Just let me be...

[WldChrry]

This is not a rant. This is not meant to cause any trouble. It was just on my heart and I thought I would share. Please feel free to add a line of your own :)

Can't you just let me be happy to be a LPN?

Is that too much to ask?

I went to nursing school too.

I took the NCLEX and became licensed too.

Just because there is no R in my initials, I'm not nurse enough for you?

I served our country...

I have 2 college degrees and my nursing diploma under my belt...

But the pants are still too big for me to fill you say.

Because I don't have RN behind my name.

I didn't learn enough in school, I don't work at a hospital.

I get payed less and chastised more.

And my own state's nursing organization doesn't give me support.

Can't you just let me be proud to be an LPN?

Don't I take care of the sick and make a difference in human lives?

Just because they're old, they don't matter as much as you or I?

I can't do an initial assessment...

I'm not allowed to hang blood ...

I didn't go to nursing school for as long as you.

But at the end of the day, they call me nurse too.

What makes a nurse, really?

Is it in the letters in our title?

Is it in the money in our checks?

Is it in the specialty we choose?

What happened to respect?

We are all nurses...allnurses

I just chose a different path than you.

[ECBui]

Yep...Ontario Nurses Association only represents RNs too. They also put out ads everywhere saying how RNS are the most important and RPNs are dangerous to patients. RPNs are in the union grouped with all other service workers....housekeeping, psws, food service etc.

Wow... House keeping and food services............................

[SleeepyRN]

I very much agree and know that RN's have more responsibilities, its not an opinion as much as it is a fact. I hesitate at times going for my RN because it seems in LTC that after a bit they push a lot of RN's into supervisory positions which I quite honestly never want to be in management and am would be worried about other LPN's working under my license as they say. I would be a ball of paranoia all the time if that were the case... I am hoping to get a job I just interviewed for where it would be me the LPN and the RN who has 30 years experience. I am so stoked if I get the chance to learn from her, but also nervous because I am way green compared to her!

Oh, I know what you mean. So many NEW GRAD RNs are placed in supervisory positions. I have no interest in management or a supervisor role myself. I can completely understand an LPN become so frustrated and feel insulted when people ask "oh, are you in school to be an RN?" or "why not?" I completely understand thinking, screaming in your head, "JUST LET ME BE WHAT I AM IF I AM HAPPY WITH IT!" Also there are those that, I don't care what others say, simply can't go back to school at that time if they did want to be an RN. I'm in a similar boat with being an ADN RN instead of BSN. Its simply not possible in my life to go back to school right now.

[nightwatchlpn, LPN]

"If you feel so compelled to complain, whine about and defend your choice to be an LPN, you don't exactly sound proud OR happy. You sound wounded, unhappy and defensive. About your choice to be an LPN. EMPHASIS on "your choice."

I'm so tired of LPNs crying about being LPNs. Seriously. I love LPNs and think they're great! But so many around here have a such a chip on their shoulders because they're not as educated as RNs or WHATEVER. Guess what? The truth sucks! You aren't as educated as an RN! What, isn't that obvious? You might be a better, more experienced nurse, sure! I know lots of LPNs who could nurse CIRCLES around RNs. But circle away.....you still don't have as much education. If you have a problem with that (or have a problem with OTHER people having a problem with it), then get back to school and fix it. Crying about other people's "RN" isn't putting it after your name. "

Wow...

I sure hope that I never have the unfortunate experience of coming across someone like yourself when I'm looking for support. You're about as supportive as a wet noodle! It sounds to me like no one ever taught you the very important lesson of "don't judge someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes." I am sorry that you are so very judgmental, and the very epitome of the type of nurse that nurses speak of when they say "nurses eat their young."

You really need to put some of your self righteousness in check, as your poor attitude and insensitivity makes me seriously wonder how you managed to get yourself in the field of nursing and fear for the emotional health of those entrusted in your care. You really should be ashamed of yourself. Tisk, tisk....

While you may have a list of credentials that display your education, so do a lot of LPN's. A lot of whom hold degrees in other fields, rendering them quite educated. This site is intended to be a place where nurses of all types and tiers can come together, find support, often where they are lacking it in their jobs (Hmm... Possibly working with people like yourself???) and find information, resources, and people who are understanding to their plights.

All that said, I'll express one last thought. You have no idea the circumstances of people's lives that dictate their choices. I'm happy that you had the choice, really I am. However, you might think about humbling yourself just a bit as we aren't all so blessed to have the opportunities, the finances, the circumstances or the choice to go back to school. Honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself. Don't think for a moment that feeble attempt to avoid classic passive-aggressiveness falls on deaf ears in the nursing community. You are again, the epitome of what nurses hate about nursing. I guess you skipped the class on self awareness? Maybe they only taught that in LPN school...