How are you treated by RNs

military spouse · Jul 12, 2006

Hello, I'm an RN and I've seen LPNs treated many ways. Most are treated as part of the team. My closest friend is an LPN and a great nurse. There are some RNs that will not treat LPNs equally with RNs, but there are also RNs that believe their specialty is more important than another RNs and not treat them well. Become an LPN if that is what you wish to do. You can always change settings if your coworkers are not supportive. If you do your job well, most people will not care if you are an LPN or RN. There may be some differences in job description and your ability to do admits, assessments and IV push meds. The hospitals I just left did use LPNs and they couldn't do certain tasks, but were able to do most tasks. LPNs are very common in LTC. I currently work in a prison and most nurses there are LPNs. Good Luck!

flwannaB · Jul 13, 2006

I am just an LPN student right now but honestly, the RN's are very nice and helpful to us. The LPN's are not as kind.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2006

Don't worry about how you'll be treated as an LPN/LVN. People will respect you if you display some self-respect. People will treat you badly and run all over you if permit it.

I have two jobs: one at a nursing home and another at a psychiatric hospital. I am treated well at the nursing home since it is, basically, LVN-run. The three ADONs (assistant directors of nursing) at the nursing home are all LVNs.

I am a 'glorified medication aide' at the psychiatric hospital since my job duties are so limited at this place. All I do is pass medications and take an occasional admitting phone order. The RNs chart, assess, do admissions, and have about 90 percent of the duties.

In my area (Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex) the LVNs mostly work in LTC, nursing homes, hospice, home health care, rehabilitation, and outpatient clinics.

amylc · Jul 13, 2006

Thanks to everyone for their insight!

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2006

I am just an LPN student right now but honestly, the RN's are very nice and helpful to us. The LPN's are not as kind.

I graduated from my LPN program in May, and I was always treated well by the RN's & LPN's throughout my entire LPN clinical experience.

I just started my first LPN-RN clinicals this week, and noticed some of the RN's have not been quite as nice as before. Maybe it was a bad group of nurses or they were just having a bad week, but we were not treated kindly. Some nurses were blaming us of taking their charts. One nurse stated her pt's do not want students giving shots or passing meds to them. (Mind you, we are all LPN's :rolleyes: ). One nurse accused us of taking her supplies that she misplaced and found, but did not offer up an apology. In addition, I witnessed a display of the most unprofessional behavior in report by RN's that I have ever heard. Example:Judgmental opinions and total breech of pt. confidentiality.

I strongly get the feeling that the RN's mentioned above do not want us to apply for employment on their floor when we graduate next May. Maybe my example is why the LPN's that you encounter are not as kind to you either.

Good luck and I hope your clinical experience this year is always better.

flwannaB · Jul 14, 2006

You make a good point. I never considered that at all. I am sorry you are having such a bad week. It's great to see that you are moving on to RN. I plan to do the same shortly after I graduate. Good luck to you. :)

I graduated from my LPN program in May, and I was always treated well by the RN's & LPN's throughout my entire LPN clinical experience.
I just started my first LPN-RN clinicals this week, and noticed some of the RN's have not been quite as nice as before. Maybe it was a bad group of nurses or they were just having a bad week, but we were not treated kindly. Some nurses were blaming us of taking their charts. One nurse stated her pt's do not want students giving shots or passing meds to them. (Mind you, we are all LPN's ). One nurse accused us of taking her supplies that she misplaced and found, but did not offer up an apology. In addition, I witnessed a display of the most unprofessional behavior in report by RN's that I have ever heard. Example:Judgmental opinions and total breech of pt. confidentiality.
I strongly get the feeling that the RN's mentioned above do not want us to apply for employment on their floor when we graduate next May. Maybe my example is why the LPN's that you encounter are not as kind to you either.
Good luck and I hope your clinical experience this year is always better.

norinradd · Jul 24, 2006

I have been treated GREAT as an LPN/LVN. I graduated from PN school in 93' and have had so few proplems. I fight against systems that in my opinion hurt LPN/LVNs, but the people have been great.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 28, 2006

I recently received my license as a practical nurse through a sponsorship program from my job. I was on a full time release from work with salary and tuition paid. When I returned, I must say that the welcome for me was not that great. It seems that they do not think much of the LPNs at my job, and while that is discouraging, I know I have to find my way through it. I really don't want the responsibility of the RN, so being an LPN was a personal choice. I only hope that things get better a bit later. Unfortunately, I owe my job back time for them paying for my education, so, leaving is not the best option, however, I plan to earn my respect, and will not let anyone demean me. If you want to begin your nursing career as an LPN, don't let that get to you.

ex1140 · Jul 29, 2006

I work with one of the best RNs in the world. I'm going

to put her on the spot....Bernice Terrell. She is always

teaching me something new and I respect her seniority.

Of course, not all RNs are like Mrs. Terrell, but many are

and don't worry about the ones that are not, just do your

work to the best of your ability so that no matter who you

work under they will have no other choice but respect you.

LPNs work in nursing homes, assisted living, corrections,

clinics, hospice, agency...the list goes on.

smoo · Jul 30, 2006

I've worked as an LPN for 5 years in LTC, and we don't have a lot of RN's that work the floor with us, but we were always treated the same. I actually didn't realize that there was such a big deal between RN's and LPN's and BSN vs ASN until reading this forum. We have always got along and the RN's I worked with treated me and other LPN's as equal. We were lucky in that aspect.

Smoo

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 30, 2006

I've worked as an LPN for 5 years in LTC, and we don't have a lot of RN's that work the floor with us, but we were always treated the same. I actually didn't realize that there was such a big deal between RN's and LPN's and BSN vs ASN until reading this forum. We have always got along and the RN's I worked with treated me and other LPN's as equal. We were lucky in that aspect.
Smoo

You are very fortunate. I am new at my job, and I see how the LPNs feel, but just a few hours ago, I said to myself that I will not worry about the way we are perceived. You made the perfect point, that this gripe never ends... the ASN vs BSN...no matter how high you rise in the hierarchy, it may never be enough for those above, while the ones below think that the more educated have it made.

I plan to just continue to learn and do my best. As long as I am doing my job, that will be my triumph. Those that think less of others that work below them have their own self esteem issues, and I vow that I will no longer participate in that.