Looking for history behind how RN's and LPNs developed

Ginger45 · Apr 27, 2008

I am an Associate Degree Nurse and proud of it. I received more hands on nurses training. I am however now in the process of furthering my education because I want too. I love to learn. I am doing it online and not going for a Bachelors in Nursing but a Bachelors in Human services/management. I plan to then go further and get my masters degree.

We need all nurses, whatever their degree. I have worked with some great nurses in my career. It takes a village. I think the worst part is that we don't always work together and support each other. There seems to be some kind of competition as to who is the better nurse. We need to band together and only then can we make changes. I got off topic, sorry.

husker_rn, RN · Jun 12, 2008

Thinking back to my Historical Prospectives class I seem to remember that registered nurses were those who worked with a registry to sign up for nursing positions. LPNs were those with pracitical knowledge and did not work from the registry. Of course that class was many moons ago and I am prone to some-timers frm time to time.

OrionQuiltsRN · Jul 21, 2008

Curoisity got the better of me, so I researched on the Internet. The licensed Practical nurse was the individual that came to your home and did the practical stuff, such as preparing meals, laundry, chores, anything to assist while the patient convalesced. The Registered nurse was the individual that came to your home to do the nurse skills kinds of things, such as medications, injections, dressing changes, etc, while the patient recovered. Hope this helps. :rolleyes:

irishnoreenRN · Jul 30, 2008

I am wondering where the difference in RN and LPN first orginated from. How were these catergories first developed from the start of nursing? Anyone know any background information?

I may be able to offer some information as I knew of a few nurses who were LPN's many years ago. Once, if you worked with a doctor. lets say employed he could sign a few papers and you were then an LPN. But....then there were LPN's who didn't give meds and they had to pass a test before doing so.

As a former LPN then going to RN the long way. The difference is, the LPN knows what to do but the RN knows why. The theory that is different in the college arena

Siamese4me

HazelLPN, LPN · Oct 3, 2008

[The difference is, the LPN knows what to do but the RN knows why. The theory that is different in the college arena

Siamese4me

Its not quite that simple. Many LPNs do know why.

NativePapillon · Nov 4, 2008

Tell you what. If I take the initiative, to go get my BSN, I want to be paid my worth. I've worked with many nurses who know what to do, (LPN) but could care less about the why. Perhaps it's their level of education. Hmm.

LPN programs are very popular in my neck of the woods.

navvet · Nov 13, 2008

ALnamvet, I believe you are correct on this issue. This boils down to money for the universities and the hospitals to become magnet status. But, just wait, just wait. Ten years from now, it will not matter. We will have Universal Health Care and govco. will run the show, through political pressure, they will decide, what degree is needed and how much you and I can make. Isn't this a great country. Health Care Reform, Yeah.

Sadie525 · Nov 13, 2008

Well said!!!

Why don't other health care professionals so the same thing? They all require at least a Bachelors Degree in the career field, and then a Masters or a Doctorate as entry into practice. They do not allow second career Bachelors prepared individuals to jump ahead of other stiudents in the program. Physician Assistants who want to become MDs have to start as Freshman in Medical School, they do not have "accelerated MD programs", to allow a student to graduate "faster from Medical School". Why the push to short change nursing education?
RECREATIONAL THERAPISTS have a Bachelors Degree as entry into practice, all to help you "Reacreate" on a cruise ship, or the Hospitality industry! Physical Therapy ASSISTANTS have an Associates Degree as entry into practice.
But RNs and LPN/LVNs, who literally have patients' lives in their hands, have either an Associates Degree, Diploma, or in the case of LPN/LVNs only have a one year post HS education. And we are not only the lowest educated of all other health care professionals, we are also the lowest paid, have the least autonomy, and by far, receive the least amount of respect. Does anyone see the big picture? The public equates worth with education.
We allow hospitals to control our profession. We allow ourselves to be brainwashed into continuing to allow our profession to not progress educationally, as have the other health care professionals. We allow hospitals to brainwash us into believing that "nurses don't need higher educational levels to do their jobs. BSNs shoudn't be paid more because, 'Well, they do the same job as you. Why should that 'uppity BSN, be paid more than you' "?
It is the same old story- devide and conquer. It still works. We will remain underdogs
in the workplace until we finally accept that more education is necessary to claim our place as Health Care Professionals, who are paid a salary commensurate to their education, level of responsibility, and contribution to positive to posive patient outcomes.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

musicgirl · Nov 29, 2008

Interesting info.

jpRN84, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2009

At what point did it become ok for a nurse to have a diploma and be defined as competent to care for someone, and then all of a sudden have the need to have BSNs to be considered to care for a patient. All those years where the diploma was the main route for RNs, and then all of a sudden that's not good enough? Seems like a slap in the face to me. Very sad.

jjjoy, LPN · Apr 27, 2009

At what point did it become ok for a nurse to have a diploma and be defined as competent to care for someone, and then all of a sudden have the need to have BSNs to be considered to care for a patient. All those years where the diploma was the main route for RNs, and then all of a sudden that's not good enough?

I doubt it's "all of a sudden." The knowledge base and official responsibility of many professions may expand bit by bit over time and one day you look at what used to be adequate preparation and realize that it's not anymore.

The schooling and training requirements of physicians, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, etc has changed over time. Why should the schooling and training for nurses remain the same over time when the provision of health care and health care science and technology is changing over time?

jpRN84, BSN, RN · May 4, 2009

I doubt it's "all of a sudden." The knowledge base and official responsibility of many professions may expand bit by bit over time and one day you look at what used to be adequate preparation and realize that it's not anymore.
The schooling and training requirements of physicians, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, etc has changed over time. Why should the schooling and training for nurses remain the same over time when the provision of health care and health care science and technology is changing over time?

I see your point, but there's plenty of Diploma programs in my state, PA, that still put out wonderful smart nurses. These diploma programs have adapted over time and prove themselves very well in keeping up with the times with the changing health care sciences and technology, just like an ASN or BSN program. Many of these Diploma programs have been in existence since the late 1800's, early 1900's, and have kept up with the changing times. Also, when I said all of a sudden, I was referring to when a diploma program gets closed, it feels like, "ok, you've been good enough for preparing and educating nurses for the past 100 or so years but now we don't need you anymore" and that's what feels like a slap in the face.