I would like to know if anyone has had a similar problem to mine and how you handled it. Well, here it goes...
Last week, on break, I was talking to a friend of mine that works in the kitchen. I said something to the effect of, "Girl, you just don't know. I'm a Nurse so my feet are always barkin'." An RN that works on the same floor as me quickly turns around and snaps, "You're not a Nurse, you're only an LPN." I didn't say anything but I wanted to tell her that I am a Nurse and I wear that title proudly. I may have yet to go back to school to get Registered but I take care of the patients with the same, if not more, care than you do!
I'm just a little taken a back that RN's, the ones that I've encountered, don't respect us LPN's. Why are they are on their high horse and they think they are far more superior? Shouldn't we all ban together for the sake of great patient care instead of trying to form some "Hosptial Caste System". Sometimes I feel so undereducated when they act like I don't matter. I graduated High school and LPN school with a 4.0 and I also got a 1280 on my SAT's. I feel like I have to constantly reiterate that I'm not this complete ignorant Nurse that the RN's portray me to be. Ok, I may have only one year of post-high school education, but I wanted to start at the bottom of the totem pole and work my way up.
I feel that LPN's are being marginalized by the RN's (in my hospital. I don't want to generalize).
How can I handle this situation? I hate being emotionally weak because it really does hurt. Do you consider LPN's "not real nurses"?
An older RN who was hired to be the overall house supervisor was engaged in a four or five way conversation with several nurses (including the DON and me) one day at shift change. She denigrated the fact that I was in a BSN program at the time, making a very unprofessional remark about the BSN degree. I found this very interesting inasmuch as I had already observed her lack of competence and professionalism. Her idea of being the house supervisor was to find a nook or cranny in the facility and sleep during night shift. Then she wrote up the champion sleep queen. The sleep queen reported the supervisor to the DON and got her fired and continued her practice of sleeping rather than working. Just goes to show you that those who should be setting the example sometimes need to look at themselves first. I did not say one word to her in response to her insulting remark about BSN. After all, one of the reasons, I had been hired at that facility was b/c I was in school for a BSN. And I sometimes know when it is better to keep my own mouth shut. This person only made herself look bad in front of the DON (who BTW) held a PhD in nursing. The nurse who called you "only an LPN" was only showing her own ignorance.
I work on a unit that the LPN's do the primary nursing. The RN's on the unit do make comments that we are just LPN's. The nurse manager even has said it. I think of it like this... If it was not for the LPN then the RN would not be able to do her job. I will remember as I go on for my education that I will not treat anyone like that. The CNA's I work with are team members, not just aides. Lead by example. I cannot change the RN's view, just my reaction.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
This is a pet peeve of mine, also. I always wanted to be a nurse, and until I was in my early 20's, I didn't know the difference between LPNs or RNs, in fact, until I started working as a psych aide, I didn't know that there were LPNs and RNs, I always thought that everyone was a 'nurse'. Then, as time went on, I decided that I wanted to be an LPN. Why? I always hated too much theory and unnecessary information (for me). Just get to the point, already...I felt. When I had an opportunity through my job to become an LPN (they sponsored me), I had no idea that I entered into an LPN program that was creating a bridge to the RN. This meant that I had to take college pre-requisites for anatomy 1 and 2, etc. I was thoroughly disgusted sitting in that anatomy class learning junk that I would not really come across again. But, I did it, and now, I obtained my LPN license.
Now, since I have been an LPN, of course, I was confronted with this silliness. What amazed me is that there is nothing that the RN has that I want. I don't want their title, responsibility, accountability or stress. I admit, I'd love their paycheck, but I don't want the stress behind it, so, basically I am happy. I don't live out of my means, I pay my bills, and I do see a better life for myself overall. I get rude with the ones that continue to make such inconsiderate comments, because they are insecure themselves. And, I have said to them on occasion to get a *nurse* since I obviously don't qualify in their eyes.
