LPN's just glorified nurse aids in LTC? Huh?

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I recently had a couple of nurses tell me that LPN's are just basically glorified aids in LTC settings.

I though that LPN's did mostly the same work as RN's in the LTC setting.

I know that everyone needs to be a team and pitch in and get whatever needs to be done, done. But LPN's as glorified aids? Why go to LPN school then?

What are typical LPN duties in a LTC setting?

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Not long enough for who? I noticed in your profile that you identify yourself as an ADN student? Is that what ADNS means?

When you graduate, be ready to hear from BSN's how ADN programs aren't long enough. If you are already an ADN , I have no doubt that you've already heard it but I'm betting that you're still a student because your perspective will change once others tell you that your program wasn't long enough either.

And to put all of this crap to rest people, there are NO "3 month" LPN programs that any state will grant a license to any graduate of such a program and I challenge anyone here to give links or info directly from any state board of nursing (not a school or other business) that says otherwise.

Any school or "publishing company" can make these claims, it does not mean that they are true. No school in this country has authority to grant LPN or RN licenses, it is always up to each state board. Graduation and licensure are two different things.

THANK YOU!

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I really wouldn't take that comment to heart... Both my Mother, Grandmother,and Great Grandmother were LPNs and they have saved many lives with their nursing skills................ You are always going to find people who need to feel superior, because deep down inside, they are inferior.

I am in a RN program, not because I am better, but because by the grace of God I was given a space and adequate funding.

Dont always believe what you hear!

Good Luck,

Terri :balloons:

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
You are always going to find people who need to feel superior, because deep down inside, they are inferior.

My thoughts exactly.

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I remember signing these records in LPN school every quarter or so that kept up with how many hours we had spent covering specific topics that were required by the BON for licensing. The instructor revised our schedules at times to make sure our hours tallied up just so. That was one of the reasons why attendance guidelines were so strict. I seriously doubt that you could get the required number of hours for each topic in 3 months even if you spent 24/7 supposedly studying.

Come to think of it all of those publishers who promote Excelsior promise that you can become an RN in as little as 3 months after LPN school. Not to EC bash but if you really could become an LPN in 3 months then you could theoretically have the ASN in 6 mos.

I believe a person's value as a nurse lies in what contributions they make to their patients and most definitely not in their title.

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WOW!!! All these stories about LVN's and CNA's being used interchangabely is SHOCKING! I work in a cardiac unit of a hospital as an LVN and my job is no different than an RN's except I have to pull an RN to do an admission assessment and spike blood for me, that's it! All IV pushes, IV drips, everything is handled by nurse whether it's RN or LVN. If we're short a nurse tech, they rotate the nurses to that position, and it doesn't matter whether you're an RN or LVN. LVN's are very respected at my hospital, but I also think it depends on the nurse being judged. You can have a very experienced caring LVN and a lazy RN. They're even training the LVN's to now take post heart cath and PCI patients and pull sheaths and hang the protocol trips that we're previously only allowed in CCU/ICU. This is in Houston, TX - I would NOT be treated the way some of you are describing, I would leave that hospital so quick it's not even funny....you went to school to be a NURSE not a CNA..just my 2cents

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Gotta agree with that.

I am an LPN in an ambulatory care setting in the south bronx. As far as the glorified Aide comment we are never used as aides and are interchangeable with the RN's. Even if we are floated to the Hospitals we are functioning in the capacity of an LPN. Also FYI when a new Rn comes abroard the internal medicine unit where I work in the clinic it is I the LPN that trains him or her. Skill education and experience account for much of the knowledge that I have and guess what I got that experince in LPN school. If there is a code blue in the clinic the tac-team fought to have me on that team. Granted I don't hang blood or push IV medications but getting an IV line in in critical situations and having the proper fluids to hang and every thing needed for that situation guess what it's me. Example one day we had a glocoscan of 642 and a B/P of 260/121 on the same pt who walked in to the clinic in bad shape once I got the vital signs and called the doctor and the charge RN for continued assesment of that pt, I returned to the room with the IV tray, blood tubes, 0.45% sodium chloride, Clonidine 0.2 1 tab and bottled water. When the doctor started giving the order I had every thing right there. Now one of the other nurses asked me how did I know what fluid to bring for the IV before the doctor ordered it and it was simple to me why because of my knowledge and skills I have obtained as an LPN. LPN's here draw blood insert IV lines give meds, po, id, im injection and hang iv med's granted lpn don't do assessment's here but it is the lpn that gather's the data for the RN. So glorified nurses aide I think not.

