Is It Possible An LPN Can Make More Then An RN?

Published

I'm an RN. I work for a well known national home care agency. Somehow payroll mixed up our paychecks; I got her (she is an LPN ) hourly rate of pay on my paycheck and she got mine.

I found out she was making $23.00 an hour but I am making $21.00, and we both work on the same cases, so the acuity level of the clients is the same. She has been with this particular office for 2 years. I been with this office for 5 months. How do i approach the clinical manager about how unfair that is? (We also have the same level of experience)

It's the whole supply and demand issue with personnel. Maybe they had created the LPN position and were having trouble filling it so she was able to negotiate better terms. You being a new grad may have just wanted to get your foot in the door with that low of a salary (I wouldn't work for $21/hr unless it was just the best job ever). So what it comes down to, I think, is questioning whether you are/were happy with the salary in that job, relative to the other higher paying ones out there. If not, I'd continue working there until you have 6-12 months experience and leave on good terms. That way you can negotiate your way up to a much better salary saying you are an RN with real experience. Then get your MSN and change the salary structure as their manager. :smokin:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I dont believe an LPN with equal experience should get more than an RN. There is no question that an LPN is a valuable employee who lends much to the patient care arena, but an LPN is actually a technician whereas an ARN is suppose to be thinking and making decicions based on fact. I would start looking for a job and work on constructing a resume that puts you in the best light. I have no problem working with LPN's but do not believe they should be put in positions of authority over RN's or held in a higher light. I tend to dismiss management types of requests when they come from LPN's as I feel they are out of place.

ARE YOU SERIOUS? You tend to dismiss management types of request when the come from LPNs because they are out of place. What does that mean? Out of what place? If a LPN was your supervisor you would "dismiss them" because simply they are an LPN? Also, you stated you believe that LPNs do not think and do NOT make decisions? You obviously have no idea what an LPN does. CAN YOU AND YOUR HUGE EGO ACTUALLY FIT AT A NURSES STATION?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
ABSOLUTELY NOT! I don't care how much experience the LPN has, if as an RN you are expected to perform nursing tasks that are outside the scope of the LPN but paid less? Outrageous!

BUT the real question I have is WHY are you working in a job that you have to schlep yourself to other people's homes for ONLY $21 per HOUR??? :confused:

There are people who schlep themselves to other people's homes for $15 an hour due to employers cutting their pay rates and blaming decreases in reimbursement rates. If there are still employers paying $21 or $23 an hour, more power to the employees who are the beneficiaries of such largesse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I dont believe an LPN with equal experience should get more than an RN. There is no question that an LPN is a valuable employee who lends much to the patient care arena, but an LPN is actually a technician whereas an ARN is suppose to be thinking and making decicions based on fact. I would start looking for a job and work on constructing a resume that puts you in the best light. I have no problem working with LPN's but do not believe they should be put in positions of authority over RN's or held in a higher light. I tend to dismiss management types of requests when they come from LPN's as I feel they are out of place.

You are coming across as an RN who look down on LPNs. I'm a LPN, and I manage RNs. When I say manage, I mean I have legitimate power to hire or terminate an individual, and if one of my RNs dismiss something that I have told them they will be disciplined accordingly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I dont believe an LPN with equal experience should get more than an RN. There is no question that an LPN is a valuable employee who lends much to the patient care arena, but an LPN is actually a technician whereas an ARN is suppose to be thinking and making decicions based on fact. I would start looking for a job and work on constructing a resume that puts you in the best light. I have no problem working with LPN's but do not believe they should be put in positions of authority over RN's or held in a higher light. I tend to dismiss management types of requests when they come from LPN's as I feel they are out of place.

