This topic seriously irks me to no end. I myself am an LPN. I went to school for 18 months,went to every clinical, took the NCLEX, passed the NCLEX all for other people to assume LPN's aren't 'real nurses'. I worked my butt off to be able to call myself an LPN. I just don't seem it's fair to put down LPN's because of their title.
my best friend and I were having a conversation today about my new job and how it's a great opportunity for when I move on to get my RN. He said something among the lines of "it's a great experience for when you become a nurse!" I said "I'm a nurse now..." "oh when you get your RN I mean"
I suppose maybe I'm being sensitive of the topic or people just truly don't know what LPN stands for?
2. LPNs have less education than RNs (espiecally if you are counting pre reqs)
3. LPNs are paid less than RNs
4. LPNs have a very state dependent scope
5. LPNs take a different version of the NCLEX (NCLEX-PN)
6. LPNs have less choice of places of employment, and less opportunities to advance.
These above differences must be considered by anyone considering the LPN route. It's a viable route, and one will end up as a nurse in the end, but there are substantial differences that it would be naive not to consider.
It's been my experience, being an LPN myself for 22 years, that all LPN's are treated as such. I've had so many similar comments, co-workers look down their noses. I've been called a "glorified nursing assistant" to my face, or glorified med aide. I'm afraid that in the nursing field, those with higher degrees eat their young (those with lesser degrees) chew them up and spit them out. They have no time for the LPN. Regardless of my ongoing education in breastfeeding and becoming a lactation counselor, nothing has changed. If you want to stay in nursing, go back to school and get your masters in nursing, that's the nurse everyone wants to hire. Sorry you've experienced that type of degrading comment from people who should be supporting anyone who is in the nursing profession.
As I was hanging blood after checking it with an RN, after starting an IV for the blood with the correct gauge catheter, after cleaning and packing a dehissed surgical open heart chest wound, giving him meds earlier, the patients wife asked me what the difference between an LPN and an RN was. I said in my case, about 30 grand a year.
I have definitely seen this, working in LTC for so many years. I don't think it's true though. If anything, I think that the LPNS are more knowledgeable in my facility. I would take a knowledgeable LPN over an RN that doesn't know much anyday.
I have had this experience when working with RN's at hospitals, I had one tell me that I: "would make a great nurse one day" To which I responded, "I am already a Nurse....." "Oh, I mean a real nurse". However, when working in LTC I have never had this problem from other nurses/RNs. I have the respect and trust of my superiors and we are willing to learn from and help eachother.
No. You are totally right. We are treated and paid like we are nothing. We need to do something about the descrimination in pay. Its a good example of male and female pay discrimination. We need to take a stand.
You got that right. We need all LPN to take a stand against discrimination in pay. It's like when males get paid more than females on the job. We do the same job and are discredited for our jobs as nurses. I font even know if are are nurses anymore as LPN. My badge says i am, but legal pay and rights are saying no.
Yes constant remarks and descrimination. We are nurses lets stop the rhetoric.Get new reform for equal pay and stop being descrimination against us. Start a petition equal pay for us as nurse. To be recognized as a nurse stop the RN treatment of belittling us.
You got that right. We need all LPN to take a stand against discrimination in pay. It's like when males get paid more than females on the job. We do the same job and are discredited for our jobs as nurses. I font even know if are are nurses anymore as LPN. My badge says i am, but legal pay and rights are saying no.
Wait, are you saying LPNs are "the same" as RNs and should be paid the same? Sorry, no. Just as I get paid less than a nurse with a MS degree or a NP or CRNA because they have more formal education and wider scope of practice than I do, there will be salary differences between LPNs and RNs due to the differences in formal education and scope of practice.
If LPNs and RNs were the same there wouldn't be the different credentials. I sincerely hope no LPNs are going around telling people such nonsense, it would reflect badly on the rest of us.
ProperlySeasoned
235 Posts
1. LPNs are nurses
2. LPNs have less education than RNs (espiecally if you are counting pre reqs)
3. LPNs are paid less than RNs
4. LPNs have a very state dependent scope
5. LPNs take a different version of the NCLEX (NCLEX-PN)
6. LPNs have less choice of places of employment, and less opportunities to advance.
These above differences must be considered by anyone considering the LPN route. It's a viable route, and one will end up as a nurse in the end, but there are substantial differences that it would be naive not to consider.