LPN's are Nurses Too? Aren't they?

[RNinICU]

Most of the LPNs I have worked with are hard working and knowledgable. I have worked with a few who were lazy and incompetent. Most of the RNs I have worked with are hard working and knowledgable. I have worked with a few who are lazy and incompetent. The point I am trying to make here is this. It is the person that makes the nurse, not the title. Good luck in your studies.

[ThirdWorldGirl]

Well I just checked my license and yes it's confirmed "I'm a nurse" says so right there........ licensed vocational nurse in the state of Texas.

[cactus wren]

Way back when, the BON in Nm opened the lpn boerds to challenge. I have afriend who did just that, and passed with flying colors. And 40+ years later, she is still working. tried retiring a few years ago, didn`t like it. That gal taught me as a new RN how to start Iv`s( i swear she could get one in a stone... ). She has forgotten more about birthing them babies, than most folks know..Wonderful person, wonderful nurse...Titles don`t show the heart...LPN`s are great nurses...!!! Congats on starting school !!!

[mattsmom81]

Trouble is, there are some folks who are so into the hierarchy in health care that they don't see the forest for the trees. This is propogated from within healthcare.

Yes indeedy do you will be a nurse and don't let anybody tell you differently! I was an LPN first, RN second and I was a good nurse then and now.

Docs frown at me and ask why I didn't go to medical school too....it comes with the territory...just ignore the turkeys who try to put ya down...there's lots of 'em out there unfortunately.

Do what makes YOU happy!!!! And welcome.:)

[PowerPuffGirl]

I was just accepted into a practical nursing program, and I too am finding that too many people out there either have never heard of an LPN, confuse LPNs with CNAs, or have an otherwise less-that-positive reaction.

It's frustrating at times, and sometimes I do catch myself on the defensive, explaining that I am entering the field in this fashion for a variety of reasons, but economic considerations are probably the largest chunk of that.

Even my father was less than thrilled. After I explained what I was going to do, and explained how school/clinicals would work, and having to sit for the boards, he got a confused look on his face and asked me, "What kind of test is that? Do they check and see if you know how to take a BP?".

On a more positive note, I ran into a friend today, who was with her cousin. She introduced me to her cousin, who is an RN, and told her, "PowerPuffGirl is going to nursing school". The cousin perked up, asked me where, and I told her that I was going to the LPN program at the nearby tech school. I was dreading a negative response, but she smiled and said, "I went there, year ago! I was an LPN for several years, and I just completed my RN a few years ago. It's a good school, good luck!".

It really made my day, it was so nice to hear, after having to explain what an LPN is, so many times.

[nursetobe-babe]

can't seem to delete my post, never mind this

[RainbowzLPN, LPN]

Congrats on getting into PN school, Jenn! :balloons: I'm starting my classes in Aug, I can't wait to get started either! Good Luck & welcome to the board!

[Flynurse]

When I first started nursing people would ask me all of the time, "What do you do?"

I'd say, "I'm an L.P.N.!"

They would say, "What's that?"

OR

My boyfriend would say "She's a nurse."

They would say, "Really!!?? Are you an R.N.?"

I would say, "No, I'm an L.P.N."

They would say, "Oh." :uhoh21:

I agree, it did annoy me to no end. But then I took this opportunity to be an advocate of what my job description really is. Accentuate the positive. LPN's can do so much more than the public realizes. Besides....WE ROCK!!!

[justjenn]

Thanks everyone for all your imput. I am darn proud to be going to school to become an LPN, and I will be a good one too.

My plans are to work in a nursing home, not a hospital. I want to take care of those who others have left or forgotten. Everyone has a story to tell, and I hope to listen. The nursing home I want to work at requires their nurses to wear traditional uniforms, which I am too please to do. I even have a 1940's blue & red cape ready to go.

Again, thanks for the replys and I am glad to be a part of this forum.

Best -

Jenn

[wasgigi]

Crongrats to you.

I just started to teach in a LPN program. I love my students. They are really great. They are going to be great nurses. But even in the education area I am finding that LPN's seem to be the poor stepchildren of the nursing profession and my program is sometimes treated that way by the ADN progrm administration. We have to use the lab when they are done with it etc.

Without LPN's the long term care industry would be in big trouble as would a lot of hospitals. The cirriculum for our students has remarcably comparable course of study to the RN students and they do it in 1 year.

[Disablednurse]

Congratulations JustJen, I have been in nursing for 25 years and I started out as an LPN. I remember just how excited I was when I was accepted into the program. I have worked with some LPNs that could work circles around RNs. Where I used to work LPNs oriented the RNs to the floor and did a great job. They also worked when RNs would not. I am a great advocate for the LPN and when anyone would say "she is just an LPN" I would tell then there is no such thing as "just an LPN". Made a lot of folks stop in their tracks, but no low rating the LPNs.

[debRNo1]

Originally posted by halen5150

Please do not let others misconceptions sour your happiness..

Good Luck

I was an LPN for many years before becoming an RN. Sure there are good and bad nurses despite the titles we hold. There are LPN's who can without a doubt run circles around the RN's and I was one of them.

I worked in LTC where LPN's do ALMOST everything that RN's do.

The shame of it is that the pay scale is so drastically different. I worked various positions as an LPN from pushing meds to supervision. When I got my RN many people were surprised they thought I WAS an RN already !! Being an LPN was THE best experience I could have ever gotten as a nurse.

Dont listen to the nay-sayers and their misconceptions about our titles and remember that "empty wagons rattle the loudest"

Lots of luck and congratulations on your decision to be a NURSE

deb