Do you feel the LVN/Lpn Is being left out in the nursing profession?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Alot of the issue lately being brought up in the senate concerns RNs do you feel the Lpn/Lvn is being left out in the issues presented?

LPN WHO? sure i feel like were forgotten, with all the yelling and screaming about the nursing shortage, is anyone doing anything to make it easier for LPN'S to be RN'S? No! I feel that an experienced LPN shoud be able to get their RN Degree easier, but no, most schools want us to repeat everything all over. Vietnam army medics were allowed to test for LPN boards, why can't an expeirenced LPN take an RN Board Exam?

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Hi there,

I just wanted to ad my 2cents. I am a RN, but for 10 years I was a LPN and still hold a LPN in a state or two. LPNs can challenge in some states. I know for a fact you can in California, my RN instructor in RN school was horrified at this. Now I was an Army trained LPN and this might have something to do with it but look it up or give them a call.

I can say that as an LPN I was always an outstanding nurse and often the RNs and Physicans would come to me for assistance on all the hard stuff but I could always tell that to them I was still just a "LPN". I found I always had to be twice thier better to be almost thier equal. Now bare in mind this is within the military enviorment where LPNs are termed "para-professionals". Short for almost a nurse.

Heres what it boils down to, you can be thier better but you will never be thier equal. WHy because the "Nurse Mafia", ie... state boards are Rns making the rules. I can still remember sitting in class (RN school) on the last day thinking most of these people really stink, not because of thier lack of skills but because they believed LPNs and aids were basically there to do thier scut work and they knew more than a seasoned LPN ever would, why, because they were RNs.

The day after I passed my RN NCLEX, a RN (kinda lazy one to) I had worked with for two years said "Congats and hello fellow nurse". She had never called me a nurse before only "Dave the LPN". It made me mad and I just told her "I was always a nurse, only my title has changed".

So if you are a good, hardworking LPN please go on to get your RN, thats the only way things will change.

Just my opinion

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Way to go Dave123. But in my experieinces, I have found it to be that only certain RN's with certain personalities treat anyone "under" them that way. I have too often have the great the great pleasure of working with some that were very respectful of LVN's and depended on them (and myself) quitely heavily at times. The unfortunate part of it was that even we LVN's had knowledge that they needed at the time, we still did not the pay we deserved to go with it.

So many facilities (and other large corporations as well) are now depending on the a person to produce documents and credentials that prove their skills due to, at the least, so many law suits.

Therefor, when you add RN to your name, the pay goes up, no matter what. I have had the fortune of breaking into areas of highly sought nursing and found I make very well in pay without having to go back to school for RN. They NEED us LVN's too much to do away with us, because many times it's way too costly for them to have an RN do the job that an LVN with a few "extra" credentials can do!!!!!!!By participating in a Pediatric program through and agency...and by becoming a CPR Instructor and also going to hands-on workshops for human tissue recovery and becoming an OSHA trainer.......I stayed an LVN!! I would not trade my years as an LVN for anything in the world!!

Originally posted by Dave123

Hi there,

I just wanted to ad my 2cents. I am a RN, but for 10 years I was a LPN and still hold a LPN in a state or two. LPNs can challenge in some states. I know for a fact you can in California, my RN instructor in RN school was horrified at this. Now I was an Army trained LPN and this might have something to do with it but look it up or give them a call.

I can say that as an LPN I was always an outstanding nurse and often the RNs and Physicans would come to me for assistance on all the hard stuff but I could always tell that to them I was still just a "LPN". I found I always had to be twice thier better to be almost thier equal. Now bare in mind this is within the military enviorment where LPNs are termed "para-professionals". Short for almost a nurse.

Heres what it boils down to, you can be thier better but you will never be thier equal. WHy because the "Nurse Mafia", ie... state boards are Rns making the rules. I can still remember sitting in class (RN school) on the last day thinking most of these people really stink, not because of thier lack of skills but because they believed LPNs and aids were basically there to do thier scut work and they knew more than a seasoned LPN ever would, why, because they were RNs.

The day after I passed my RN NCLEX, a RN (kinda lazy one to) I had worked with for two years said "Congats and hello fellow nurse". She had never called me a nurse before only "Dave the LPN". It made me mad and I just told her "I was always a nurse, only my title has changed".

