It Happened Again! :(

[gentlegiver]

Today at work one of my patients approched me, I had been taking care of her all day. She asked if I was an RN, I bit my lip and replied no I'm an LPN, she then stated "to bad I wanted to ask a Nurse a question" it took me 5 minutes to get her to ask her question to me... after I had convinced her that I was a Nurse. Of course it was a question that I could answer w/o problem. Sometimes I wonder whats the use! Sorry for the growling, just needed to vent this age old pain.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I forgot to add this tidbit. I attended a mandatory payday inservice at my workplace about 2 weeks ago. I overheard a restorative CNA complain to the activities lady, "The nurses around here never answer call lights!" The activities lady responded, "It's because this place hires too many LVNs. This place needs to hire more RNs - real nurses - who will help you out and answer the call lights."

I was not surprised at the ignorance of this activities lady.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I forgot to add this tidbit. I attended a mandatory payday inservice at my workplace about 2 weeks ago. I overheard a restorative CNA complain to the activities lady, "The nurses around here never answer call lights!" The activities lady responded, "It's because this place hires too many LVNs. This place needs to hire more RNs - real nurses - who will help you out and answer the call lights."

I was not surprised at the ignorance of this activities lady.

My goodness, morons continue to exist. Now, what is annoying about this one is that an activity person usually has at least minimal education, who should know that RNs do more than answer call lights and that LPNs also have lots to do. This is not to say that we don't or should not answer the calls, but, that with medication passes, treatments, family complaints and emergencies; who else would be left to answer the call bells? Maybe she needs to work the floor for one day as a nurse.

[kat7ap]

I had a similar incident with a pleasantly confused elderly patient once...

She just had a PICC Line placed I was there to start her IV fluids and she asked if I was an RN to find out if I knew what I was doing. I explained very politely I was not an RN but rather an LPN and I do possess a license to practice nursing. I also went on to say that although I am not an RN I do have a similiar education and I have been taught IV skills. She seemed satisfied with that answer and I was able to complete the task (that is until she pulled out the PICC Line a few hours later.... LOL).

I just think some of the population is just not education about the different levels of nursing and sometimes we just have to educate them. I've dealt with far more RN vs. LPN (as in LPN's aren't "real nurses") from RN's themselves! Most patients don't seem to care or know as long as you are a competent nurse.

[BigB]

shocking comments..but not suprising. As if the RN's will suddenly start doing 100 meter sprints the moment a call light goes off if they were brought into the LTC facilities. Actually, watching the DoN and staff developer during a state survey is very entertaining. They literally do make mad dashes towards to call lights. Of course this only lasts until the state survey leaves.

[pandafever]

Hello!

I have been taking all my ADN pre-reqs for the past several years only to find out that I will have to wait an additional 2 years to get in!! I have since decided to go the LPN route (hopefully less than a year wait). I'm thinking I may just want to stay an LPN because I'm mainly interested in Psych. However, I do get a bit discouraged when I hear things like this.