How to deal with insensitive coworkers?

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

I'm an LPN currently enrolled in Excelsior College to obtain my RN, hopefully soon. I'm really proud of being an LPN and take my job duties very seriously and give my all everyday that I'm at work. My job duties on the critical care unit are doing full assessments, admissions, discharges, transfers, passing all oral meds, hanging IV fluids, and IVPB, except for the electrolytes. I also get to communicate with the doctors, NPs, social workers, ect regarding the care of the pts. Well there has been a few RNs that make very rude comments about what the title LPN stands for: Low-paying nurse, little pretend nurse, ect. I've talked to them about how it affects me when they make those comments, but they just seem to bring it up again after a few months or so. Their defense is they're just joking and mean nothing by it. They then go on to say that I'm a very good nurse and love that I'm working with them. I've actually considered going to the nurse manager about the insensitive comments these particular nurses have been making. Am I being to insensitive? Should I just ignore them? Or should I tell the nurse manager?

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They're rhymes with riches. Ignore them.

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Don't act like them when your job title changes to RN. Just enjoy the fact that they won't be able to do this for much longer.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I've personally heard Little Peon Nurse for LPN, Real Nurse for RN, and Bull Ship Nurse (not ship though!) for BSN. I'd ignore them, especially if they praise your work. That's how they really feel about you.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Going to the manager will only make it worse. She can't stop them from saying things like that.Just ignore it and move on. Its like being on the playground and ignoring the bullys when they call you names and pushing you around. Those idiot nurses are sad human beings. Their lives are so dysfunctional that they take pleasure in making Stupid comments like you mentioned above. Trust me in the end you will have the last laugh. They will probably make fun of your Excelsior Degree because it is not traditional. Try it, it will be so rewarding to see the look on their faces. Good Luck in your studies. I was a LPN for almost 18 months(Been a RN since March 6,2008) and I got some of the same remarks and it really made me mad. I finally realized that its all just words and in the end I got what I wanted.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

I thank all of you for your comments. It's very hard to ignore mean-spirited comments about my job title, especially since I've sacrificed alot and worked so hard just to get my LPN. But I'll definitely try to ignore them and keep thinking positive thoughts! And I'll definitely would not be like them when I become an RN. I've always had and always will have respect for other people's job titles.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

People who are bullies and feel the need to put others down to make themselves feel better have bigger issues. I'm glad I'm not them -- that must suck, to raise yourself up only at the expense of others.

Hang in there!

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I just roll my eyes demurely at them and say, "Yes, I'm just a little play nurse now, but some day I'll be a Real Nurse like you...maybe even your supervisor..." and grin and walk away.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

When they tell you LPN stands for "Lowly Peon Nurse" say, "well, I heard someone say on allnurses' that RN stands for 'Really Nasty.'"

Success is the best revenge.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

Thanks for the reply! They haven't brought up anymore insensitive meanings for LPN since they've seen that it really upset me the last time they made those comments. But I know to ignore anymore comments from them and anxiously wait for me to be completed with Excelsior!

When they tell you LPN stands for "Lowly Peon Nurse" say, "well, I heard someone say on allnurses' that RN stands for 'Really Nasty.'"

Success is the best revenge.

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

I'm making the assumption you are working with women?? Not little girls, right? How long have they been out of high school?

Perhaps they should be acting like grown ups and professionals at work. Please. This is beyond stupid to put up with at work. Remind them of that. You don't need to pacify them with any answers in my opinion. Don't stoop down to their immaturity and tell them to act their age.

Come on! And some people wonder why we aren't treated more professionally. Has anyone heard of doctors calling each other "Master Dummy" etc. for MD?

How utterly childish!

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

Thak you for your comment! Yes, I'm working with supposedly women and men. Now, I know that RNs are a highly valuable member of the health care team, but the way some RNs act, they believe they are the ONLY valuable members! Everyone else, CNAs, LPNs, Health techs, is either useless or just around for mere convenience. So i believe its part immaturity and ignorance explaining their bahavior. But I know now not to let it bother me and not to let it interfere with my job responsibilties.

I'm making the assumption you are working with women?? Not little girls, right? How long have they been out of high school?

Perhaps they should be acting like grown ups and professionals at work. Please. This is beyond stupid to put up with at work. Remind them of that. You don't need to pacify them with any answers in my opinion. Don't stoop down to their immaturity and tell them to act their age.

Come on! And some people wonder why we aren't treated more professionally. Has anyone heard of doctors calling each other "Master Dummy" etc. for MD?

How utterly childish!

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