LPN'S are NURSES TOO

Nurses LPN/LVN

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We, LPN'S need to speak up more and grab the attention of administrators,Legislators, (State and Federal) Governors ,the public and anybody else who views the RN as the only true nurse. Just the same way the RN gained their respect in the 80's and 90's . The LPN is a well trained ,valuable member of the health care community. Patient and resident oriented health care provider. We observe s/s ,status change, improved or declining. organize and follow thru with presented problems . To insure the best outcome for that individual. Incorporating the the health care TEAM. I say LPN'S ARE VALUABLE NURSES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why do LPN's compare themselves to RN's? Of course you are all nurses, the last time I checked only RNs and LPNs can call themselves nurses. However, I haven't seen one Nurse Practice Act in any state that didn't call for the LPN to work under the directions of an RN. If an LPN could assess,perform IV's,ect..Then you would be an RN. Be proud of who you are.

In addition, the public does have the right to ask you whether you are an RN or LPN. If the question offends you, you need to analyse why it does.I have asked practitioners if they are the MD,NP, or PA and none of them get bend out of shape. Everyone has a different scope of practice & regardless of whether you've been an LPN for 100 yrs, don't perform services on me or any other pt for that matter unless you are not legally suppose to perform it.

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My nurse practice act does allow me to perform assessments, start IVs and a few other goodies. I'm not an RN and don't want to become one.

Our scope of practice is constantly expanding due to limited healthcare dollars. It's almost as if RN's are pricing themselves out of the labour market in some provinces. Maybe it's time for the public and RN professional bodies to realize exactly what PNs are educated and capable of doing.

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What state are you in?

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Specializes in med/surg, LTC.

Here in NY LPN's perform ongoing assessments, insert IV's and administer IV medication

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If an LPN could assess,perform IV's,ect..Then you would be an RN.

Just more evidence of how so many RN programs are severely lacking in educating their students on LPN practice.

I just can't believe the number of RN's who are put into positions to "supervise" LPN's and have this minimal level of knowledge about their education and/or scope of practice.

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Here in NY LPN's perform ongoing assessments, insert IV's and administer IV medication

LPN's can assess but must report to an RN. IV's require special certification. Administering IV meds is part of the LPN scope, but not starting, without special cert, again.

Many LPN's in NYS, including me, often practice beyond what their licenses permit them to do, particularly in LTC.

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Specializes in Corrections,psych,skilled,LTC,MRDD AL.
Why do LPN's compare themselves to RN's? Of course you are all nurses, the last time I checked only RNs and LPNs can call themselves nurses. However, I haven't seen one Nurse Practice Act in any state that didn't call for the LPN to work under the directions of an RN. If an LPN could assess,perform IV's,ect..Then you would be an RN. Be proud of who you are.

In addition, the public does have the right to ask you whether you are an RN or LPN. If the question offends you, you need to analyse why it does.I have asked practitioners if they are the MD,NP, or PA and none of them get bend out of shape. Everyone has a different scope of practice & regardless of whether you've been an LPN for 100 yrs, don't perform services on me or any other pt for that matter unless you are not legally suppose to perform it.

I really don't know either but so do feel that way , when I am asked what kind of nurse I am I say A GOOD NURSE , one that can care for you and will do the best job possible and make sure your taken good care of :saint:

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Specializes in LTC, Int. Med, GI.
I've never been asked if I'm an rN or LPN by anyone. Ever.

me either

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Just more evidence of how so many RN programs are severely lacking in educating their students on LPN practice.

I just can't believe the number of RN's who are put into positions to "supervise" LPN's and have this minimal level of knowledge about their education and/or scope of practice.

That is so true....I have RNs that have no idea what my scope of practice is and if I am not careful, it can really place me in a spot.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Why do LPN's compare themselves to RN's? Of course you are all nurses, the last time I checked only RNs and LPNs can call themselves nurses. However, I haven't seen one Nurse Practice Act in any state that didn't call for the LPN to work under the directions of an RN. If an LPN could assess,perform IV's,ect..Then you would be an RN. Be proud of who you are.

In addition, the public does have the right to ask you whether you are an RN or LPN. If the question offends you, you need to analyse why it does.I have asked practitioners if they are the MD,NP, or PA and none of them get bend out of shape. Everyone has a different scope of practice & regardless of whether you've been an LPN for 100 yrs, don't perform services on me or any other pt for that matter unless you are not legally suppose to perform it.

I did take some time to analyze why the question of if I am an LPN bothers me. I realized that I don't like it when other staff inquire. For me, what makes it offensive is that once I respond, a certain impression of my capabilities becomes questionable. I have had people think that because I choose to remain an LPN that I am not ambitious, I am limited and maybe even ignorant to basic nursing knowledge. We cannot control how the PUBLIC/PATIENTS may perceive us, however, fellow nurses (RNs in particular, in most of my experiences), may opt to blow us off. It really doesn't bug me as much when a patient questions, unless they say it in a condescending manner...then, I have to count to 100 and make serious attempts to remain in control...I must admit. But regularly, most patients really don't comprehend the difference the way that they think they do.

Patients have to be educated to comprehend that in a clinical setting, (in most cases), the person that has come to serve them is appropriately delegated according to their license, certification and job description. I attempt to explain that to those that seem to be concerned about whether it is appropriate for an LPN or RN to give a flu shot (just an example).

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Specializes in Internal Medicine/acute Med Surg/OB/Derm.

This discussion is EXACTLY how I located this web site. Searching through the various states for scope of practice guidelines for LPN?LVN. I attended a Dermatology Nurses Association convention in Washington DC last week. I attended a LPN forum where the biggest topic was "why are LPNs working in dermatology and members of the association not able to sit for the certification exam and be recognized for the advanced level of skill" the answer, because we are not RNs.

Then began a convoluted explanation of how to be certified, we needed to develope a task force, compile scopes of practice for all the states, request permission to develope a course, write exam questions and obtain approval by the certification board to have our own exam- oh, and we have to find funding of course.

Keep in mind the duties of the LPN and RN within the dermatologic office in our area of the country anyway- is exactly the same. In fact we don't hire RNs.

There seems to be a definate issue-not with all RNs but I have to tell you the majority of the ones I met in DC. I felt as if they were afraid to lose some type of superiority of LPNs and medical assistants. Truth is, we would probably have a higher percentage of passing scores on the exam, since we are the ones doing all the hands on and patient education let alone meeting with the pharm reps to discuss product/medication updates.

well, it may be a long battle, but I think it is one well worth it to unite LPN/LVN nationally with standards of practice. Who knows, maybe we'll wvwn educate a few "Real Nurses" along the way.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

Speaking of are LPN's nurses too, I had a sad thing happen at work today. I had a residents daughter come up to the nurses station and ask if I was the RN taking care of her father, I said "No", that I was the LPN taking care of her father and she then said " Well I guess you'll have to do." I then went in to her father's room and did an assessment and ended up sending him out to the ER for a workup. Anyway I felt like the biggest piece of sh..

It's bad enough that I'm a new grad LPN, but then to feel your not good enough. I was quite hurt. Oh well, I did my best and can't honestly think of anything that a RN would of done different in the care of her father.

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