LPN are we professional nurses or just RNs?

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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...:nurse: 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???

Specializes in A little of this & a little of that.

My personal thought is that it should be changed to what was intended, LPN's should have ADN's and RN's should have BSN's. Currently licensed nurses should be "grandfathered" at their current licensure level. We can never hope to advance the profession while there are any nurses being educated at high schools, technical schools and such. No one knows or acknowledges the difference in an LPN who has attended a 4 semester college program or a 9 month technical program.

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I was looking up a nursing license in New York state and realize they had 3 catagories of nurses, LPN, RN, and Professional RN nurse. A professional nurse is an RN with at least a BSN. The ANA states that the "entry level to professional nursing is a BSN, while an ADN is considered a technical nurse." (Per the ANA)

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Specializes in Homecare Peds, ICU, Trauma, CVICU.
I was looking up a nursing license in New York state and realize they had 3 catagories of nurses, LPN, RN, and Professional RN nurse. A professional nurse is an RN with at least a BSN. The ANA states that the "entry level to professional nursing is a BSN, while an ADN is considered a technical nurse." (Per the ANA)

This is what I learned as well during one of my nursing courses. Thanks for posting the source because I no longer have the textbook where I learned this info from and couldn't remember for sure.

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Im not sure if anyone is understanding my question. This is not a complaining or wondering about equality etc.... I wanted open dialogue to find out what changes happened in the 1980s or thereabouts that brought about the label of 'professional nurse' and why. It brought about less respect (status?) for the LPN as we read about often on this board. There are many that look down on LPNs as we all know. I genuinely wanted to understand what changed/ what happened back then in nursing to cause this.

Thank you for your replies but your replies were things I already knew and most nurses know. Im not looking to defend a point, argue, debate or go back and forth, once again I was hoping that there was someone that knew or/and has been around long enough to remember that far back and share what they knew. Did this perhaps begin when or with the desire to phase out the LPN?

People get so defensive, it makes me want to close my account on here sometimes. I thought all of us were here to dialogue and learn. I know I am ..... with that I am saddened to see the replies as a defending of RN status instead of hearing the question I was trying to ask.

I did not think the other replies were defensive- but I thought yours was- just a little. The other posters are explaining RN status, not defending it.

The title and body of your original post are worded in such a way that it is difficult to understand what you are trying to say.

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I was looking up a nursing license in New York state and realize they had 3 catagories of nurses, LPN, RN, and Professional RN nurse. A professional nurse is an RN with at least a BSN. The ANA states that the "entry level to professional nursing is a BSN, while an ADN is considered a technical nurse." (Per the ANA)

States and various nursing organizations have their own definitions.

As an example, AZ and TX refer to all RNs as "professional nurses" and refer to LPNs/LVNs as "technical/vocational" nurses.

As you stated, NY state and the ANA do not recognize ADN or diploma RNs as professional nurses.

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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.

I know. We have RNs from the Phillipines working as LPNs in my hospital, who have fewer skill upon arrival than an LPN educated in my province.

We've basically become the diploma RN (education and skillswise). It's just convincing our health authorities, professional body, and union to step up to the plate and recognize that a body of nurses is being used without proper respect and compensation. The professional body for RNs in this province is the worst. A couple of times a year they mount a lovely media blitz about how the only way to get safe care is from "an educated, dedicated RN". They managed to tick off the Reg. Psych Nurses, the LPNs, and the Repiratory and Physio Therapists last time they did it.

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Hey everyone!

I was wondering if any of you guys could tell me in your opinion "what a professional nurse is?"

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!:wink2:

Thanks again to anyone that can help me!!

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.
Hey everyone!

I was wondering if any of you guys could tell me in your opinion "what a professional nurse is?"

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!:wink2:

Thanks again to anyone that can help me!!

Well my state (Texas) identifies "professional nursing" as the RN level and "vocational nursing" as the LVN level. So if you are judging professionalism only by one's education, then yes I would say only RNs would be considered the professional nurse. However, in the real world it's your position and you actions in which make you a professional. In most cases your patients don't know the difference between RN/LVN/LPN, they just know NURSE and that you act professionally.

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Specializes in ER, Pulmonary.

I have worked in an ER for 1 1/2 yrs. I am an LPN working on bridging to RN. There is a huge difference between us. The RN's are ultimately repsonsible for everything that happens. Pt. care, charting, educating, etc. I am a damn good Lpn, but, without my RN counterparts I wouldn't have the knowledge base that I have now. Their education is more indepth, knowledge base is bigger, responsibilities are extensive. I just ran a code involving a 1 yr. old on Saturday. It took EVERYONE, Dr., paramedics, lpn, RN, lab, xray. The little girl was sent to a pediatric ICU and is doing fine. The RN was responsible for pushing the meds, I charted everything given and took turns bagging. I filled all the paperwork out to transfer and she trusts me enough that she just signed it. It's not the title, it's how you perform your duties inside your scope of practice. The RN's I work with have encouraged me to go on and get my RN and helping me every step. Walk one day in their shoes and you will see the difference. I am not sure about LTC, I was lucky enough to get into an ER. I worked LTC for a little while and didn't care for it. I don't know what happened in the 80's, all I know is the present. Go on and get your RN!

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Specializes in LTC.

hmm...I wonder what the deal was in the 80's too...where exactly did you read that info anyway...id love to have a site to go to and read about it. And I agree too about how alot of times lpn's are looked at as less a nurse than an rn. Ive had people ask me why I havent went back to school....the truth is...i just dont want to. I like being what i am. Even the doctor over the facility I work at has asked me that a time or 2.

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Specializes in Nursing Home.

No, LPNs are considered technicians by labor classification because most receive a technical education. Yes there are alot of licnesed technicans, Radiology Techs, Physical Therapy Assistants, Ultrasound Techs, i could be wrong, but i do think in order to be classified as a professional one needs a university degree. LPNs I think are Licensed Technicians, but still Technicians.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

As of late, I've heard of pushes for ASN/ADN RN's to be called "technical nurses" and encouragement for the BSN RN to be the only "professional nurse".

/sigh.... as an LPN that hurt me to say that.

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