Comment about LPNs made by clinical instructor

[FutureIsBlue]

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?

[Fiona59]

Well said Texas.

Not all of us LPNs want to, have the financial ability, or time in our lives to become RN's.

I'm proud of what I do, and I do it well. If they ever did away with LPN's where would the extra 5,000 RN's suddenly come from in my province? How many RN's want to work in LTC where so many LPN's find their niche?

[miphillli]

Of course, I'm biased since I'm an LPN. :chuckle

It's funny that instructor said that. We LPNs in RN school have been kind of intimidating the generic RN students....not that we are trying. I tell them that we have been working in the field for however long and have a broad knowledge background.

My goal in RN school is to show the students that LPNs are not idiots and are a "nurse" in their own right. It always helps to break down barriers and stereotypes. That instructor is ignorant and an embarassment to the nursing profession...I would go out on a limb and say that she is part of the reason there is such animosity between RNs and LPNs.

It has been my experience as an RN that one of the biggest reasons "there is such animosity between RN's and LPN's" is the "wanna be factor" that most of the LPN's I have worked with seem to pocess. The nurses where I work have been told to be more "actively involved" with the LPN's pt's/and there care...great,5 of my own pt's now 5 of the LPN's...I wish they would use the energy they put into trying to be an RN and just do what they were trained to do,be a good bedside nurse, report significant symptoms to there RN's, and most of all...go back to school and get your RN...THAT would be the best solution to the above problem.

I have been alittle outspoken here but I think I can,you see I have been an RN for 15 years but I was a LPN for the 20 years prior and I can tell you that there is a BIG BIG difference....Get your RN folks and then talk to me about "animosity between RN's and LPN's" Please..

[bobnurse]

Theres always animosity between:

RN's and LPN's

MD's and DO's

PA's and NP's

RN's and EMT-P's

CNA's and NA's

ABC's and DEF's

Its a part of life that we must deal with. Its that way with every thing. I mean, the rich look down on the middle class, the middle class look down on the poor. You drive a mercedes, he drives a ford.......You drive a ford, he drives a kia.........

I dont think you have to get your RN, but why wouldnt you? Its one more year of school to get your ASN, and your gonna make 20-30 thousand more a year at least.

But we need the CNA's, LPN's, RN's, EMT's, PA's, NP's, DO's, MD's........Each one of them complete the circle of care.........Each is as important as the other if providing care within their scope and education.

I do agree with the above poster and the "wannabe" factor. Many LPN's have the knowledge and skills to perform equally with or outperform their fellow RN's. But they do not have the college credits behind them. Its no different then a medic during the vietnam war performing surgery. He is probably more efficient then many new surgeons out there but that doesnt mean a whole lot in the real world. Its all about paying your dues........and that equals degrees.

[LPN1974, LPN]

Well, I'll tell ya, I don't want to be an RN.

I am 3 years away from retirement, and as soon as I get there I'm taking it

and getting out.

Yall can have it, the whole kit and kaboodle.

I never had "that wanna be factor" you all refer to.

But I'll tell ya this, I've worked with several RNs for several years,and I've been on this job 25 years, and I have yet to meet one who would get in there and roll up her sleeves and go to work like an LPN would.

They will do everything they can to get out of giving medication. Call everybody else on their day off to try to get someone to come in, just so they wouldn't have to give meds.

One in particular that I know of, would say "No, I'm NOT giving meds." And another was so scared, she would literally shake like a leaf on a tree if she had to draw up an injection and give it.

On the job I am on, there will be at least 4, if not 5 LPNs that will retire within the next few months to 5 years. The first one will be gone before winter hits again.

And the DON is begging her to stay and take a part time position.

So, when LPNs start retiring, you may see an even bigger shortage of nurses, but right now whenever I read anything on the nurse shortage all they ever refer to are RNs.

Well, LPNs do a major part of work, whether you like it or not, and when we're gone, you're going to feel the crunch. Just wait and see.

I know it will hit hard in Arkansas, because Arkansas uses aLOT of LPNs.

And I have exactly 2 years, 11 months, and 19 days to go. And then I'm out.

JMHO.