WOW- I normally don't make personal comments BUT, you need to get your head out of your a--. LPN's are not technicians!!! We ARE NURSES! Rn's may have taken freshman comp. social studies etc. but the Rn's who graduated when I did with Associate Degrees, ONLY took 2 semesters more than the LPNs and most of the classes were team management and the such. We took the same medication courses, the same IV courses, etc. We didn't split unitl the last 2 terms, which as I said were Not clinical nursing classes. I have also been back to school and done my Freshman comp classes etc. I have a diploma as a private investigator, and I have been the head chef in a fine dining restaraunt, and make all of my own clothes. Life experiences make a lot of difference in how we treat others - including patients. Education is only worth WHAT YOU DO WITH IT! It alone doesn't get you a bigger wage. You should see what happens in the corporate world. There have been many instances where I was (as an Lpn) put into the position of being the on" call nurse" for my LTC facililty. Only the nurses, with a MAJOR attitude- I call it - (RNitis- inflammation of self worth) had a problem with this. Thankfully my DON straighten them out on the realities. In this situation I worked under the authority and direct supervision of the DON. With this direct supervision, I did indeed have the authority to direct Rn's. Just like you, I REALLY AM able to think and make decisions based on fact and my guess is that I am as good or better at it as you are! I bet you will be looking for many jobs in you nursing career - hopeing to show yourself in a higher light. In my town your reputation follows you so getting a new resume won't help! Nurses with your attitude don't last long here. I'm glad you don't have a problem working with LPNs- I just wonder if they are saying the same thing about you? I BET NOT! By the way, with all the other skills I possess, I keep coming back to nursing, because it is the MOST important thing I do. I hope you feel the same way. My starting wage as an LPN in 1974 was $3.37 an hour and I was tickled pink to get it as minimum wage was $1.55. I now make $24.35 an hour as an Lpn. This will go up to $25.10 in March. I think I have earned this wage. When I first became a nurse, we (as nurses) were not given gloves. Only the MD's were given gloves. I was one of the nurses who got Hepatitis B, because there was no vaccination for it. Now all of you get the vaccine. Thank God I am not a carrier or my nursing carreer would have been over long ago. To sum things up - YES it is possible and in many cases, JUSTIFIABLE, that Lpns make more than RN's. GET A GRIP! XOXOXOXOXOXO THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
WOW- I normally don't make personal comments BUT, you need to get your head out of your a--. LPN's are not technicians!!! We ARE NURSES! Rn's may have taken freshman comp. social studies etc. but the Rn's who graduated when I did with Associate Degrees, ONLY took 2 semesters more than the LPNs and most of the classes were team management and the such. We took the same medication courses, the same IV courses, etc. We didn't split unitl the last 2 terms, which as I said were Not clinical nursing classes. I have also been back to school and done my Freshman comp classes etc. I have a diploma as a private investigator, and I have been the head chef in a fine dining restaraunt, and make all of my own clothes. Life experiences make a lot of difference in how we treat others - including patients. Education is only worth WHAT YOU DO WITH IT! It alone doesn't get you a bigger wage. You should see what happens in the corporate world. There have been many instances where I was (as an Lpn) put into the position of being the on" call nurse" for my LTC facililty. Only the nurses, with a MAJOR attitude- I call it - (RNitis- inflammation of self worth) had a problem with this. Thankfully my DON straighten them out on the realities. In this situation I worked under the authority and direct supervision of the DON. With this direct supervision, I did indeed have the authority to direct Rn's. Just like you, I REALLY AM able to think and make decisions based on fact and my guess is that I am as good or better at it as you are! I bet you will be looking for many jobs in you nursing career - hopeing to show yourself in a higher light. In my town your reputation follows you so getting a new resume won't help! Nurses with your attitude don't last long here. I'm glad you don't have a problem working with LPNs- I just wonder if they are saying the same thing about you? I BET NOT! By the way, with all the other skills I possess, I keep coming back to nursing, because it is the MOST important thing I do. I hope you feel the same way. My starting wage as an LPN in 1974 was $3.37 an hour and I was tickled pink to get it as minimum wage was $1.55. I now make $24.35 an hour as an Lpn. This will go up to $25.10 in March. I think I have earned this wage. When I first became a nurse, we (as nurses) were not given gloves. Only the MD's were given gloves. I was one of the nurses who got Hepatitis B, because there was no vaccination for it. Now all of you get the vaccine. Thank God I am not a carrier or my nursing carreer would have been over long ago. To sum things up - YES it is possible and in many cases, JUSTIFIABLE, that Lpns make more than RN's. GET A GRIP! XOXOXOXOXOXO THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Thanks for your comments. With comments like the one billyboblewis posted no wonder LPNs and RNs have major problems with each other. I agree I try not to make personal comments about other's opinions but that was the most narrow-minded comment I think I have ever read. I have an associate degree. I took the same arts and sciences in LPN school as the RNS (my school required it). I have worked as an LPN for 5 years and I am only 3 credits shy from obtaining my RN. I have found the RN program to be a little bit harder, NOT A LOT HARDER It may be hard for billyboblewis ( who stated LPNs do not have make decisions based on fact and they don't have to think) to believe, but I have to make decisions every day based on fact and I have to think. IRONICALLY billyboblewis POSTED A COMMENT WHICH WAS NOT BASED ON FACTS AND HE/SHE OBVIOSULY DID NOT THINK BEFORE HE/SHE POSTED IT.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Please remember that the Pharmacology portion of state boards is the same for RN's and LPN's.......now rethink before you go to your employer and remember you are an employee at will, one who accepted the position at your current salary. Suck it up, and when evaluations roll around you can ask for an increase commensurate your reviewed productivity. ONCE AGAIN GET OFF OF THE RN HIGH HORSE THERE THERE IS PROBALLY A REASON THE SALARIES VARY. FYI i AM AN lpn AND i MAKE $45.00 PER HOUR ON PRIVATE DUTY CASES. WE SET A PRICE AND MAINTAIN IT BASED ON OUR MERITS. GOOD LUCK HANG IN THERE AND STAY COOL MAYBE YOU CAN LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM THE LPN.bandaid.pngbandaid.png:crying2:dollarsign.pngbandaid.pngbandaid.png