So if you are a good, hardworking LPN please go on to get your RN, thats the only way things will change.

Just my opinion

:)
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Nurse Jenni posted on the General Discussion BB: she had to vent and I don't blame her. This is like connecting the dots- read her post and see where she ultilized her float LPN. In her post I could see lots of dots but could connect only one. How's come?

I have had it up to my keister in this. Since when is the LPN not a viable part of the nursing order? Since when are we not capable and able to perform and function in those clinical areas where we have been trained or are deserving by right of license of being trained. When was it that the role of the LPN as the RNs 'right hand man' was diminished and in many areas taken away outright? Doesn't this just make you a wee bit miffed? It does me. This has nothing to do with the LPN working as an RN: this has to do with what happened to the LPN as the RN's agent.

It insenses me that I outht to 'go back and get my RN' so that I can be more, do more, make more. This was not always the way. When I began my nursing practice these issues didn't exist- now they do and without my permission- just cut off right at the ankles!

There is not a shortage of nurses. There is a miserable misuse of nurses in the area of utilization. There are so many reasons for this-(State Boards of Nursing being just one), that it boggles the mind....does mine, anyway. As far as the NFLPN goes: where are the inroads? Where have we, as a national group of nurses, seen any ELEVATION in our status? I should not have to go back to nursing school to be able to do the things that I was originally trained to do in order to be counted as a viable colleague within the nursing partnership. But that's not the way it is anymore, is it?

As for my colleague in Tawas: I live in Hillman. I need LPNs right now in your area to help me out in my expanding home care business. These nurses would be working for themselves- contracting there services. If you know of any LPNs in your area who would like some part time work email me--I will send you info as to what we do and the counties where we need the help.

Let me say that for the past seven years the ownership of my own business has been the most rewarding work I've had. Not because my previous nursing experiences weren't great, but because I don't deal anymore with the outright ostracizing that seems to appear the minute an LPN comes on to the nursing scene; and while this may not be the case in all areas all the time, I sense that in time it will be...unless LPNs become willing to stand up and demand to be counted as genuine members of the nursing community.

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I have said this before- and will say it again.......around here (granted I am a Canadian) LPN's have 2 choices- home health or long term care. HOSPITALS DO NOT USE THEM- at least not in my neck of the woods. Excuse me.....one part of the hospital does- the long term care floor (AKA rehab) WHY? Because the pts are predictable and stable with predicatable outcomes.

That is the way the standards of practice work around here.

So it only goes to reason that if you want more CHOICE.......more latitude, the ability to make more money......then honey, get your RN. IF you don't and want to work in home health or LTC......great. THen being a LPN is the way to go.

As some of you know, I have been both. I work in a large teaching hospital that uses primary nursing. One RN has total responsiblity for 5 or 6 pts. It is a surgical floor with a step down unit on it. Busy, hetic and HIGH acuity of pts. Meaning, LPNs could not work here in a primary nursing enviroment.

I went back and got my RN- took me three years and lots of work- but I have never..ever looked back. Everyone in life has choices and I just wanted more choices to choose from!

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:rolleyes:

In 1979, when I recieved my diploma as a Practical Nurse, I was very excited!

I had been trained to providewholistic bedside nursing care.

I could anticipate needs based on clinical data as well a general psychology.

I had been trained to monitor: vital signs, IV infusion rates (using drip method not a pump) wound sites ( making note of signs of infection, drainage, odor), check for placement of an NG tube and deliver NG feedngs. I had been trained in ascepric technique, and could with all confidence, insert and remove an indwelling foley catheter, change a surgical dressing, safely administer medications using "the five R's", and the list goes on and on.

For what I could see, Intravenous insertion and administration of IV fluids was the only thing not in my "scope of practice". Some hospitals did train LPN's to do IV interventions.

I do think that the LNA has taken over where the LPN would be better put to use. The RN's would be free to do more, if todays hospitals would incorporate and return the use of LPN's as the bedside caregiver. While we are not technically trained to make nursing asessments and evaluations, we can do the hands on tasks and report our findings to the RN (the way we did 20yrs ago) and the RN would do the follow up. (not enough room to spout)

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Refering to above post:

STudy after study has shown that primary nursing care is better for the pt. and nurse.

