LPN = Life's Perfect Nurses

Princess74 · Jul 27, 2007

I totally agree with you. LPNs give the most direct Pt care, isn't that what nursing is all about anyway.

Don't get me wrong I think RN are great and hope to become one, especially since in Virginia the scope of practice for a LPN is 99% the same as for an RN. Why not get the better pay.

Life's Perfect Nurses, yep.. I like it!

JOLLIEHOLLY, RN · Jul 27, 2007

I'm sure that you all have heard the negative comments made about LPNs. Some people call us "Little Play Nurses," "Low Paid Nurses," and "Let's Pretend Nurses." A small handful of RNs have mentioned that we're incapable of thinking critically, and so forth. I think it is time for some positive feedback regarding LPNs, because we do occupy an important place in the healthcare system.
Since we frequently spend a whole lot of time with our patients and can offer them care with the personal touch, I think we should be referred to as "Life's Perfect Nurses." I believe we have enough practical knowledge to provide comforting care without becoming lost in the sea of bureaucracy. Does anyone agree, or wish to comment?

:twocents: Hello! According to recent studies, the nurse spends 1.7 hours out the 12 hour shift with the pt. All the other time is spent documenting, hunting down supplies/doctors!! What a shame. I am an R.N. and in nursing school I was employed as a nursing student/cna on a post cabg unit. I believe the cna's get to spend the most time with the patient. If you want opinions on critical thinking skills, I believe an lpn who has been practicing for multiple years has developed critical thinking skills. However, comparing a newly grad lpn and a newly grad rn, I believe the newly grad rn has the upper hand on critical thinking skills. This is because lpn tech schools focus mostly on accomplishing an actual task, and less on disease process. I do know one thing for sure, from doctors to housekeeping- it takes them all!!:thankya:

LPN2RNdude · Jul 28, 2007

i know i got that crap a lot as an LPN,..... people would not be as blunt but they would like say "when are u going to RN school" and "are u an RN or an LPN" so i pushed myself to go back to school. i was tired of working my as* off and getting questions like that thrown at me. plus i felt like i was too limited on what i could do (had to track down an RN to give central line pushes/care) it felt degrading. PLUS i was tired of getting paid 14 dollars less to do the SAME job... THANK god i went back to school!!! i still think the same as an RN (my skills were always good and my critical thinking skills are great) id advise anyone to go back to RN school more money!!!

antidote · Jul 28, 2007

I must say I give kudos to all of you LPN's out there. Although I am an RN, I honestly sometimes wish I was an LPN (due to the average amount of time you guys are given to be with the patient 1/1). As an RN, there is normally much more paper work (for me anyways).

LPN's most definetly should be treated just the same. Heck, you guy's can take so many additional classes and what not you most likely have pretty close the same amount of knowledge! (IMHO)

A small handful of RNs have mentioned that we're incapable of thinking critically, and so forth.

That is an absoulutely incorrect statement on their behalf! They are doubting your personal abilities as well as your instructed skills. You guys are capable of thinking just as critically as any RN (even with a MSN). Although you may not have as much knowledge, your mind is most likely just as capable of processing information and relaying it just as good as anyone!

I think it is time for some positive feedback regarding LPNs, because we do occupy an important place in the healthcare system.

LPN's most certainly do! Although the hospital I work in does not employ them (and in all honesty I wish they would so much) you still do even when you're not in the "hospital" setting. LTC and practice offices are vital to health care as well. Even in some states, LPN's out-rule the RN's (when it comes to the LPN:RN ratio).

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 28, 2007

I'd like to share a story about a person who as a recent BSN graduate did NOT use common sense. This is a nice young lady who works at our hospital as an agency nurse...highly liked and counted on. She began as an LPN and recently became an RN. We were chatting one day and she was tooting her horn about becoming a BSN (not egotistically, though, because she is a sweet girl). About an hour later, she asked for my advice; she tells me that she has a patient who is speaking of committing suicide...even had a plan to either hang herself or to take pills. Her son was murdered three years ago, and her family stopped supporting her because they believed she was grieving 'too long'. My BSN friend told the physician (a cold hearted man- happens to be an attending; not a resident) that this patient needed a psych consult. The doctor came into the room, looked at the patient crying her eyes out and he tells them "Nothing is wrong with this woman" and walks out. I told her to page this doctor's supervisor and share the story with her and I went about my business.

A few hours later, the day is slower and we were sitting together while she was charting (we have computerized charting). She is typing about the suicidal patient and I see her typing in that the patient was sent home, including the entire story about the patient's plans and that she advises that patient that if she continues to feel suicidal to "call 9ll". I said to her..."Are you really comfortable writing this note AFTER you sent the patient home? Did you page the attending's supervisor?". She told me that she used her 'clinical judgement' and that she did not page anyone. I said to her that she might as well place in brackets "Oh, and by the way, I, the BSN DID NOTHING". I was blown away...I felt that this girl sat around tooting the horn of further education but did not act on something so fundamental as intervention for this poor woman. It doesn't take higher education to report to someone higher for prompt intervention. And, if this woman is sincerely suicidal, she will not be calling 911 if she is really serious about following this through. And, to leave this note as evidence was insane, if there was no plan to follow through. But, she is 'highly educated". You know what I want to say that BSN meant in her case...Bull-S-Nurse...

mesh1 · Jul 29, 2007

The first time that I heard those little names that are supposed to be the meaning of LPN was on some other threads, and I must admit I was so hurt. I was hurt because I was accepted into the LPN program, and I was concerned about people looking at me as a "low paid nurse or a "play nurse". I went to bed many nights thinking "am I doing the right thing" because I am not going to be disrespected by anybody regardless of what my training is. I am a smart girl that didn't get into the ADN program like I initially wanted to, but I did get into the LPN program which I am very grateful for. I respect everybody; Housekeepers, CNA's, LPN's, ADN's, BSN's, Doctors and anybody else that I have forgotten, so I will expect the same respect. I am aware that I may not get it from every body, but I will do the job in which my training will provide to the best of my ability regardless. I feel a whole lot better after reading this thread, and love the idea of being looked at as "Life's Perfect Nurse" rather than that other jiberish. That is a good one!!!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 29, 2007

Or we should change the acronym to "Love Perfect Nurses" or "Love Practical Nurses". I am proud of what I do.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2007

I have never had as much responsibility with as little freedom as I have as an LPN, nor have I ever worked harder.

I find it frustrating, to be honest. We are not included in care meetings even though we and the aides are the ones with them all the time, and the minutes of the care meetings are not shared with us. We are not informed as to the diagnoses of new admits.

We are respected and treated well - I can't say that we have many (one) ego problems in my facility - but it astonishes me that I made more as a word processor than I do as a licensed caregiver.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 29, 2007

I have never had as much responsibility with as little freedom as I have as an LPN, nor have I ever worked harder.
I find it frustrating, to be honest. We are not included in care meetings even though we and the aides are the ones with them all the time, and the minutes of the care meetings are not shared with us. We are not informed as to the diagnoses of new admits.
We are respected and treated well - I can't say that we have many (one) ego problems in my facility - but it astonishes me that I made more as a word processor than I do as a licensed caregiver.

Have you considered asking for the minutes or to participate in the meetings? I don't know if your facility is open to this, but, I have found that those that express a desire to may be invited. I do admit that I have been disappointed in the pay scale for LPNs. I have to work an extra day to bring in a respectable income and I am tired most of the time. I see that my job will include LPNs in many things, but I don't do them that often myself because I see it as taking on more responsibility and aggreviation with no increase in pay. But, for those that really wish to gain the insight, knowledge and to participate, it was great for them at my job.

