"Are you an RN OR LPN ????"

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 27, 2008

when a person constantly hears the comment "are you a nurse or an lpn", it does grate the lpn's nerves at times, because it seems to denote that we are not nurses, and that is not true...we are. it may be true that many do not realize how this sounds, but when the rn does it consistently, it can easily be perceived that she is making it known 'who the true nurse is".

i have not seen rns and lpns function exactly the same in a floor setting; especially if it is a team nursing approach. in the clinic i work for, we do more similar things, but the trained eye will observe that we lpns are not doing triage or charge nurse duties.

what is annoying to many lpns is that we are not always called 'nurse', until it is convienent for others. if the lpn is going to administer a med, an im, or do a skill that only a licensed nurse can do, it is okay to introduce yourself as nurse...otherwise, the role has occasionally been dismissed.

i also know that i make a positive impace in nursing, because i like what i do. i think that what most lpns are saying is that we would like respect and acknowledgement in doing so.

swee2000 · Jan 27, 2008

NurseRatched67: I'm sorry if my comments(in my previous post on this thread) offended you or came across as defensive. That wasn't my intent. Sometimes I just don't realize how strong my words "sound" until after-the-fact.

To expand on what I said in my previous post, every time I introduce myself to patients, regardless if it's the 1st or 9th time, I say "Hi, I'm X and I'll be one of your nurses for this shift". If a patient asks "What do you mean you're 'one of my nurses?'", I'll explain that there will be 2 nurses, one a LPN and the other a RN, taking care of the patient for that shift. Usually that's enough info to satisfy the patient and life goes on. However, if they want more info(like what the differences are), I am happy to provide it. This doesn't happen often, as most patients aren't interested/don't care, have more important things on their mind, &/or don't acknowledge what I said in the first place. Who can blame them? If anything, the family &/or visitors are the curious ones that want a further explanation. Just like with patients, I tell them that BOTH staff members ARE NURSES, but on different levels as far as education, license, & job capabilities/functions are concerned.

Lastly, unless I'm mistaken about this, I do not lose the title of "Licensed Practical Nurse" based on whether or not my shift was spent data collecting & passing meds or doing beds & baths. At the end of the day, I am still a nurse & still hold a nursing license.

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DF-LPN · Jan 27, 2008

I always introduce myself and explain that I am the night nurse for the unit or the charge nurse on the nights that I take charge. I'v been asked RN or LPN? once in awhile, but mostly I get, "What kind of nurse are you?" Which I promptly reply with, Why, a GOOD nurse of course!!!! :idea: Then tell them "I'm an LPN" and usually how long I've been a nurse. I think patients and or families just want to know that they have someone compatent taking care of them. Myself personally, I would take compassion and experience over title any day. :bugeyes:

pantheon · Feb 1, 2008

Okay, I guess I have a question relating to....well I'll just give the situation...I usually introduce my self to my patients after I recieve my assignment and report. And I start out..."Hi, My name is Ally and I will be your nurse today....." Then usually 2 times out of 10....Ill get a question from my patient saying " Are you an LPN OR RN? " I have no problem answering thier question after that. but I was wondering does this happen to anyone else but me?........
I don't know what I feel about it really but i find it kind of odd that you get patients with no medical background asking whether youre and LPN or an RN...Just makes me feel alittle uneasy sometimes...lol... IT's like Hey I wonder is it for legal purposes.....

You know I think the whole thing started as someone pointed out the media. Remember that commercial with the patient and the nurse and I don't recall everything but the nurse did say ask for a RN a Real Nurse. I don't get asked if I'm an LPN but I have had patients ask if I'm a Real Nurse. My answer is as opposed to a fake nurse? I just turn it into a joke. I am a RN but I have friends that are LPN's and have been way longer than I have been a nurse (1998). I have learned a tremendous amount from them. The point is you know what your doing so don't let it bother you. It does help just to state how long you've been a nurse. I know when I start a new job I say I'm new to this hospital but not to nursing. I've been practicing since 1998. That's face it every hospital is different and so are the policies so I don't want them to think I don't know what I'm doing when I have a preceptor standing there with me! Be strong!:pumpiron:

grantyRN06 · Feb 1, 2008

I have had people ask me that question, and I say to them " Why do you ask?" Generally they say "Oh I know they have a lot of those LPNs here in the hospitals." So I let them know..well I have worked as a LPN for the past 11 years and I recently became a RN a year ago." So when they have a salty look on their face I say I know a lot of people feel more comfortable w/ RNs, but I know a lot of LPNs that are just a capable or even more capable of a RN. Then I tell them the LPN and I are working together as a team and they will see the both of us frequently throughout the shift and not to hesitate to ask for assistance. By definition a nurse is "a person who has been trained to take care of sick people" I don't know why people get so hung on titles so much. Try not to let it make you feel too uneasy.

twotrees2 · Feb 19, 2008

sure you may ask what you like.. it is not my true desire to be a nurse and an lpn at the same time. the question stemmed from a conversation of of "what if's" i was having with an associate. and if you look at the post i was repling to in the previous message you would see that ...an RN who works in the unit stated that he worked with his rn in the hospital ...and he worked as an lpn at a rehab as extra because he needed the break. there's your benifit to it.....i think that is cool if thats what he want to do. my opinion.

i didnt think that was legal- an RN working under a previous LPN license - once getting a higher degree we are held to that higest standard- are we not?

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 19, 2008

i didnt think that was legal- an RN working under a previous LPN license - once getting a higher degree we are held to that higest standard- are we not?

I know plenty of nurses that hold both licenses and utilize both. Yes, you are held accountable to the highest license, that is for sure. But, I have a friend (and I think I posted this here in this thread somewhere), that told me when she was an LPN, she saw more interesting opportunities as an RN, so, she obtained that license-then, once becoming an RN, she saw interesting opportunities offered to LPNs. I guess that for some, money is not the only incentive, but the interest in the position.

I don't plan to become an RN, however, I would probably retain both if I were; simply because I would have worked hard to achieve both. More for sentimental reasons, probably.