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
billyboblewis;4082576]I dont believe an LPN with equal experience should get more than an RN. There is no question that an LPN is a valuable employee who lends much to the patient care arena, but an LPN is actually a technician whereas an ARN is suppose to be thinking and making decicions based on fact. I would start looking for a job and work on constructing a resume that puts you in the best light. I have no problem working with LPN's but do not believe they should be put in positions of authority over RN's or held in a higher light. I tend to dismiss management types of requests when they come from LPN's as I feel they are out of place.

WOW. You do a disservice to anyone who might be reading this thread seeking accurate information by posting an ill-thought out, insulting and demeaning portrayal of the job of an LPN. :nono:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
WOW. You do a disservice to anyone who might be reading this thread seeking accurate information by posting an ill-thought out, insulting and demeaning portrayal of the job of an LPN. :nono:

But that is this person's opinion and they are entitled to it. The rest of us can just be glad we don't have to deal with it at the place where we work. Anyone is entitled to their opinion and they are also entitled to express their opinion as long as they don't attack someone else or otherwise violate the TOS. Wonder what the OP decided to do about the situation more than I wonder what people think about LPN vs. RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You are coming across as an RN who look down on LPNs. I'm a LPN, and I manage RNs. When I say manage, I mean I have legitimate power to hire or terminate an individual, and if one of my RNs dismiss something that I have told them they will be disciplined accordingly.

Well I have to agree with you and the person you responded to:

In NYS LPNs practice under the direction of an RN not the other way around. So I can see an RN not wanting LPNs to be giving "medical" direction. But I would assume it is ok if the direction is in the form of administrative requests. Not sure if this is the same in all states. BTW I was an LPN and am currently a GN. I would not want to be a charge nurse over RNs as a LPN and would not want a LPN to be a charge nurse over me as a RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As someone who is going into nursing as a second career if find the idea that your employer is being unfair as a little amusing. To me whatever an employer wants to pay an individual employee is up to them.

Regardless, if I believed that I should be making a higher salary I wouldn't approach my manager about the fairness of someone else making more. Instead I would check on comparable salaries for other agencies based on your education, experience, and acuity of patients treated. Then I would use that information to talk with my manager about a raise. Or when I met with my manager I might talk about how I enjoyed working for the company, but felt that my service were worth more and then specify what kind of increase in pay that I wanted. Either way, I wouldn't raise the issue of fairness. I think that would annoy the employer. Also, I think that it would alienate the LPNs if they ever found out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rehab, LTC, Peds, Hospice.

This silly and easy. It is called negotiation. Men do this in the buisness world all the time. I didn't work for an agency for long, but I took all their certification courses and made myself available and flexible. So when I asked for a raise, I got it. I could work at a job that didn't require a lot of skills or I could have a trach/vent case. That made more valuable. And I never whine or complain, always a team player... blah, blah. It's easy. Be a good employee and speak up. I made more than lots of people.:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion