LPN are we professional nurses or just RNs?

[Butterflybee]

I've been reading that changes were made in the 80s that distinguished an RN from an LPN with the making of a 'professional nurse'. What does that mean and why arent LPNs included in that? Does anyone know what the changes were that took place and why? I understand that there isn't anything that distinguishes an RN from an LPN in LTC or many times for the most part. So why is it that because a nurse and we are all nurses arent we... LPNS are not assistants....why because of additional courses taken....do RNs want to be so separated from LPNs (was it their idea). Both take NCLEX. I even did an NCLEX review with nothing but RNs. There are LPN charge nurses. So what gives? I really don't understand WHAT is going on within nursing. What happened to nursing in the 80s and why???

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

I am an LPN and close to finishing my associates degree. I gotta admit I was dismayed when I learned that a BSN is the only nurse that is considered to be a "professional". When I first entered nursing I honestly thought that I was entering a career that I would be considered to be a "professional". And now I find out that I am working so hard to obtain my RN lisence and I will still not be considered a professional!

Honestly I don't think I really care either way what some textbook says or that nursing organizations define only the BSN as a professional. Because you know what? In my short 4 years as a nurse thus far, I have seen both professional and unprofessional behavior from many collegues regardless of title, LPN, ADN, BSN, physican. What matters to me is I know that I AM professional even if I'm not A professional.

Sorry I can't answer your question, I know the textbook I had did outline some of the history as to why the BSN was the only nurse considered professional but I can't remember anymore what it said.

the BSN isn't considered the only professional nurse that was thought of in 1965.. see my above post.. all RN's are considered professonal nurses, that includes ADN and BSN..... LPN's are also professional in my book ....

that BSN professional nurse thing went out with high button shoes....

see my quotes on my above post...

[Fiona59]

Per this link, I am a professional nurse.

http://clpna.com/BecomeanLPN/LPNsinAlberta/tabid/68/Default.aspx#5

I even get recognized for my ability to critically think ...

[lunden]

it has always been my understanding that the workforce was phasing out lpn's , which was why i decided to become an RN. but like yourself i've often wondered that myself. i work in a dialysis unit and there is a big difference between LPN's and RN's. one diff. is we can never start on our pt's until a RN is in the building, but the LPN still draws meds and if we are short the LPN has to take on a section like a tech. if you eer come across the "real" reason of what happened, i would love to know.

[Fiona59]

Up here LPNs and RNs attend the same training/orientation course to Dialysis. The main difference in their roles is the ability to iv push one med on return. The RN can push, the LPN cannot. When there is no RN available the med is given s/c.

My province can't even consider phasing us out. They would lose over 5000 nurses that they can't replace. The OR, Dialysis, the ortho clinics, school health programmes and LTC would grind to a halt.

[mc3, ASN, RN]

Just curious - My LPN program was through a college. What criteria, according to Wikipedia, do I not meet to be a "professional"?

From Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary

"professional (adj) 1a: of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b: engaged in one of the learned professions c: characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession 2. a: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs b: engaged in by persons receiving financial return (~football) 3: following a line of conduct as though it were a profession (~patriot)

OR

professional (noun) one that engages in a pursuit or activity professionally"

So, I'm a professional, right?

Just another example of the nursing profession, and unions, creating more problems and confusion. JMHO, of course..

mc3

[lpnflorida, LPN]

Actually in the current hospital I work in when they ask for a professional on such and such a unit. They mean they will take either an LPN or RN unless otherwise specified.

Now I realize as an LPN I am not a professional nurse. That was something I was taught was the RN. I worked in the 80's up north and I do not ever recall being referred to as a professional. Is it a regional thing?

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

During the 80's several factors occurred, one was Joyce Clifford and the push for Primary nursing. To be a primary nurse in her model one had to be a RN ( preferably with a BSN). Also the reimbursement structure changed and many hospitals went to a RN only model.

The training of LPN was also reduced from 2 years to 18 months and now there are some 9 month programs. I have taught as a clinical instructor for PN students and now I have RN students. While the theory is very intense for the PN it is double for the RN.

Are LPN professionals, of course! They are licensed and educated. But the basic PN is not equal to RN, although with experience many LPNS out shine RNS.

