LPN's get sued more than RN's?

[michelle95]

I started LPN to RN school yesterday. During a break I was talking to a regular RN student. She told me that the doctor she works for said to not fool around with her LPN but to go for her RN. The reasons he stated were: 1. RN's get paid more (ok, I see that one) and 2. LPN's are more likely to be sued than RN's.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Are we (LPNs) really more likely to be sued?

[sdg]

I don't know the answer to that, but the only thing I can think of is that it might have to do with the limited scope of practice. Maybe there have been issues with LPNs going outside of that???

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I started LPN to RN school yesterday. During a break I was talking to a regular RN student. She told me that the doctor she works for said to not fool around with her LPN but to go for her RN. The reasons he stated were: 1. RN's get paid more (ok, I see that one) and 2. LPN's are more likely to be sued than RN's.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Are we (LPNs) really more likely to be sued?

RN's do get paid more in most settings and they should..As for getting sued-I have never heard a dumber sounding statement in my life.....I always belived that the entity with the deepest pocket was the most likely to be sued...Why sue the staff nurse-RN or LPN-when you can go after the whole facility?

[michelle95]

I know. It was kind of odd. I just hadn't heard that before.

[sasha2lady]

I too have never heard that lpns get sued more....I think for a suit to be brought against anyone in general....the situation would have to be realllllly bad ....but....thats just me.

[lpnflorida, LPN]

I am not aware of this either. Never happened to me, never happened to anyone that I know of. So, I have to say bunk. The doctor might have been more correct to say More doctors get sued than nurses in general.

[systoly]

I started LPN to RN school yesterday. During a break I was talking to a regular RN student. She told me that the doctor she works for said to not fool around with her LPN but to go for her RN. The reasons he stated were: 1. RN's get paid more (ok, I see that one) and 2. LPN's are more likely to be sued than RN's.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Are we (LPNs) really more likely to be sued?

These statements are third hand information, but let's take them at face value. The reason why these statements are given any validity at all is because of the source ( the doctor). If an automechanic made these statements, they'd be immediately dismissed. I happen to believe the good doctor is mistaken. In my state, malpractice insurance premiums for RNs are slightly higher than for LPNs, which disqualifies LPNs as a high risk group. While RN wages are higher than LPN wages, while attending RN school it's LPN wages versus no wages - no calculator needed.

[NURSET2007]

I know that RNs get paid more than LVNs/LPNs but as far as us getting sued more, I am not sure. I havent heard anything to justify that. maybe that was just a scare tactic to get her to go for her RN. There is also the fact that us as LVNs are often expected to go outside our scope of practice to get the job done. and hopefully we all DON'T!