Have you considered becoming an RN? They do have more opportunities are are more involved with the treatment than we are. That is not a goal for me, but, if you are interested, then, go for it!

tookewlandy · Jul 29, 2007

. plus i was tired of getting paid 14 dollars less to do the same job... thank god i went back to school!!! i still think the same as an rn (my skills were always good and my critical thinking skills are great) id advise anyone to go back to rn school more money!!!

why do people keep saying that rn and lpn is the same job, i'm sorry unless i'm missing something rn is waaay different from lpn. in my school you start out as an lpn and after the first 2 semesters you choose lpn or rn. we do what an lpn can do, are taught what a lpn is taught those first 2 semesters,sometimes since most people go on to rn they go a bit further with teaching. i have noticed a huge difference where i am now, not only in skills but in thinking, judgment, patho,pharm, advacned skills, almost everything. i think that lpn and rn have skills such as med admin, am care, etc that overlaps, but it does not seem as the same job to me. unless i missed something in the lpn portion of my program--the 2(rn and lpn) are very different. i'm not saying one is better than the other but i read on here constantly that lpn does the same exact job as rn just gets paid less. i am working very hard to get through the rn program, and when i read things like this, i used to think( before i knew what i know now) " if they do the same job why the heck are there even rn if they can hire lpns to do the same job at a lower pay rate", but now that i have a little more knowledge/experience on the subject i don't think that way anymore. like i said i dont think one is better than the other, of course we need lpn's and rn's. i just read a lot on here from lpns that the two are the same job and i cant understand how

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 29, 2007

why do people keep saying that rn and lpn is the same job, i'm sorry unless i'm missing something rn is waaay different from lpn. in my school you start out as an lpn and after the first 2 semesters you choose lpn or rn. we do what an lpn can do, are taught what a lpn is taught those first 2 semesters,sometimes since most people go on to rn they go a bit further with teaching. i have noticed a huge difference where i am now, not only in skills but in thinking, judgment, patho,pharm, advacned skills, almost everything. i think that lpn and rn have skills such as med admin, am care, etc that overlaps, but it does not seem as the same job to me. unless i missed something in the lpn portion of my program--the 2(rn and lpn) are very different. i'm not saying one is better than the other but i read on here constantly that lpn does the same exact job as rn just gets paid less. i am working very hard to get through the rn program, and when i read things like this, i used to think( before i knew what i know now) " if they do the same job why the heck are there even rn if they can hire lpns to do the same job at a lower pay rate", but now that i have a little more knowledge/experience on the subject i don't think that way anymore. like i said i dont think one is better than the other, of course we need lpn's and rn's. i just read a lot on here from lpns that the two are the same job and i cant understand how

i am not one to believe that lpns and rns are the same. this is why i chose not to become one. the level of responsibility is quite different in most cases and that was something i am not willing to deal with. there is plenty that overlaps to a point, and i think the issue for lpns is that most feel they are not acknowledged as nurses at all, just paid to do skills. the lpns i work with feel this way because in many cases, they are assigned to administer medications to most of the patients in the unit and they witness the rns not doing as many meds and more paperwork. i have a friend that transitioned from being an lpn to an rn and she told me that it is more stress than she ever imagined. it has been a bit over a year, now, and she is still trying to transition her way of thinking.

personally, i support team nursing in the hospital setting. i do think that the rn should be utilized to assess, perform the higher level skills they learned and leave the basic things to the lpn. unfortunately, though, they are not doing this at my hospital. where i work, and i assume that most lpns feel the same way, is that they are teaching the lpns to do more advanced skills such as pic-lines, hanging blood and iv push (just to name a few) and are not being compensated monetarily or acknowledged for these additional skills. some nursing homes are having their lpns create care plans and being charge nurses. while i know for a fact that the rn has more responsibility and theory, it is becoming harder and harder to differentiate or to draw the line when a person is learning and performing the skill without all of the theory attached to it. i had a friend that said to me; "i am trying really hard to find the hallmark or difference when i see them asking the same questions or doing most of the same things that i am". i can concurr for that reason, only. i think it is the doing that has lpns perplexed moreso than the theory. but, i agree, there is a difference.