Negative Attitudes Towards RPN's

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I'm currently an RPN student, almost finished my schooling. I also currently work in a LTC facility, and a hospital casually, and i've worked in other LTC homes during clinical rotations. I also have some close friends who are graduated, working RPN's in hospitals around the GTA.

At one of my LTC clinical rotations, an RN had said some pretty hurtful things to one of the RPN students, so much so that it made her cry, basically putting down the fact that she's just an RPN, and not a "real nurse" as she is, an RN. This isn't the first time i've seen this either, out of the two years i've been working in the health care system, i've seen this far too many times. It's quite sad. RN's are great people, they do amazing things every day, as do RPN's, but why is there so much negativity, and hatred from those select few RN's, towards RPN's. It makes me quite nervous, and afraid to start working once I graduate to be completely honest with you.

Nurses, RN's & RPN's should be one of the most compassionate, caring, & kind people around, yet too many times things like this are happening. I'm not generalizing, and saying it's all RN's, but i'm sure everyone here has seen, or heard about things like this happening at least once in your career as a Nurse. I really wish RN's & RPN's could just work together, and not put that fear into new RPN's to work with RN's.

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Specializes in Med-surg.

Hi MacNursing,

I really wish RPNs and RNs could work together harmoniously as well, as i'm sure they do in many workplaces. I've never actually seen an RN put down an RPN or an RPN put down an RN in real life, but I do see it alot around here on allnurses. I think the hate comes from insecurities that the individual may have and they feel they need to put someone else down to make themselves feel better. Personally, I value both levels of nurses and believe they both have an important role in health care. Now I must state that I do see alot of these threads where RPNs ask what's up with RNs and why RNs hate RPNs so much etc.., but I see alot of RPNs treating RNs the same way on here (i.e. discrediting RN education, saying nasty remarks etc). Whatever someone else wants to say about you or me or whoever is there business and the only thing that matters is how you feel about yourself. Don't let people bring you down, you've worked hard to get where you are, hold your head high.

- Mella

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I havn't been around these forums for too long, so fortunately I havn't read any of the comments, and threads that you said are going around relating to hate towards RPN's. It's unfortunate. RPN's and RN's work hard through school, and it takes alot of hard work, and stress to get through school.

I've heard alot of RN students, or RN's themselves who say RPN schooling is so easy, and they could finish it in a flash. Reality is, it's very difficult, and it really puts a strain on any social, work, or home-life we have. Kudos to the RN's who are able to handle two more years of schooling. There are many underlying reasons why people choose the RPN route, rather than RN, wether it be financial issues, times issues, having a family and not being able to commit four years, it's not fair to assume RPN's are less of a Nurse, or less of a person for that matter, for being an RPN. It's quite easy for an RPN to bridge into RN, and continue that route, but like I said, there can be many personal underlying reasons why one chooses not to do so.

That said, RPN's are REAL NURSES, and should be appreciated as so. The problem with Nursing today, is too many people are getting into the profession for solely the money. With that comes the wrong attitude, poor care, and many more negative aspects. That's why I believe there's so much hate, anger, and "drama" in the health-care system. It takes a truly special, caring, and genuinely loving person to become a nurse, and when you have individuals getting into it ONLY for the money, that's a big problem, and reflects on p/t care, and respect for co-workers. Sure the money is great, and can make for a financially rewarding life, of course that can be a deciding factor for a career choice, but it shouldn't be the only one.

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Specializes in Med-surg.

I hear you, and I agree with what you're saying. Kudos to you for being proud of what you do and taking on the education needed to get where you want to go. I'm sorry that some RNs or Student RNs have had that "superior" attitude with you or others.

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Specializes in OB, Surgical, ER.

Dear Nurse-88,

I am sorry to hear this. I am an RN but I don't feel this makes me any better of a person or a nurse than an RPN. I work with RPN's on my unit and I consider them nurses not 3 letters. I predominantly work in OB/surg and for the most part, everyone is very respectful of each other; however, I have also worked in ER and there are several RN's that think they rule and constantly put RPN's down and wouldn't **** on them if they were on fire. It is really a shame but I want you to know that not all RN's feel this way.

Take care

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

Probably another old dog nurse- the plague of nursing. Don't worry when you finish school or as you go along- you'll meet all the old pig headed nurses. The younger they are the more respect they have, the older they are the more "old school" they are, and in my experience, the more conceited and ******. (The Old Dogs, not all the RN's because a lot of the old nurses are awesome)

I'm a male PN- I've gone through the ringer from them before. The only thing you can do is not take it personally and keep on rocking!

Besides whats an RN doing in a LTC? Tell her to man up and work in the hospital.

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Probably another old dog nurse- the plague of nursing. Don't worry when you finish school or as you go along- you'll meet all the old pig headed nurses. The younger they are the more respect they have, the older they are the more "old school" they are, and in my experience, the more conceited and ******. (The Old Dogs, not all the RN's because a lot of the old nurses are awesome)

I'm a male PN- I've gone through the ringer from them before. The only thing you can do is not take it personally and keep on rocking!

Besides whats an RN doing in a LTC? Tell her to man up and work in the hospital.

Hi, I totally agree with the first part of your post, although I've met a few RN students who are quite conceited.

I'm an IEN, and I can tell you that this is not a problem that happens only in the US and Canada. Right now I work as a UCP, and I have been exposed to a lot of mistreating and belittling from a few RPNs. I guess some people like belittling others to feel higher themselves:cry:

I confess that your last sentence put a big grin on my face: I'm writing the CRNE in October and if everything goes smoothly, I'd like to work in LTC:redbeathe, but as RN this time. I'm Womanup enough as to understand the need for "good and caring people" in LTC too:nurse:

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

Yeah my last sentence was kind of a tongue in cheek punch back haha. See? We can all find something to get under each others skin if we want too. Every RN I know that works in LTC gets asked all the time "Isnt that a PN job? Why dont you work in the hospital?" and it drives them crazy hahaha.

Just like people asking me why as a male I am a nurse, or people thinking im signifigantly inferior to an RN. I can't do IV push meds, picc lines, and central lines everything else- the same. (especially in Fort McMurray...the most desparate hospital ever, haha)

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Specializes in OB, Surgical, ER.

Actually, in LTC, RN's would be in charge and monitor the RPN's and PSW's. Although not an acute care setting, still a huge responsibility.

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Specializes in OB, Surgical, ER.

If people didn't get into it for the money, then there wouldn't be very many nurses. Nursing is hard and very little respect is given to nurses nowadays. Plus, patients are more acute with multiple issues and there is a greater patient to nurse ratio. Nursing is hard - period.

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Some of the students in the practical nursing program right now are in it for the wrong reasons, and not just for the money. When my husband was laid off, he was working with a career counsellor trying to navigate the channels for Second Career and she was trying to push him towards taking Practical nursing because she knew it was covered but he wanted to get into something computer oriented. I've been trying to get into a practical nursing program for the last 2 years or more and couldn't get in until this past spring. Definitely, there are people in the program that don't belong there.

I've commented to others about the discord between the levels of nursing. I can understand the need for the different levels. Too bad they wouldn't come out with a different model for the education of nurses (every one goes through the 2 year program first, then have to get nominated to continue to earn the next level of education based on their work performance, marks, etc. that would include the interview process they used to have. Everyone would start from the same place and those that continue on have proved themselves worthy of the title that comes with the extra work. Just my way of thinking)

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

How can someone say that a person is in nursing (or any other profession) for the "wrong" reasons? I bet that your "wrong" reasons are not the same as my "wrong" reasons or their "wrong" reasons.

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