I had my first shift last night on a Med-Surg Oncology floor. I was shocked to find out that I was being oriented to the unit by a LVN. Now I realize that we do a lot of the same tasks as RNs but there are other things that I would be doing that they don't...
Has any RN out there been trained by a LVN? I am a new graduate, and I know I have A LOT TO LEARN but this particular LVN was engaging in unsafe behavior consistently--she seriously only used gloves twice the entire shift.
I was thinking about meeting with the nurse manager because I told the charge nurse and she didn't seem too concerned. Everyone seems very lax on this floor and I did have a great time but I know that is not what is important. Do you think it would be too ballsy for a new grad RN employee to meet with the nurse manager this soon?? The LVN was extremely nice and was trying to be helpful but she gave me incorrect information multiple occasions as well.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I'm pretty sure the LPN will not want to continue the relationship, so likely problem solved there.
LOL!
I would have said to wait a little while. Pretty sure you would have an opportunity to precept with RN's also in time. You can learn a lot from many. What to do and what NOT to do!
If word gets out that you "ratted" her out others may be glad or they may distrust you.
I have indeed heard of an LVN (LPN) training an Rn. Back years ago, before I went back to school and got my RN. I was a LPN training new RN's on our floor. I was a good nurse then and was trusted by management to train the new RN's. So don't sweat it, she just may teach you something. Don't assume that because she doesn't hold your title, that she can't do a good job.
you need to realize that not all lvn/lp{n's are like that one, some even know as much if not more than the new rn grads. please don't lump all together. i'm an lpn and have been for 5 yrs. and i'm about 1yr. away from my rn and myself have trained multiple rn's who have many questions and still rely on me and other lpn's for info. just because your degree is better doesn't mean your better, as i also know many rn's that are bad nurses and make multiple mistakes
in other words drop the high and mighty attitude and do what you know is right by wearing your gloves and knowing the right info.
Wow, as many have said you have the right to be precepted right . But as a LPN I have precepted many RNs.But I can tell you when I first started my job, I was precepted by RNs , I had the same experience. I a lot of them did not want to be bothered about or questioned about the methods, routes or policies there. Many were offended when I would do procedures as taught in school ( the correct and sterile way). And I was told numrerous things wrong. I had WONDERFUL lpn preceptors and I must admit 2 RNs that were awesome also. I decided to do as taught in school, got a large notebook and copied procedures and policies and kept them in my locker or bag. I also attend continueing education classes to make sure that is the standard and questions are answered happily. :yeah:I don't think that you should go to the manager yet. Try some of these methods. But, at the next staff meeting you may want to address these concerns and maybe work on a team or put one together for correct and consistent training. Good luck !
It depends on what state you are operating in the scopes of practice for both. Someone said LPNs don't do PICCs. DEAD wrong. Where I work they can and IV pushes. You can't make generalizations thank you.
I had my first shift last night on a Med-Surg Oncology floor. I was shocked to find out that I was being oriented to the unit by a LVN. Now I realize that we do a lot of the same tasks as RNs but there are other things that I would be doing that they don't...
Has any RN out there been trained by a LVN? I am a new graduate, and I know I have A LOT TO LEARN but this particular LVN was engaging in unsafe behavior consistently--she seriously only used gloves twice the entire shift.
I was thinking about meeting with the nurse manager because I told the charge nurse and she didn't seem too concerned. Everyone seems very lax on this floor and I did have a great time but I know that is not what is important. Do you think it would be too ballsy for a new grad RN employee to meet with the nurse manager this soon?? The LVN was extremely nice and was trying to be helpful but she gave me incorrect information multiple occasions as well.
I'd LOVE any advice. Thanks a lot!
DON'T SAY ANYTHING. When in Rome....do as the Romans. The most important thing you have to learn is politics. You will get blacklisted and lose your job. Who are the LPN's friends? Do you know that? She was nice to you - thank your lucky stars! The MANAGER knows she assigned an LPN to train you. Are you questioning her logic????? This is the reality of it - which is wrong, but reality.
ANYONE can orient you to the unit. If you are seeking orientation or continuing education regarding your SKILL SET, maybe someone that is expected to have a higher level of skills is more appropriate to train you, i.e. someone with your credentials or a higher level of credentials. Your trainer is NOT an example of any other LVN or RN for that matter, but rather a poor example of herself as a safety-conscious, patient-advocating nurse. I have trained MANY RN's in my specialty, and am in fact a Wound Care Clinical Educator. Do not discount what can be learned from an LVN based on your trainer's poor example.
...sorry I disagree with all who said that it is ok for an LPN to train an RN..in most facilities RN's have different responsibilities than LPNs..look I am not saying that LPN's do not...different scope of practice.
Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.
It depends on what state you are operating in the scopes of practice for both. Someone said LPNs don't do PICCs. DEAD wrong. Where I work they can and IV pushes. You can't make generalizations thank you.