[Fiona59]

See that is the problem with the world. No standardization. In my province it's a four semester (two year) ordeal to become a PN with university credits added to the mixture.

Nine months?

But then it's BScN or PN in this area. No other choice.

[miffe03]

Hello,

In answer to your question, regardless of a dictionary's definition, If you follow a dress code ,if you are accountable to your state to maintain your licence, and have to pay for said licence, by society's definition you are a professional. Personally before I entered my 2yr college based LVN program I had already done all the prerequisites for RN this resulted in my AS degree, my thinking at the time was to go through all the levels (I had previously been a CNA). When I graduated in 1999 my plan was to do the bridge program to RN but at the time was so burnt out, with two degrees back to back. I went to work, but I did keep up my education, although 3 of my 5 children were still at home. I've done the RN bridge I added patho, to my educational credits, I even completed all the theory classes through Excelsior, before I ran out of money. Through it all I've maintained my Professionalism. As far as I'm concerned the skills that were taken away from us, was an high-handed and illegal ,act how can you deregulate taught and existing skills. I blame our state boards, who take our money and do not look out for our interests. For all nurses LVN/RN who follow and honor the creed FIRST DO NO HARM are professionals.:loveya:

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Fioana four semesters here in the US would make you an eligible for RN exam. There are some older LPN here would trained for 2 years and now there programs would be RN.

[miffe03]

Hi,

Requirements here in Northern California are 4 semester LVN for most of the college based program, the same as the RN I think it was something like 1500 hrs Clinical hours. plus on top of that I already had my AS degree.

[Thornbird]

kizzykatlove is on the money here. Sorry this is so long.

Studies were commissioned on how to advance nursing as a "profession" on a par with other "professiols" like engineering, architecture and of course medicine. A lot of study went into what differentiates nursing from medicine.

The major findings related to educational standards for a profession. For most of nursing history, nurses had received diplomas from hospitals either as graduate nurses or graduate practical nurses, then taking their respective Boards exams. Of course, "professionals" receive degrees from colleges/universities.

Recommendations were made regarding nursing education with the most obvious being that all nurses should be college educated. This is where the mistaken perception that LPN's are being "phased out" came in. What was recommended was rather confusing and has been implemented partially and sporadically.

It was decided that there would always be a necessity for two levels of entry into nursing. The terms "professional nurse" and "technical nurse" were used in the recommendations. I think the intent was to use different terms than RN and LPN to make the point of a new direction in the field. The rapid developments at that time intechnology for caring for the sick were taken into account. The terms were never meant to be the final "license titles".

It was recommended that all hospital and vocational schools that granted diplomas be phased out and replaced with degree programs that had a "career ladder" built in. The "entry" level for nurses would be at the AD level and these would be the technical nurses who would provide the majority of hands on care in hopsitals and have expanded abilities in non-hospital settings compared to the LPN's of the time. At the BSN level, the professional nurse would manage all patient care and provide care for the most acutely patients. Education to the MSN level would be encouraged so that professional nurses would advance to nurses educators and clinical nurse specialists. The transition between levels was supposed to be simpler than it was for diploma RN's or LPN's to advance their careers due to non-college courses.

Had the recommendations been followed in their entirety in a systematic way, things would have improved greatly for LPN's and I believe for nursing as a whole as well as patients. Remember, at the time, LPN programs were typically 15-18 months long taught in vocational-technical schools or hospitals. There was never a doubt that the licensure for a professional nurse would be the familiar "Registered Nurse". There was discussion about the entry level title and that it should be consistent nationwide. "Licensed Practical Nurse" and "Licensed Technical Nurse" were favored.

As the hospital schools closed and the ADN programs opened, the nation was hit with the worst nursing shortage since WWII. State Boards, which had the final authority, decided to allow ADN graduates to take RN Boards creating more RN's to alleviate the shortage. They also chose not to close the vocational schools and in many cases shortened the programs, also to alleviate the shortage. So now, we have the current mess in nursing education and licensure. Legally speaking, in most areas, the title "professional nurse" is reserved for RN's. However, it was not originally intended that ADN's be licensed as RN's.

What happens next, who knows. LPN's should act professionally and uphold the highest standards of the profession of nursing of which they are still a part.

I hope this helps. Sorry it's so long.