Not a real nurse??

[xmaxiex]

When I am in the capacity of charge nurse on my LTC unit , I find it humilliating and frustrating that I have to find an RN to sign off on my MD orders , and if we have a fall only they can do the assessment. No wonder they treat us as if we are not " real " nurses.

[Fiona59]

Marie, congrats for keeping it short. I think some people have a massive inferiority complex, and need to sort out their own careers before decrying those who hold a PROFESSIONAL designation.

[lizscott nurse]

yes, you are less qualified to take orders. You chose to be that way when you stopped your education. I am limited by my choices too. Either go back to school or lobby congress to change the laws.

In the area I work, which is Assisted Living/LTC I am not less qualified to take orders. I'm not sure why you replied to my post. You sound very angry.

My only point is that LPN's are real nurses too! And in the areas that we work

our jobs are no less important. Any wise RN values working with good LPN's.

In my position I am in charge, hence the title "charge nurse". I like this

responsibility which is one of the reasons I work in LTC. Going back to school

would not give me the ability to take on any more responsibility in my present

position, however my salary would increase a bit.

[lizscott nurse]

Marie, congrats for keeping it short. I think some people have a massive inferiority complex, and need to sort out their own careers before decrying those who hold a PROFESSIONAL designation.

Are you implying that LPN's aren't professionals? I don't get all this hostility.

It must be quit different in other areas of the country, because it's certainly

not like this where I work.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Are you implying that LPN's aren't professionals? I don't get all this hostility.

It must be quit different in other areas of the country, because it's certainly

not like this where I work.

She might have been refering to my reply to another's post.

[Candidnt]

I did my time as an LPN, in North Carolina. From what I remember, though the larger facilities said the state board determined what an LPN could or could not do (and that was true only in a few specific things) it was actually the hospital or facility itself that made that determination. The larger hospitals, and of course the teaching hospitals, didn't allow LPN's do perform many tasks (we were basically glorified nursing assistants that could pass meds, if they used LPN's at all); the smaller community hospitals allowed the LPN's to do much more. I never needed an RN to cosign my orders in a small community hospital (or at least not the ones I worked in, anyway). And from what I recall, LPN's in SNF's didn't have to, either. In the hospital setting, a former head nurse explained to me that what the state board wanted, was that a formal policy that said an LPN could perform the procedure, that the procedure (whatever it was) was outlined in a step by step fashion with rationale, etc, and that there had to be documentation of the LPN having been precepted in that particular skill. Since larger places were more geared toward "professionals", LPN's tended to do much better in the smaller community hospital settings. Now that was in NC, and that was back when...I haven't practiced in NC as an LPN since 2002, so I don't know what's going on down there now. Now that I'm back in PA, the h ospital I work at, uses LPN's as PCT's (Patient Care Technicians) who do dressing changes, IV/line dressing changes, ostomy changes, assist docs with line placements, etc...and that's in the ICU; I'll ask what they do on the floor. I don't see why they can't carry patient loads on the floor, god knows the floors need the staffing. I don't know what other hospitals here are li.ke (not yet anyway)

[Kelly_the_Great]

Okay, this might be a little :offtopic: but..........

You know something I think is funny? Many of the RNs who say "you're not a professional", ya'll all know th' rest, "you didn't get as much training" yayayayayayayayayaya!!!! These same nurses will say, a BSN shouldn't get paid more than an ADN.

And what's their excuse????? Because the do the SAME thing!..... :rotfl: (You know kind of like LVNs do except hanging blood and pushing a few different IV meds, maybe makin' supervisory visits too)

So then we must ask ourselves, "why should I continue with my education???" "Is it going to do me any good???" We hurt our profession by not valuing each and every member of our body (and this is really extreme but I think this includes our nurse aides as well).

Do many other professions have this same lack of respect for eachother???

For instance, do you think the following quote encourages continued scholarship or just sounds condescending?

Originally Posted by purplemania

yes, you are less qualified to take orders. You chose to be that way when you stopped your education. I am limited by my choices too. Either go back to school or lobby congress to change the laws.

I'm not so sure I would use this technique to develop a "trusting, nonjudgemental, encouraging" relationship with a patient. Why don't we apply the same principles we use with patients to eachother????

Isn't that the key to nursing? Isn't that what makes us set apart from all other professions....caring?

Dunno, I realize I didn't keep this "short". I just don't understand why we don't care for eachother...

[lizscott nurse]

We hurt our profession by not valuing each and every member of our body (and this is really extreme but I think this includes our nurse aides as well).

I whole heartily agree!!! I value my resident assistants tremendously. They

so often are my eyes and ears. I believe too that each member of our body

(nursing) is important. I continue to be baffled by the negative remarks

I've read regarding LPN's. I'm proud to be an LPN. I guess I judge co-workers

on character rather than years of schooling.......regardless of their title.

Your title does not define you as a professional....your work ethics do.

[Kelly_the_Great]

Your title does not define you as a professional....your work ethics do.

Likin' this philosophy lots, lots, Liz...:)

[Kelly_the_Great]

I value my resident assistants tremendously. They

so often are my eyes and ears. I believe too that each member of our body

(nursing) is important.

Yep, and ya know what? Ya never know when they might come back as your boss a few years down th' road...lol :wink2:

[lizscott nurse]

Yep, and ya know what? Ya never know when they might come back as your boss a few years down th' road...lol :wink2:

That's so true! : )

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

This happened to a LVN I knew. She was awfull to this one particular aide and for years she just demanded and demanded from this poor girl. The aide did what she was told ..no complaints but she told no one she was in a BSN program . After she graduated she went to work, her same floor and that LVN said "Get these V/S" . The now RN (former aide) said Im not getting them..Your getting them for me. Im your charge nurse now.:rotfl:

Yep, and ya know what? Ya never know when they might come back as your boss a few years down th' road...lol :wink2:

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

Well, opposum on a gum bush!!! Another RN breaking us down...Are you kidding me?... Get real. I have been taking and signing off orders for years. I dont need no damn body to sign orders or do anything else for me.

yes, you are less qualified to take orders. You chose to be that way when you stopped your education. I am limited by my choices too. Either go back to school or lobby congress to change the laws.