Lvn?!?!?

In some states LVN (licensed vocational nurse, I believe) is used instead of LPN (licensed practical nurse), but they are the same.

In Texas I think for the most part the difference between an LVN and an RN is that LVN's can't make care plans, pronounce death, or push IV cardiac meds. Other than that......we assess, treat, give meds, clean wounds, start iv's, so on and so forth....everything you think a nurse does, we do...because we ARE nurses :)

In Indiana, LPN's can do ALMOST everything an RN does. I can't give blood. I can't puch IV meds. I can't draw blood from a central line. Those are the few things that come to mind. As far as an above poster, I CAN write care plans and I CAN determine time of death (I work in LTC where there isn't always an MD or RN available).

Something dawned on me while I was reading these posts. I have no opinion on it one way or another, but here it goes. No one denies an LPN or LVN is a nurse. So, why do some argue that nursing should require a BSN? No, even more than that, why is it that the nearly non-existent diploma-RN is held in such high regard (as well maybe they should be) and yet some suggest that only a BSN is suitable for nursing?

Why the...triple...standard?

I am not sure why there is such a standard. I know hospitals are trying to phase out the lvn/lpn and just hire RN's. As far as RN vs. BSN, I don't think either one is more qualified or makes a better nurse. Both take the same Nclex at graduation regardless if they took art history or spanish and what not that makes them more *well rounded* but in my opinion, I am taking classes for my BSN right now and once I have that degree I will never look down on a ADN or a LVN/LPN. We are all here to provide good, safe, and reliable pt. care and that is what it all boils down to.