[markjrn]

But I'll tell ya this, I've worked with several RNs for several years,and I've been on this job 25 years, and I have yet to meet one who would get in there and roll up her sleeves and go to work like an LPN would.

Please don't judge my work ethic when you haven't witnessed it.

They will do everything they can to get out of giving medication. Call everybody else on their day off to try to get someone to come in, just so they wouldn't have to give meds.

One in particular that I know of, would say "No, I'm NOT giving meds." And another was so scared, she would literally shake like a leaf on a tree if she had to draw up an injection and give it.

This is just ridiculous.

It's interesting. My SIL is an LPN and doesn't b*tch about RN's, just other LPN's. She lets the RN's fight amongst themselves. :)

[LPN1974, LPN]

Please don't judge my work ethic when you haven't witnessed it.

This is just ridiculous.

It's interesting. My SIL is an LPN and doesn't b*tch about RN's, just other LPN's. She lets the RN's fight amongst themselves. :)

I didn't say YOU .........................I HAVE witnessed it. More than once.

YOU are ridculous.

NOT every RN out there is going to be up to snuff whether YOU think so or not.

[bobnurse]

whats a SIL?

[SmilingBluEyes]

SIL means

Sister in Law

[SmilingBluEyes]

Well, I'll tell ya, I don't want to be an RN.

I am 3 years away from retirement, and as soon as I get there I'm taking it

and getting out.

Yall can have it, the whole kit and kaboodle.

I never had "that wanna be factor" you all refer to.

But I'll tell ya this, I've worked with several RNs for several years,and I've been on this job 25 years, and I have yet to meet one who would get in there and roll up her sleeves and go to work like an LPN would.

They will do everything they can to get out of giving medication. Call everybody else on their day off to try to get someone to come in, just so they wouldn't have to give meds.

One in particular that I know of, would say "No, I'm NOT giving meds." And another was so scared, she would literally shake like a leaf on a tree if she had to draw up an injection and give it.

On the job I am on, there will be at least 4, if not 5 LPNs that will retire within the next few months to 5 years. The first one will be gone before winter hits again.

And the DON is begging her to stay and take a part time position.

So, when LPNs start retiring, you may see an even bigger shortage of nurses, but right now whenever I read anything on the nurse shortage all they ever refer to are RNs.

Well, LPNs do a major part of work, whether you like it or not, and when we're gone, you're going to feel the crunch. Just wait and see.

I know it will hit hard in Arkansas, because Arkansas uses aLOT of LPNs.

And I have exactly 2 years, 11 months, and 19 days to go. And then I'm out.

JMHO.

You have "never" seen an RN willing to get in there work hard along side you? Where have you been working?

Anyhow, Good luck on retirement. Sounds as if you are more than ready.

[markjrn]

I didn't say YOU .........................I HAVE witnessed it. More than once.

I didn't say you didn't witness it, I'm just saying that as an RN, I feel like you're placing ALL of us in this group.

YOU are ridculous.

Why are you calling me ridiculous?

NOT every RN out there is going to be up to snuff whether YOU think so or not.

I didn't say they were. I don't think ALL of ANY profession is "up to snuff".

IMHO, you seem very angry, and that is now directed at me. I'm not interested in that type of treatment from anyone, so please refrain from communicating with me in the future.

[markjrn]

whats a SIL?

Sister in law.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

It has been my experience as an RN that one of the biggest reasons "there is such animosity between RN's and LPN's" is the "wanna be factor" that most of the LPN's I have worked with seem to pocess. The nurses where I work have been told to be more "actively involved" with the LPN's pt's/and there care...great,5 of my own pt's now 5 of the LPN's...I wish they would use the energy they put into trying to be an RN and just do what they were trained to do,be a good bedside nurse, report significant symptoms to there RN's, and most of all...go back to school and get your RN...THAT would be the best solution to the above problem.

I have been alittle outspoken here but I think I can,you see I have been an RN for 15 years but I was a LPN for the 20 years prior and I can tell you that there is a BIG BIG difference....Get your RN folks and then talk to me about "animosity between RN's and LPN's" Please..

Going back for an RN will not change someone else's mind about LPNs.