My desire was, and still is to work closely with the RN to achieve the goal of patient care. I continue to read, obtain continuing education certifications and learn from those that wish to mentor me. Please don't think badly of yourself. As you continue to move up (if you choose to), they will STILL want more of you. At times, I think they are angry because they do have a nurse working with them, but is limited in scope of practice, which means that unfortunately, the RN gets more slack. Be proud...you ARE a NURSE.
You mentioned the RN pay in your last post. Sometimes the RN doesn't even get paid more or much more. I accidently saw the pay rate of an RN at my LTC facility. She was being paid 99 cents an hour more than me.
In home health, on many cases the RNs are being paid the same as the LVNs. I guess none of us are getting wealthy.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
pagandeva2000
You mentioned the RN pay in your last post. Sometimes the RN doesn't even get paid more or much more. I accidently saw the pay rate of an RN at my LTC facility. She was being paid 99 cents an hour more than me.
In home health, on many cases the RNs are being paid the same as the LVNs. I guess none of us are getting wealthy.
LOL...true. I was comparing the difference between the salary of the LPN and RN in New York, which is a considerable difference. But, as I said, it is not worth all of the responsibilty to me. At my agency, we get about $25 an hour and the RNs get $65, but we stay at the home basically all day, and the RNs usually stop at their homes and perform a specific skill such as pic-lines, or IV therapy. But, bottom line is that none of us are getting paid what we are worth, like you said.
This rumble continues because of the example I am going to give. And yes I developed hard feelings over this. I work at a clinic in family practice and internal med as a LPN. Well my boss wants me to float the specialty areas, which I think is great. She said the only area I might have some difficulty in is OB. So I got on this in house web site for classes that are offered (to hospital and clinic employees) and I saw a class called Basic Fetal Monitoring. Well when I proceeded to read it, it said for RN's who work in the clinic or hospital environment. Nothing about LPN's. So I called the person in charge and asked if I could take it. She proceeded to tell me that "yes" I could but it's meant for RN's because LPN's aren't aloud to read them. I didn't ask about the details of what I can and can't do, I just asked if I could take the class. So as a LPN, I'm not considered as smart as a RN, but when I try and get more knowledge even in my own facility, I get basically rejected. The more I'm in the health care field the more I'm convinced I will not get my RN. I don't even know if I'll remain a LPN. This hierarchy stuff is for the birds and I've only been a LPN for less than a year and I'm already sick of fighting city hall. I know not all RN's have a negative attitude towards LPN's, but I know if I want to put into that category of not liking someone because of their title. I'm grateful for the housekeeper that cleans, the secretary's who make appts. and the RN's who are nice enough to mentor me, etc. As the saying goes "Why can't we all just get along?"
With all due respect, it seems to me that they are being very accommodating and supportive of you. They told you that you could take the class for your own edification, even though it is not to the agency's benefit since they will be teaching you to do something that their policies or the LPN scope of practice (not sure which) don't allow you to do on the floor.
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
An older RN who was hired to be the overall house supervisor was engaged in a four or five way conversation with several nurses (including the DON and me) one day at shift change. She denigrated the fact that I was in a BSN program at the time, making a very unprofessional remark about the BSN degree. I found this very interesting inasmuch as I had already observed her lack of competence and professionalism. Her idea of being the house supervisor was to find a nook or cranny in the facility and sleep during night shift. Then she wrote up the champion sleep queen. The sleep queen reported the supervisor to the DON and got her fired and continued her practice of sleeping rather than working. Just goes to show you that those who should be setting the example sometimes need to look at themselves first. I did not say one word to her in response to her insulting remark about BSN. After all, one of the reasons, I had been hired at that facility was b/c I was in school for a BSN. And I sometimes know when it is better to keep my own mouth shut. This person only made herself look bad in front of the DON (who BTW) held a PhD in nursing. The nurse who called you "only an LPN" was only showing her own ignorance.