LPNs: Myths and Misconceptions (Part III)

[TheCommuter]

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) have provided basic nursing care in multiple countries for many years. Still, LPNs remain misunderstood in the world of healthcare, and this can be evidenced by the unfounded statements that other nurses and members of the public make on a continual basis.

Numerous individuals have helped to spread inaccurate information about LPNs, and many of these people have never even worked one single day in the nursing profession. A handful of the most persistent myths regarding LPNs were discussed in part one and part two of this four-part essay. A few more negative myths are listed below.

Myth number seven: LPNs are being phased out.

This particular myth has been floating around since 1965, which is the same year that the American Nurses Association (ANA) had published a famous position paper stating that all nursing education in the United States should take place in institutions of higher education (a.k.a. colleges and universities). The paper suggested that all future nursing education be at the baccalaureate level or higher. After the release of the ANA position paper, people in the nursing profession started saying, "The LPNs, associate degree RNs, and diploma RNs are going to be phased out!"

Here's what ended up happening. Three-year diploma programs used to be the most common way to educate and train RNs; however, these types of nursing programs were slowly phased out after the ANA published its position paper. Several thousand diploma programs existed in the US in 1965, but less than 100 still operate in 2012. However, LPN programs and associate degree RN programs rapidly increased in number during the same time period. Nearly 50 years has elapsed since the ANA position paper was released, and LPNs are still very much a part of the workforce.

Myth number eight: All LPNs secretly resent RNs.

Of course, every profession is going to have a few passive-aggressive members who use sabotage and insubordination to indirectly express their secretive resentments. However, not all LPNs secretly resent RNs. In fact, many LPNs respect RNs and would like to become one someday. Jealousy and resentment are not involved.

Myth number nine: All LPNs have certificates or diplomas.

Some LPNs have earned associate of applied science degrees in practical nursing. If you are interested, please click on the links below to read more about this educational pathway.

[mc3, ASN, RN]

Thank you again, Commuter :)

mc3

[GM2RN]

Realnursealso/LPN - Where do you live??? Seriously....:nurse:mc3

Midwest. I prefer not to be any more specific on an open forum.

[heavenwith7]

I just became an RN a month ago, after 22years of practicing as an LPN. When I first started with my LPN license in 1990, I was very proud. Some of my classmates went to work in hospitals, I took the LTC route. After many years full-time, I took a few years off to stay home with my children. When I retruned to the workforce as a per-diem LTC nurse, and substitute school nurse, I had a totally different perception of myself. I felt taken advantage of, never given credit/recognition for my work, treated like an idiot, and almost felt ashamed. So I decided to go back to school. I have more experience than most RNs in the workforce today. I did things in a county nursing home 20 years ago, that are hardly done anywhere anymore. I was treated incompetent, unless I was the only one available & it was convenient, then I was suddenly competent enough. I'm now an RN on a Med/Surg unit in a hospital. Because of staffing, the hospital recently hired LPNs to work in a float pool. I think that's so Awesome!! But I can say first-hand, the Myths about LPNs are a growing trend, it wasn't quite this bad 20 years ago. I can also say, my experience helped to *almost* breeze through a difficult nursing program, and it's also helping flourish in my new job. And I most certainly did use critical thinking when I was an LPN, all nurses use critical thinking for crying out loud. And when I was school to be an RN, I frequently became upset about the way LPNs were discussed; this could be some of the problem.

[Fiona59]

Isn't the phasing out also cyclical in nature. I don't think the LPN role will ever go away I do think there will be an upshift in education levels just like everything else. Rn's will shift to the BSN entry level and LPNs will shift to the old ADN level.

That's what's happened in Canada. The BScN is the only way to become an RN. The PN programme is the diploma programme. But still the PN graduate has more intense on the floor hands on experience than the degree RNs. Pretty much used as unpaid staff on their clinical time. The PNs work the full shifts for six to seven weeks on placement. The degree students get by with the minimum hours.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

I fully believe that the BSN for RN makes the most sense. Prereqs often take 2 years so to add another 2 years of nursing school on top of that and ONLY give you an associates degree? Thats just cruel and a waste of educational resources.