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Jeannie! I totally agree! I train the ADN and BSN grads as well as transfer nurses from other hospitals on my floor. We're not just stupid LVN's that some RN's think we are. I am ACLS certified and am always the one called upon in a code situation in the hospital on my floor. I also train RN's and LVN's on ventilators and check off new grad's RN and LVN's on IV push medications, PCA pumps, etc. So anyone that says LVN's are glorified nurse's aide's need a reality check, there are LVN's out there who can function just as well as RN's....and yes, LVN's do assessments, just not the admission assessment, but we are required to do our own shift assessment each shift (which is the same template as the admission assessment) You don't learn how to be super nurse in RN school nor do you learn how to critically think, it all comes with experience. There are also some nurse's aides who are very knowledgable...their job should not be looked down upon either! They're the ones that are the first line assessment eyes for the nurses...you have a good tech that knows what they're doing and a lot of pt. complications could be prevented.

For the LVN's that are doing "nurse aide" work....find another place to work if you don't like it! There are many states and hospitals that use LVN's as NURSES! give your pt's the care you deserve to give....but LVN's and RN's have a responsility to do nurse aide work sometimes....what are you going to do if you find your pt. lying in a pile of poop? go all the way down the hall to find the tech to tell them to clean the pt. up? that pt. is ultimately your responsility!

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I just graduated as an lpn a couple months ago..it took 2 years of pre-reqs & then a FULL year after that..I am the charge nurse on afternoons..I do everything..even run antibiotics & heparin through central lines..I take orders from drs, call in requests to change a med if I think it needs to be, talk to families, mandate & schedule the aides, do all meds & treatments & charting, admits, discharges, weekly assessments,.....everything. We are very respected at my LTC facility...there's only a handful of RN's & they never work nights, so we occasionally have to do IV pushes as well, and the other day I had to put a g-tube back in after it fell out. So, I'm pretty happy right now, making more money than I ever have & feel very proud of myself,

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:deadhorse

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I recently had a couple of nurses tell me that LPN's are just basically glorified aids in LTC settings.

I though that LPN's did mostly the same work as RN's in the LTC setting.

I know that everyone needs to be a team and pitch in and get whatever needs to be done, done. But LPN's as glorified aids? Why go to LPN school then?

What are typical LPN duties in a LTC setting?

I am VERY proud to be an LPN.. I have MORE responsibilty working in a LTC/Sub Acute Facility then I ever had working in our Local Hospital.. I have worked numerous shifts as the House Supervisor and have had to make many desions on my own, yes there were RN's in house, but because of my skills and experience I was assigned as the Supervisor.

When I worked in the hospital I worked in all depts, ICU/CCU Telem Med Surg OB Oncology...and although I had the work, I never had the respect...

So I have to say I totally disagree with your question/comment...I feel very valued in the LTC setting, and I am so much better paid there too :) To all LPN's be proud of yourself first, then be proud of the knowledge and skills you have learned or will learn along the way, No One can EVER take that away from you!!!

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I just graduated as an lpn a couple months ago..it took 2 years of pre-reqs & then a FULL year after that..I am the charge nurse on afternoons..I do everything..even run antibiotics & heparin through central lines..I take orders from drs, call in requests to change a med if I think it needs to be, talk to families, mandate & schedule the aides, do all meds & treatments & charting, admits, discharges, weekly assessments,.....everything. We are very respected at my LTC facility...there's only a handful of RN's & they never work nights, so we occasionally have to do IV pushes as well, and the other day I had to put a g-tube back in after it fell out. So, I'm pretty happy right now, making more money than I ever have & feel very proud of myself,

:nurse: Amen and AMEN !!!!! LPN's are VERY TALENTED and WELL EDUCATED !!!!!!! and as our title indicates...we are PRACTICAL....we can think on our feet and give 110% !!!! We are God's Angels of Mercy are we not???

doing the happy dance as an LPN

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I recently had a couple of nurses tell me that LPN's are just basically glorified aids in LTC settings.

I though that LPN's did mostly the same work as RN's in the LTC setting.

I know that everyone needs to be a team and pitch in and get whatever needs to be done, done. But LPN's as glorified aids? Why go to LPN school then?

What are typical LPN duties in a LTC setting?

That analysis of what a LPN's duties in a LTC could only come from someone without knowledge of other nursing roles.

I was a LPN for ten years before I became a RN. I worked in several different types of settings and roles. But when I was in long term care I was a charge nurse. I did a lot of different things:

a. supervised nursing assistants

b. took orders over the phone

c. made rounds with doctors

d. attended team meetings

e.made assignments for nursing assistants

f. coordinated patients appointment with consultants

g. passed medications and treatments for patients (about 30)

h. fingersticks monitoring for diabetics

I will stop at this point because I really can go on. The LPN is the backbone of nursing care with the help of the nursing assistant :blushkiss in this setting. I did not change diapers or make beds until I became a RN and worked in a med-surg unit.

RN's are usually there in a supervisior capacity of the building or unit. It depends on the shift. In the evening the LPN is in charge of the wing, the RN the building.At least where I worked.

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