Actually, what I said verbatim is this:
"Not just in LTC, at least not where I'm from, in an acute care setting as well. LPNs don't do PICC lines, IV PCA's or IVP, otherwise same skill set. In fact, upon observation, one would never be able to tell who's an RN and who's an LPN - without looking at their name tags."
Hardly generalizing when I specifically referred to my location !
I work in a SNF currently LVN still going to school dreaming of BSN. I am at my current postition in the facility because a BSN was clueless so my boss replaced him with me and gave him an easier job (fewer critical thinking skills needed). I have seen both good and bad RN/LVNs and have learned that just because you got through nursing school doesn't mean you are a good nurse no matter how much alphabet you have after your name. There is a BIG difference between a good nursing student and a good nurse. There are many RNs out there that can(and do) learn alot from experienced LVNs.
lvns and rns training each other. rn's training lvns is understandable and lvns training rns depends on where and the situation. i have worked in a general surgeon's office for 6 years with four different surgeons. the last one i actually helped start his practice and opened the doors with him 2 years ago. i gave my notice and an rn was taking my place....the first hour went well until i had to hear all about what lvns do wrong while being told and i quote "no offense to you". i was trying to make this transition as easy as possible giving her sample sheets on tests he ordered for certain chief complaints and why he ordered them, all the while, trying to keep patient load to a reasonable level while showing her how clinic flow went and the workings in an office. when you work closely with someone five days a week you tend to learn exactly what they need or are requesting. she was a charge nurse on a surgical floor. working in a surgeon's office i have dealt with wounds, wounds vacs, jp drains etc., etc., what floored me was the fact that she didn't want me to show her how to do the wound vac and dressing change (even though i have been doing these 3 days a week on differnet occasions on different patients) she wanted to watch a video on the internet instead..needless to say this left me very despondent after about the third day of all of this...especially when my hand would be knocked out of the way when i would try and show her something and having to listen to these little comments. i have worked side by side on a hospital floor with rns and lvns some i would work with any day of the week and twice on sunday, others i wish not to be associated with because all they did was bark orders from behind the desk. you have to know your capabilities and scope of practice, and yes the real working world is nothing like nursing school and yes even as an lvn you eventually think like a lawyer because this is a sue happy nation. coming from an lvn this may all be a waste of my time saying, but just because lvn is after a name doesn't mean that common sense and good judgement doesn't follow. this was a bad experience where the whole hang up rn to lvn happened. i wish you luck in your career.
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this is a great answer. i am an lpn who has been a nurse for 12 years, and my
experience is, it's not in the "certification", it's what you know and how hard, good
and thorough of a worker you are. i have met 30 year veteran rn's who told me that they learned everything they know from and lpn, as years ago it was rn's who were the charge nurses and the lpn's were the floor nurses. in al, where i previously worked on pp and well baby nursery, lpn's could do the same as rn's except push iv meds. in n.c. where i am currently a nurse and have worked on gyn oncology, we werent allowed to hang chemo. that was about it. we worked with pic lines, cv lines, hung blood, pushed iv meds, the whole gammit. i now work at an ob/gyn office and have been here for 7 years. i learned absolutely everything in the office that i know from a cma who has worked for 35 years, she worked in l&d before i was born. i do agree that if the person is being unsafe, it should be addressed, but just because they don't have a certain "title" behind their name, doesn't mean they can't or don't know what to teach someone. good luck to you, hope it is all you expect of it. welcome to the "nursing" world baby girl. strap on your seat belt and get ready for the ride of your life.
Honestly, and I dont mean to sound snide AT ALL but...be glad your getting trained and your in the hospital. There are many of us that CANT GET IN THE DOOR with years of experience as an LPN. Now as for being an LPN, I was one for 7 years and can run circles around most RNs. unsafe practices are done by both RNs and LPNs, you find short cuts and do things that they dont teach you in nursing school. theres text book and the real world. However I was not with you and dont know what she was doing. Stick to what you believe is safe, dont follow in her foot steps if you dont feel comfotable doing them but never believe that the RN tag makes you a better nurse than the LPN tag. Ive had the pleasure of working with CNAs that were knowledgable than both the LPNs and RNs on the floor.
in other words drop the high and mighty attitude and do what you know is right by wearing your gloves and knowing the right info.
I had WONDERFUL lpn preceptors and I must admit 2 RNs that were awesome also. I decided to do as taught in school, got a large notebook and copied procedures and policies and kept them in my locker or bag. I also attend continueing education classes to make sure that is the standard and questions are answered happily. :yeah:I don't think that you should go to the manager yet. Try some of these methods. But, at the next staff meeting you may want to address these concerns and maybe work on a team or put one together for correct and consistent training. Good luck !
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,556 Posts
LOL!
I would have said to wait a little while. Pretty sure you would have an opportunity to precept with RN's also in time. You can learn a lot from many. What to do and what NOT to do!
If word gets out that you "ratted" her out others may be glad or they may distrust you.
It just sucks to be the newbie sometimes.
Just do your job. Keep learning. Best of luck!