Being "trained" to do a skill..... well just does not cut it today. You need the assessment skills and critical thinking skills that go along with the tech. skills.

Nurses today are not "trained" they are educated. This is what has changed in the last 20 years or so.

I graduated as a practical nurse in the mid 80's and today's scene demands a solid, well-rounded degree nurse.

This is, of course, my own personal opinion. It is, also, the trend today. I could be wrong, but I don't believe , from what I have seen that a shortage would change the reality.

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I have been a LVN since 1999. I was 2 months away from graduating with my ADN and had to quite re: finacial reasons. There was really nothing new that I learned in the ADN program that I had'nt already learned in LVN school. Its just more community based stuff. I can do anything that an "RN" can do its just that I'm single with no children and my parents have always made too much money for me to get any finacial aide or grants and I can't afford to go to school!! It is really annoying when your working somewhere and you have your own patients. You are doing everything that needs to be done for your pts and you can't take a phone order for them!! I'm very strong in IVs and central lines and it really upsets me that I am not allowed to draw 5cc of blood from a central line on one of my pts for lab!! At the hosp. where I used to work LVN could not draw blood from central lines. But we could administer possible life-threatening medications via central line????? It does'nt make sense. My LVN school was very good. We went into great detail about EVERYTHING. My class of 40 passes state boards 100%. It almost makes me feel stupid when I can't do these things for my pts, when I know I'm very capable!!

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I went to school only a couple of years ago and we were taught how to make nursing assessments and evaluations! LVN/LPN and RNs should ALL know how to do that and be able to do that! I also feel IV insertion and fluid administration is within my scope of practice. A nurse (LVN/RN) should have critical thinking skills and be capable of performing these tasks. If they are not, maybe they should'nt be a nurse. I believe that whatever facility you work at should briefly train you and make sure you are capable of performing these things, if not then hire someone else or provide training till you feel confident.

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I graduated in 1976. What a year that was. Now look, 26 some years later I feel as those 26 years of experience should count for something. Within those years I have learned so much. After being told by many of my superiors that I should not waste my talents, I attempted to return to school. It comes down to this. Either I am ready to make the sacrifices that go with rerurning to the classroom or continue what I am doing the rest of my life. The RN from Canada is right. We as LPN's (myself included) have the choice to get educated or continue doing the two things she says we are equiped to do. Both are stable jobs, less money, and can sometimes be rewarding. Not much can go wrong or can it? Think about it. The person with the most to loose, while they make more money, they also carry the most responcibility. Although I am self educated (meaning I have the questioning mind) I am no closer to my desire to be a CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator). I must follow all of the others before me. I must recognize that the bar has been raised and I have the choice to endure or give up and be complacent. I guess I have just talked myself into getting over the "being scared" part. Thanks for allowing me to vent. I must also tell you of a field were LPN's are coming into their own. Hospice Nursing. I have gained so much respect and admiration for this profession. Again, there you are in a long term setting. The difference is this: nothing stays the same and there are always changes. Things are not stable there. Flo

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

I AM NOT LEFT OUT! This seems to be a regional problem. I live in upstate NY. Their are jobs, jobs, jobs, advertised everyday for all areas of nursing where I live for LPN's. I am a homecare nurse...I do high tech peds ...kids with trachs, on vents, with feeding tubes- mickeys and g-tubes. I am good at what I do and in constant demand at my agency. If I wanted, I could become employed at the large level one trauma center about 30 miles from my home. Every Sunday they have a huge ad, advertising for LPN's. I worked there a couple of years ago...but couldn't cope with 3-11...just not my time of day to work. I was taught alot of new things while I worked there. Blood draws, starting IV's, and was about to start their med course to pass meds on the rehab floor where I worked. The meds are all done by LPN's. How could I feel left out when I have so many possibilites to explore if I ever wanted to do another type of nursing. Have a good day...Colleen;) (The rehab floor was not long term care.)

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Hi guys, I am an LPN who is bridging to get my RN. I love being an LPN but it seems to get anywhere you have to have your RN. I want to work in ICU and most hospitals you must be an RN. I think that LPN's are definitely left out of the loop. I think we are just as skilled as the RN's.

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