Grrrr....comments made by a care-aid...

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.

I'm a 1st semester LPN student on a practicum right now. I am mainly working with care-aids (pretty much equivilant to CNA's).

This care aid has said "so, when you're an LPN, will you make a lot less than nurses?"

And "how do you think you'll get along with nurses when you finish your LPN course?"

Um, lady, I WILL BE A NURSE when I'm finished!!! Of course she was referring to RN's as the "nurses" and I will be an "LPN". Well, what do you think the "N" stands for???

I REALLY should have stood up for LPN"s and said that I will be a NURSE, but I didn't :(. I really should have corrected her. But I'm only at this practicum until Thursday and I just didn't feel like rocking the boat. Ugh. :uhoh21:

And the worst part is the director of care of this home, who is an LPN herself, was also in this conversation and didn't correct her either. :down:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

The care-aid might be secretly envious of you. Who knows?

Next time, I would tactfully inform this care-aid that the "N" in LPN stands for nurse, and that LPNs are licensed nurses. Good luck with handling this situation!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I REALLY should have stood up for LPN"s and said that I will be a NURSE, but I didn't :(. I really should have corrected her. But I'm only at this practicum until Thursday and I just didn't feel like rocking the boat. Ugh. :uhoh21:

Yep. It doesn't have to be confrontational either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just another one of those everyday slights that tend to get under our skin if we let them. She probably didn't have a derogatory intention in her remarks. Even if she did, it's just best to let it go. You've got more important things to worry about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

So true. There are so many much bigger things to get worked up about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.
Just another one of those everyday slights that tend to get under our skin if we let them. She probably didn't have a derogatory intention in her remarks. Even if she did, it's just best to let it go. You've got more important things to worry about.

I agree that she likely wasn't trying to be derogatory, just ill informed...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Pulmonary.

The CNA's used to be called LPN's a long time ago, I had to correct my own mother on me actually being a nurse. However, in my pediatric clinicals last summer, I had a CNA that young enough to be my daughter, constantly on my butt and telling the RN on me about charting, care, etc. She was a hateful little thing and new she probably was envious and wanted to be a nurse. I would smile and correct my errors and thank them for helping me. The CNA would sneer at me daily for 4 wks. On my last day walking out of clinicals for the last time, I stopped, smiled at her and said, "Here's the deal, you have been hateful for 4 wks towards me. The reality is, you are jealous and want to be doing what I have been doing for 4 wks. Even though you have been running to your RN and my instructor tattling like a two year old, I am still going to make 22.00/hr when I'm done and you will still be making 8.50/hr. I smiled and walked out with her looking like a deer in headlights, I had wanted to do that for 4 wks. It felt good!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I'm a huge advocate for defending LPNs against the few ignorant RN comments, and RN Student nurse comments I hear but for some reason this one doesn't strike me as malicious. She probably was being sympathetic to the sad truths that she knows LPNs can face.

I always try to be extra kind to CNAs because I wouldn't want to do their job for MY pay!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I think she is trying to get under your skin a little bit. Good for you for taking the high road. It's Thursday, so you are out-a-there today! Yahoo! It's in your own best interest to bite your tongue on this one!

Good Luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm a 1st semester LPN student on a practicum right now. I am mainly working with care-aids (pretty much equivilant to CNA's).

This care aid has said "so, when you're an LPN, will you make a lot less than nurses?"

And "how do you think you'll get along with nurses when you finish your LPN course?"

Um, lady, I WILL BE A NURSE when I'm finished!!! Of course she was referring to RN's as the "nurses" and I will be an "LPN". Well, what do you think the "N" stands for???

I REALLY should have stood up for LPN"s and said that I will be a NURSE, but I didn't :(. I really should have corrected her. But I'm only at this practicum until Thursday and I just didn't feel like rocking the boat. Ugh. :uhoh21:

And the worst part is the director of care of this home, who is an LPN herself, was also in this conversation and didn't correct her either. :down:

Ogopogo, sounds like this care-aid needs some help in understanding the educational patterns in nursing. You will be surprise how many healthcare workers/providers don't understand the patterns either. This reminds me of my OB clinical, myself and 3 other students in my clinical group had the opportunity to observe a C-section from start to finish, which I'm greatful for to this day. Anyways.. fast forward.... in the birthing suite which is kinda set up like an operating room, there were 2 surgeons, we were all introduced by the lead nurse in the suite and she stated the school we were from, this surgeon looked at us and said in a sarcastic manner "I thought practical nurses has long been abolished many years ago, they are no longer used more, it was stopped during the civil war." This is a young surgeon, probably in his mid 50's. That really shocked us. This was our first encounter with an MD since our clinical rotation.

Personally, I would just do a quick teaching and move on. Perhaps the care-aid really doesn't know or is ill informed like someone else stated here. Who really knows what shes been told by others about RNs being the only nurses and not LPNs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I took a cab home the other day, and the driver asked me if I was a nurse or an RN. Now, THAT was a switch! I explained the different entry levels to nursing and he told me he would try and encourage his daughter to become a practical nurse, since it "only takes a year".

There are plenty of people who really forget that LPNs are Nurses. It is also true that many (not all) aides are jealous. The bottom line of it is to me is that many positions are envied without us even realizing it. There are home health aides that really wish that they can become CNAs and have the opportunity to work in hospitals or nursing homes, draw blood and the advanced things that they do. I remember I saw an old neighbor of mine one day and she ran to me and asked if I was a CNA. When I told her I was an LPN, her eyes were as big as saucers!! She asked me a million questions and it actually made a nice start to my day because I was moaning to myself about how bad a day I would have, and here it is, someone else wishing they had an opportunity to be an LPN.

I am truly happy with what I have accomplished. Personally, I have no real desire to go further, but that is me. Based on the story the OP mentioned, it may be best to leave it alone, being a student who doesn't need much friction right now. But if there is a polite way to educate the care aide, feel free to do so. And, be proud of what you are trying to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

you are dealing with people who are ignorant. what makes you think that confronting them is going to change their point of view? all it would do is start an argument which just might have been their intention in the first place. just smile, listen respectfully and leave it at that. confrontation and the desire to achieve one-upmanship will get you in more trouble that you can ever imagine and isn't worth it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion