Hello everyone at AN, this is going to be a slight venting session. I will apologize in advance if it becomes a little long...
I am a LPN, graduated last March and I've been working at the same facility since June 08. Well let me just set up the scenario for you all. Last night at work I had an ugly and unfortunate run in with a residents husband. Now this resident is a new admission as of yesterday she has only been there for 1 day. He came into visit, his wife did not have oxygen on and he proceded to go to the desk and ask the STNA's why wasn't it on. The STNA directed him to me, I explained the order I have is for O2 at HS. He said " where did you get that order? thats not right I GAVE THE ORDERS TO THE HOSPITAL!!!" (he has a phD, but is NOT an MD) Well he then walked away, but only for a short time before he came back to attack me again....
So he comes back to the desk, I'm trying to chart. He says "You're the nurse?" I replied "Yes" He said "Well you can't be youre not an RN, LPNs aren't nurses and when I signed my contract here I was told there was always an RN here." Needless to say we got into an argument that I have never encountered with anyone let alone a family member. He kept going on and on about how I'm not a nurse, but his daughter is a RN, I said good for her and congratulations!!! He was disrespectful to myself and my aides. He told my aides they didn't know anything, were they just a bunch of highschool students etc..and the list of name calling continues.
I was so upset in the midst of the argument I told him I don't appreciate the way he was speaking to me and I walked away. I could feel my face steaming hot, I was shaking, my heart was beating in my ears, UGH I was so mad. Mad because I know I do my best at my job and I am a good nurse. Mad because I'm not like that with family members, what happened to my customer service skills, Im supposed to be so helpful....Mad because Ive never been so disrespected or verbally attacked, especially in the middle of my unit. Mad because I know Im not an RN but I don't need someone to repeatedly remind me of my short commings by yelling at me and enforcing the ramblings that YOURE NOT A NURSE YOURE NOT AN RN YOURE NOT A NURSE.
So after being so mad and the situation kept running through my head, of course I cried. I cried myself to sleep last night and I'm crying now. Even though so many residents and family members have said they appreciate me and the other staff, I'm so nice and go the extra mile to assist in any way, I still felt like nothing..just an LPN.
I'm sure tonight will be tense. He will be there again and I'll probably have to speak to management because of the statements the STNAs and I wrote. But I will be as strong as I can, I will not let him see me break down from the effects of his rudeness.
So to everyone out there who has a lesser respect for LPNs remember we are nurses too. We took our state boards, we went to school, maybe not as long, but we busted our butts studying and learning as much as possible to be the best nurse we could be. I have respect for RNs and someday maybe I'll get there but for now I'm just an LPN....
I feel your pain. I am a LPN too, and I have had many patients and more than that, their families, question my abilities as a nurse. With 1 year experience or 13 years experience (as I have) it does not matter, we are nurses! And we are shuned upon by many lay people and many in our own profession. I have read the responses and appreciate the support that you have received but the truth is that if you are not a RN you are not considered a "REAL" nurse which is truely sad because we give so much to the profession.
Keep your head high and just keep proving yourself to everyone that you are the smart, confident, competant nurse that you are.
Good luck tonight and do not let that family get you down, this to shall pass.....
Katie, it doesn't matter what one man thinks, it only matters what you know inside.....you are a nurse, and neither he nor anyone else can take that away. Just be you, and don't let some emotionally wounded moron ruin your day....I work with some LPNs that have more experience alone than half the RN staff, and they are willing to share the knowledge with everyone. They are the backbone to successful patient care. Don't ever be less! Take care....
Thanks everyone...Im starting to feel a little better. I appreciate the support. Im leaving for work in about an hour so I'll keep everyone updated on how tonight goes. Hopefully better.
My mom is without a doubt one of the best nurses I know. Can explain disease processes better than any MD, can calm to the most agitated patient (or family), and is one of the best IV starters in our facility. I have routinely seen the docs asked her opinion on treatment...and do exactly what she says! She's been an ICU nurse for 8 years now, with 5 years of med-surg before that. She has no shame what-so-ever in correcting people when they call her an RN. She an LPN, and damn proud of it!
Clearly he's an idiot whom is too stupid to keep up with the times. Good riddance to him. I'd rather not have ignorant people as my patients, anyway
Some people fail to realize that in some places, LPNs have taken over all of the responsibilities that RNs once had, and now RNs are slowly taken on more and more "doctor" duties -- both of our scopes are morphing... Constantly! We're butterflies, if you will. ha.
Hello everyone at AN, this is going to be a slight venting session. I will apologize in advance if it becomes a little long...
I am a LPN, graduated last March and I've been working at the same facility since June 08. Well let me just set up the scenario for you all. Last night at work I had an ugly and unfortunate run in with a residents husband. Now this resident is a new admission as of yesterday she has only been there for 1 day. He came into visit, his wife did not have oxygen on and he proceded to go to the desk and ask the STNA's why wasn't it on. The STNA directed him to me, I explained the order I have is for O2 at HS. He said " where did you get that order? thats not right I GAVE THE ORDERS TO THE HOSPITAL!!!" (he has a phD, but is NOT an MD) Well he then walked away, but only for a short time before he came back to attack me again....
So he comes back to the desk, I'm trying to chart. He says "You're the nurse?" I replied "Yes" He said "Well you can't be youre not an RN, LPNs aren't nurses and when I signed my contract here I was told there was always an RN here." Needless to say we got into an argument that I have never encountered with anyone let alone a family member. He kept going on and on about how I'm not a nurse, but his daughter is a RN, I said good for her and congratulations!!! He was disrespectful to myself and my aides. He told my aides they didn't know anything, were they just a bunch of highschool students etc..and the list of name calling continues.
I was so upset in the midst of the argument I told him I don't appreciate the way he was speaking to me and I walked away. I could feel my face steaming hot, I was shaking, my heart was beating in my ears, UGH I was so mad. Mad because I know I do my best at my job and I am a good nurse. Mad because I'm not like that with family members, what happened to my customer service skills, Im supposed to be so helpful....Mad because Ive never been so disrespected or verbally attacked, especially in the middle of my unit. Mad because I know Im not an RN but I don't need someone to repeatedly remind me of my short commings by yelling at me and enforcing the ramblings that YOURE NOT A NURSE YOURE NOT AN RN YOURE NOT A NURSE.
So after being so mad and the situation kept running through my head, of course I cried. I cried myself to sleep last night and I'm crying now. Even though so many residents and family members have said they appreciate me and the other staff, I'm so nice and go the extra mile to assist in any way, I still felt like nothing..just an LPN.
I'm sure tonight will be tense. He will be there again and I'll probably have to speak to management because of the statements the STNAs and I wrote. But I will be as strong as I can, I will not let him see me break down from the effects of his rudeness.
So to everyone out there who has a lesser respect for LPNs remember we are nurses too. We took our state boards, we went to school, maybe not as long, but we busted our butts studying and learning as much as possible to be the best nurse we could be. I have respect for RNs and someday maybe I'll get there but for now I'm just an LPN....
Katie
I'm sorry that has happen to you. I to am a LPN but dammit remember all the nights you had to stay up and study and the sacrifices you have made to get to were you are and also the most important thing is yo are there to take care of his wife that needs someone like urself to be there for her remind him of that but never go to his level let him rant and rave he is only doing so because he has no control over what is going on with his wife try not to take it personal just look at him and say to urself he needs u as much as his wife does hold ur head up
I would be mortified if I were his daughter and knew he acted like that to a sister nurse.
My granddaddy chewed a nurse up because he didn't give him a tylenol for a 98.9 temp. When I got to his room, the nurse was still there. He told me to tell the nurse to get his tylenol. I told the nurse to cont doing a great job, and I'd handle the marine in the bed.
katie u really touched my heart. I went through the same exact thing this week( minus the argument) with a family member. I was disrepected and looked Down on for being a lpn. we just have to hang in there and know we r nurses too.
lerabelle
34 Posts
I feel your pain. I am a LPN too, and I have had many patients and more than that, their families, question my abilities as a nurse. With 1 year experience or 13 years experience (as I have) it does not matter, we are nurses! And we are shuned upon by many lay people and many in our own profession. I have read the responses and appreciate the support that you have received but the truth is that if you are not a RN you are not considered a "REAL" nurse which is truely sad because we give so much to the profession.
Keep your head high and just keep proving yourself to everyone that you are the smart, confident, competant nurse that you are.
Good luck tonight and do not let that family get you down, this to shall pass.....