Not looking for same old fight,but I'm frustrated

Published

Whatever degree we as nurses have achieved,we are still just that,NURSES! My frustration stems from when I look to join professional organizations or seek certain certifications and am told NO you can't join and know we will not impart our knowledge or certification to you. Why???? Because I do not have R.N or even R.N with at least a bachelors degree behind my name.

OK,all the tongues getting ready to jump on the bandwagon about differences in education and so forth,hold on.

We all have different specialties,and how did we get them? Experience and knowledge acquired while working. I guess my point is if you feel for whatever reason that you have gained a strong working knowledge in an area,and would like to challenge that specialties certification....go ahead.

1.I tried to call FNA(Florida Nurses Association) to join and receive their literature...I was hung up on when they found out I was an L.P.N. I called back thinking this was a mistake,but they assured me that it wasn't,they don't acknowledge L.P.N's as nurses.

2.Worked in LTC for 4 years,I've seen every wound you could imagine and some I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I have cared for them all,and learned a vast amount about wounds and their protocols. When I contacted WOCN to receive their monthly journal(I wanted to learn more) and inquire as to their certification process,I was told you cannot receive monthly journal unless certified and to be certified you have to be at least a bachelors R.N with at least 1 year experience.

If something required a skill that was not within my scope of practice,then I have no problem with the certification being limited,though I do believe the knowledge should be available to any who wish to learn. Ex:I took the central line and ICU course that my hospital offered,and only cause they had empty spots R.N's who might need it didn't fill. Why?? knowledge,so that when I was working tele and a central line had an issue I was able to discern it from normal and bring it to my R.N partners attention. The ICU course helped cause very often our"stepdown" unit was anything but.

Sorry it's so long,it was a big soapbox...LOl:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
Whatever degree we as nurses have achieved,we are still just that,NURSES!

I think you nailed it, right there. The problem, it seems to me, is that "nursing leaders" aren't happy to be "just nurses." I don't think patients spend a lot of time wondering what degrees or certifications we have. They want a competent, caring nurse who doesn't wish s/he was doing something else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Sorry can't agree with you. There is a huge difference in the scope of practise and responsibilities between RNs and LPNs. Professional oranizations are designed for the people that meet those requirements. LPN does not equal RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in interested in NICU!!.

my understanding is that you were just requiring on some information/magazines to have, and just because you do not have r.n after your name they didn't let you have them? i think that's wrong-it's information, what's wrong with giving information out?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.

I don't know what state you are in, but I am a certified wound care nurse...and I am an LPN. I also have a certification from the Dermatology Nurses Association. There are plenty of opportunities for LPN's to get certified in different specialties if you look into it. Check into that with your Board of Nursing for more information.

As for the magazines...there are journals that are specifically for LPN's. There is LPN Magazine which is a "peer-reviewed journal that focuses on the skills needed by practical nurses to safely deliver bedside care to their patients in any practice setting by strengthening his or her clinical skills and build confidence."

A years subscription is only $16.88. It's a good magazine. You can order it by calling 1-888-244-1228.

Good luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

RN's are professional nurses. LVN's are vocational. There is a huge difference and if you feel you are discriminated against, go back to school. I bet you will find there is a lot more to be learned in nursing school than what the LVN's are exposed to. There is so much more to nursing than tasks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.
rn's are professional nurses. lvn's are vocational. there is a huge difference and if you feel you are discriminated against, go back to school. i bet you will find there is a lot more to be learned in nursing school than what the lvn's are exposed to. there is so much more to nursing than tasks.

i consider this a "snotty" reply. i couldn't disagree more !

praiser

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.
i consider this a "snotty" reply. i couldn't disagree more !

praiser

rn's are professional nurses. lvn's are vocational. there is a huge difference and if you feel you are discriminated against, go back to school. i bet you will find there is a lot more to be learned in nursing school than what the lvn's are exposed to. there is so much more to nursing than tasks.

it's that very attitude that has kept widening the split between rns and lvn/lpns wide and wider through the years. we all need to work as a team instead of becoming more resentful as lpns and more haughty as rns. yes, more schooling is an option for some lpns but it isn't for others for a variety of reasons. wouldn't it just be easier for all of us as well as the patient, if we helped each other, shared our knowledge, and pulled as a team? i have a b.s.n. and m.s.n. but that does not make me superior to an lpn/lvn -- just means i have a different set of skills. i've learned a heckuva lot from older diploma rns, lpns, and nurses aides. i think that if we're absolutely honest, we have all learned a lot from each other -- no matter what our title happens to be. can't we just lose the arrogant attitude and act like civilized humans?

kathy

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.
I think you nailed it, right there. The problem, it seems to me, is that "nursing leaders" aren't happy to be "just nurses." I don't think patients spend a lot of time wondering what degrees or certifications we have. They want a competent, caring nurse who doesn't wish s/he was doing something else.

I agree very much with your last statement there. Any awake patient can usually tell if you do not want to be there. Sometimes half the job is showing up and paying attention.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
RN's are professional nurses. LVN's are vocational. There is a huge difference and if you feel you are discriminated against, go back to school. I bet you will find there is a lot more to be learned in nursing school than what the LVN's are exposed to. There is so much more to nursing than tasks.

I don't disagree that RNs learn more than LPN/LVN, but I really don't see a huge difference as it applies to bedside nursing. There are tasks which, by law, LPNs are not permitted to perform, but within their scopes of practice, they do the same things RNs do. I see LPNs apply critical thinking and creativity every day.

I'll concede that direct patient care=nursing is a rather limited view. But I truly believe nursing must be rooted in direct patient care, or it becomes something other than nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

I find it disturbing that they refused to give you information due to your "title". That is information that would help you as well as any RN, information that you put to use everyday. And to hang up on you? That was just plain rude. And we all need to respect each other as professionals. I am RN, but I do not disrespect any LPN. I have worked side by side with LPNs who were very smart and great nurses. I would ask them for advice and they would do the same with me. I never looked at them as "beneath" me, because they were my coworker and my equal. We worked as a team and helped each other. Yes, there are some things that RNs are allowed to do that LPNs cant, but some of it is a joke. The LPNs I worked with werent even allowed to add a diagnosis to the focus list, which was rediculous. I mean, come on. They learned care plans just as I did.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I I see LPNs apply critical thinking and creativity every day.

I work with a couple of LPNs who have forgotten more about basic bedside nursing than I'll ever learn in my lifetime. They learned the craft, literally, from the ground up, and I respect them far more than I respect some of the newer RNs who have lots of book learning, but little life experience and even less common sense.:specs:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion