Just because you have seen SOME RN's whom you obviously do not respect, does not mean that the title is "over rated". It is a title I have earned and I do not appreciate your belittling it.

Yea, well, in light of some of the things I have seen I still have to stick by what I said. I honestly don't understand how some RN's I've seen made it through school and passed an exam. The RN title *should* be held in high esteem, but I don't think you would disagree there are some RN's who bring shame to the profession, which in turn cheapens the profession.

Maybe we shoudl talk about the RN who was fired from the facility where I work because she coudln't get the right medications to the right people and OD'ed someone on phenobarbitol and nearly killed them.

When I was working med surg there was a family there who found out LPN's had been doing the dressing changes on their mother, and they became furious. They insisted only an RN change the dressings for their mother. Well, Mother got a wound infection after the RN's took over the dressing changes, and ha ha, the family then decided they wanted the girls who had been doing the changes to go back to doing them.

Does this mean the RN's were incompetent?

Nooooo. But it does help explain why LPN's have every right to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder because of how they are viewed in the eyes of people who know no better. I know that most people knock about 30 points off the IQ's of people just because they are LPN's instead of RN's but I have found this is just so stereotypical and ridiculous. Which is why I still stand by what I said, even though I am within weeks of earning an RN license.

GN1974 · May 8, 2005

Their are things everyone can improve on...to error is human. There are good and bad in all professions. Sometimes you have to take things with a grain of salt and let them roll off your back.

Karen

GN1974 · May 8, 2005

:smiley_ab :smiley_ab :uhoh3:

Yea, well, in light of some of the things I have seen I still have to stick by what I said. I honestly don't understand how some RN's I've seen made it through school and passed an exam. The RN title *should* be held in high esteem, but I don't think you would disagree there are some RN's who bring shame to the profession, which in turn cheapens the profession.
Maybe we shoudl talk about the RN who was fired from the facility where I work because she coudln't get the right medications to the right people and OD'ed someone on phenobarbitol and nearly killed them.
When I was working med surg there was a family there who found out LPN's had been doing the dressing changes on their mother, and they became furious. They insisted only an RN change the dressings for their mother. Well, Mother got a wound infection after the RN's took over the dressing changes, and ha ha, the family then decided they wanted the girls who had been doing the changes to go back to doing them.
Does this mean the RN's were incompetent?
Nooooo. But it does help explain why LPN's have every right to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder because of how they are viewed in the eyes of people who know no better. I know that most people knock about 30 points off the IQ's of people just because they are LPN's instead of RN's but I have found this is just so stereotypical and ridiculous. Which is why I still stand by what I said, even though I am within weeks of earning an RN license.

coot · May 8, 2005

Wow, I'm in RN school but a lot of us are working as LPNs. None of our instructors could say something like that and get away with it. They are very proud of their students. The nurses at one of our clinical facilities even said that they prefer our students over students from other nursing schools!
It sounds like some of you have very rotten nursing instructors, I'm glad that my instructors are very professional and very knowledgable about what they teach.
Jessica

Hi! im coot and ya there are some bad teachers out there last year i had a bad experience with my teacher and the truth is so did a lot of my class mates she had her picks and the hell with the rest of us she would half answer our questions but for her picks she would go into great detail, but ill hold my head up high and return to school next year in the fall

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · May 9, 2005

There are good and bad in all professions.

A statement that definitely bears repeating. Thank you Karen

RNs should not be put down because of their bad apples, nor should LPNs, CNAs, doctors, lawyers, or police officers. NO profession on the face of the earth is free from people who do not belong in it and/or are lacking in terms of competence. But to call a title or profession "overrated" (not you, Karen, but another poster in this thread) because of those people is just plain wrong.

Cubby · May 9, 2005

My husband is an LPN (We get to work together). Our DON was eating with my husband and me one evening and made the remark "Well it's not like LPNS are nurses. I was so embarrassed. I make it a point to all of the LPNs I work with that they all have skills that I don't possess, (You don't/can't learn everything) and I value them as coworkers and humans. That was one lesson I will never forget or repeat. :angryfire

ex1140 · May 9, 2005

I recently became a Licensed Practical Nurse. When I went for my first clinical at Jackson Memorial Hospital here in Miami, one of the RNs stated that LPN stood for "low paid nurses." He went on to suggest that my classmates and I should rush to go back to school after completing our course.

People are always telling me to go back to school, in fact, many hospitals in the Miami area don't hire LPNs. My intention is to go back to school this fall, however, I will always have a high respect for LPNs because they are just as dedicated as RNs and do just as good of a job.

P_RN, ADN, RN · May 9, 2005

Forrest Gump said "Stupid is as stupid does." Your instructor only has to read that quotation to see what faux pas she made. You can tell her I said that.