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

Realnursealso/LPN - Where do you live??? Seriously....:nurse:mc3

I live close to Syracuse,NY. Look in the Syracuse Newspaper online, you'll find lots of jobs. A lot of the places hire new grads too.

[DoGoodThenGo]

One often has the feeling that the nursing profession in the United States is just like a sorority or high school clique. You've got the "popular" girls versus the "unpopular" and neither camp often wants to be bothered with the other.

This amoung other divisions is one of the main reasons the nursing profession struggles for self control. Instead of uniting behind one common set of beliefs/goals, we have all this squabbling over territory.

While RNs and LPNs wage war upon each other hospitals and other facilites are fueling the fire by playing one side against the other. Or, simply getting shot of both professional nurses in favour of expanding the use of UAPs.

States need to look up north to Canada and start rethinking the roles of both LPN and RN with an eye to perhaps allowing the acuity/condition of the patient decide what level of skilled nursing is required.

In many states LPN programs are barely longer than CNAs. Raise the bar a little on LPN programs to two years with a heavy focus on clinical/bedside care. This would fit nicely with the push to make BSN mandatory for entry which is happening anyway via hospital hiring regardless of what state BONS decide. I mean why take a jumped up nursing assistant (sorry for putting it that way, and do not mean to offend) with a few extra courses to do what LPNs already know?

Yes, going for an all professional nurse staffing would cost more on paper, but look at the larger picture of cost savings in terms of patient safety, harm, infections, bedsores, and so forth all of which are increasing in this country.

[steffuturelpn]

I Am a new grad lpn in Philadelphia and I love my job at a nursing home\rehab, my pay is great and so is my experience at my job the lpns and rns do the same duties, ivs vacs trachs everything, so I feel highly respected, yes I am getting my rn soon but I would not change the way I did things, my pay is better than new grad rn pay at the local hospitals, and the one that does hire lpns pay is crap, I am perfectly happy where im at and im proud to be a lpn

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

Sadly, in my area at least, LPNs are no longer found in most hospitals...I was one of the lucky ones who was "grandfathered" in at my facility and able to keep working acute care while working towards my ADN. When one of the units in our hospital got rid of their LPNs (the newest had been working that unit for over 15 years, the oldest for 30) and replaced them with brand spanking new BSNs, my manager at the time went to her higher ups and told them flat out that she refused to even entertain the notion of losing her LPNs because "they are part of the backbone of my floor and I'm not losing their experience". It's still the elephant in the room however and I don't think I'll feel true job security until I have my BSN at least.

As to what CLROONEY said...I've been blessed to work with people who value me for what I'm capable of, not just what my degree status is...Last time I had a patient refuse to have me because I was a LPN, my charge nurse that night went in and told him "She got assigned to you because of how sick you are. Your choice is a LPN with over ten years experience or a RN with less than a year's worth. You still want the RN?" Gotta love working with people who will stick up for you.

[GM2RN]

I find it interesting that someone would interpret a frank discussion on the current state of affairs as RNs and LPNs waging war on each other and squabbling over territority.

[Dafabb, LPN]

I don't know where you are but I am in Dallas. I have been here almost 10 yrs and seen a big decline in the LVNs in the hospital. Presby,Baylor,HCA wont even hire LVN's. There are many less now in the hospital and when they leave there will be no more. The Hospitals are even starting to not hiring a 2 yr RN. I was fortunate to work agency for many yrs so in that we are seasonal and used. We don't count as employed so their GOLD standard still applies. I have worked in every unit of a hospital for years but am unable to do so these days. I am glad where you are at you still have the choice. Many States are doing the same. We just have to go in other directions. After 35 yrs I am glad to. I want a stress free active job with no one breathing down my neck. Home Health is one of those jobs. I can love and play with my Patients at will. And trust me they love the attention.

[DoGoodThenGo]

I find it interesting that someone would interpret a frank discussion on the current state of affairs as RNs and LPNs waging war on each other and squabbling over territority.

Was not referring to just this thread but rather the overall converstation nationwide.