Not sure if this should be here or PA nursing, but oh well, they both fit! Haha.
A little background....I'm an LPN who graduated from Northampton Community College. My first job was at a LTC facility on their skilled rehab unit...very busy, heavy patient turnover. 8 months in, they had me orienting and training new nurses. They chose me over other, more experienced nurses who were willing to train because they thought my skill set was a little better and I was pretty good on the teaching side, although I have to say it's probably because I've got the patience of a saint. (Not trying to toot my own horn here, this was all said to me from management...all I tried to do was a thorough job of taking care of my patients and know facility protocols)
So, now yesterday, I was at the pharmacy picking up some sudafed, standing in the pharmacy window line and this woman looks over at me, eyes my scrubs and asks me if I'm a nurse. I say yes, I am. We're having a nice little conversation while we wait about her daughter being in the RN program at Penn State. Then she asks if I'm an RN, too, and I say well no, I'm an LPN. Then she asks which school I attended and I said, NCC.
This woman looks me straight in the eye and says, "well you're not really a nurse then. You're more like an aid." And when I asked her what made her say that, she goes on to tell me that LPNs aren't really nurses and that you get a poor education at community colleges. I WAS FUMING.
I politely informed her that her views were slightly misguided and that if she would do some research and not base her opinions on what her daughter told her, she may find out some very different information. Then, thank god it was my turn at the window.
What possess people to say this crap?!? I mean, seriously? I was seeing red the whole way home. But I must say, I have a bad temper when it comes to outright stupidity and I'm quite proud of myself for not calling her an idiot. :)
Happens all the time. I was an LPN and heard that crap from people. Then I went back and got my RN..and some people are still rude and ignorant. If they find out I'm an RN, they next question is ALWAYS what hospital do I work at. When I said I don't work in a hospital, I work in a clinic, they get this *look* on their face like they just ate dog food and some will rudely say..oh so your not really working as a nurse. UGGHHH!!!
Keep your head up. Some people really aren't trying to be rude. They just do not understand the hierarchy of nursing and what an LPN's job really entails. Some people don't even know what an LPN is at all. I always do my best to 'gently' educate them on the education and skills an LPN has and that they are indeed a nurse. Those others, who are just mean spirited and rude...I smile polietly and walk away...You can't fix stupid.
In my state, ONLY RN's are allowed to say they are nurses. If you're an LPN, you have to say "LPN", not "nurse". How crazy is that?! Don't engage people like this woman. You know what you are, that you're good at it and even moreso, your bosses know it.
Kind of like those who think that BSN nurses are somehow heads and shoulders above ADN nurses. Um, they both sit for the same exam!
I am also from PA. I have had comments from a nurse I work with similar to that. I came right out and called her on the spot and reminded her that she spent 20 years as an LPN before she went out and got her RN. I am in an LPN to ASN program now but I love being an LPN and yes the N stands for nurse. There are self important idiots everywhere. Be confident in the job you do!
I can't tell you how many times I was asked when I was an LPN "so you're training to be a nurse then?" Gah. I'm happy to educate people who don't mean any harm and just don't understand the different roles. However, rude and condescending fools don't deserve the time of day. And don't even get me started on the "poor education at community colleges" bull.
A lot of people have no idea. My uncle urged me to get my RN because LVNs, "can only change bed pans and sheets". He didn't mean any offense. He really didn't know. I informed him and now he gets it. There is a lot of misinformation out there.
Been there,done that, ASN, RN
7,241 Posts
Must wonder what Miss Uninformed does for a living.