To me LPN's are wonderful. The thing that kept me from taking the LPN test (1x only in 1970 for medical assistants etc) was I was 3 weeks past delivery. I really wanted that title.

After he was born, a friend talked me into taking the ADN at the university. I had nearly 100 credits in BSN but it would have taken me 3 1/2-4 years to finish.....So I took 3 classes and became an RN......31 years ago this year.I love LPNs. I don't recall many if any at all who were not just as professional and competent as the rest of the staff.

Those outside agitators like your instructor are just stirring the pot to keep the topic floating.LPNs and RNs are the body and soul of nursing. Stick together and don't let the agitators bite you in the tukkus.

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 9, 2005

Yea, well, in light of some of the things I have seen I still have to stick by what I said. I honestly don't understand how some RN's I've seen made it through school and passed an exam. The RN title *should* be held in high esteem, but I don't think you would disagree there are some RN's who bring shame to the profession, which in turn cheapens the profession.
Maybe we shoudl talk about the RN who was fired from the facility where I work because she coudln't get the right medications to the right people and OD'ed someone on phenobarbitol and nearly killed them.
When I was working med surg there was a family there who found out LPN's had been doing the dressing changes on their mother, and they became furious. They insisted only an RN change the dressings for their mother. Well, Mother got a wound infection after the RN's took over the dressing changes, and ha ha, the family then decided they wanted the girls who had been doing the changes to go back to doing them.
Does this mean the RN's were incompetent?
Nooooo. But it does help explain why LPN's have every right to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder because of how they are viewed in the eyes of people who know no better. I know that most people knock about 30 points off the IQ's of people just because they are LPN's instead of RN's but I have found this is just so stereotypical and ridiculous. Which is why I still stand by what I said, even though I am within weeks of earning an RN license.

You complain about not being respected, then disrespect a whole class of your co-workers in the same breath. If you truly feel that an RN license is over-rated, you ought to stand by your principles and not get one.

Wouldn't it be more appropriate simply to observe that LPN's are nurses, and ought to be respected as such? I would be more than happy to live by that, and will do so, regardless of what you think. But I will not for a moment agree that RN's are less entitled to respect than LPN's are.

I hope you will really think about this. The fact is, you have no idea what kind of nurse I am, and your remarks here only serve to try to build yourself up by putting me down. And that, I respectfully submit, is a very big part of what is wrong with nursing.

cook · May 9, 2005

Hello everyone!
Last week, I was attending a post-conference (for clinical) and my clinical instructor was discussing on how one of the LPNs on the unit didn't take out the foley catheter correctly and she made a comment about LPNs. She said something like no offense to LPNs but there are some things that they need to improve on. My mother is a LPN and I know that my clinical instructor didn't know that my mother is a LPN. After she made the comment, I didn't say anything. After I went back home from clinical, I felt sad (and offended of course). My mother is wonderful at her occupation.

What do you think?

I am a LPN, and where I work, I would put any of my co workers, (who are LPN's as well) against any RN anywhere. I love what it is that I do. I am going back to school in the fall to start taking classes for my RN. Not because I want the recognition, but because I can make $15 more on the hour doing the same job.....I just hate it when we as LPN's are under estimated. I am not saying that a LPN is better, I am just saying that all of us in the health care field can use improvement....To make a comment like your instructor did, is just stereotyping people. And in my opinion, that is just wrong.

SmilingBluEyes · May 9, 2005

I am a LPN, and where I work, I would put any of my co workers, (who are LPN's as well) against any RN anywhere. I love what it is that I do. I am going back to school in the fall to start taking classes for my RN. Not because I want the recognition, but because I can make $15 more on the hour doing the same job.....I just hate it when we as LPN's are under estimated. I am not saying that a LPN is better, I am just saying that all of us in the health care field can use improvement....To make a comment like your instructor did, is just stereotyping people. And in my opinion, that is just wrong.

Sigh, Here we go again, with the "same job" misbelief. Truly, I hope you succeed in RN school or whatever other goals you set for yourself. and..... Perhaps along the way in RN school, you will learn we do not do "the same job". Good luck.

SmilingBluEyes · May 9, 2005

You complain about not being respected, then disrespect a whole class of your co-workers in the same breath. If you truly feel that an RN license is over-rated, you ought to stand by your principles and not get one.
Wouldn't it be more appropriate simply to observe that LPN's are nurses, and ought to be respected as such? I would be more than happy to live by that, and will do so, regardless of what you think. But I will not for a moment agree that RN's are less entitled to respect than LPN's are.
I hope you will really think about this. The fact is, you have no idea what kind of nurse I am, and your remarks here only serve to try to build yourself up by putting me down. And that, I respectfully submit, is a very big part of what is wrong with nursing.

Excellent, to-the-point post. Thank you.