"Just an LPN"....does anyone else get discouraged?

GN1974 · Feb 10, 2005

Actually, the theory behind the new "dumbing down and writing out abbreviations" thing is not due to people not being able to spell, but due to handwriting discrepancies. And by the way, I graduated from a diploma RN program before getting my BSN, and diploma programs mean CLINICAL FROM YOUR VERY FIRST DAY IN THE BUILDING, IN ADDITION TO CLASSES. So, I didnt have ANYTHING to learn from an lpn when I got my first nsg job. The only thing I learned from them is how to give a nasty look when a RN student is giving an IV push that she cant do with 20 plus yrs of being an 'LPN"

The truth of the matter is there are good and bad nurses regardless of the title. I have seen both view points from being an LPN for ten years before graduating from the ADN program. The scope of practice is different. I have had a few RNs tell me they learned something new from me as an LPN--and I learned something from them during my practice as an LPN. Each member of the nursing team plays an important role. I know LPN's who are very happy being an LPN--I would never try to be superior to them because I KNOW how hard they work and how much they enjoy their work. I am thankfully that the RN's I work with are encouraging and uplifting. Keep it positive, don't become sour over wages and I can do this but you cant. That is so playground.

Karen

proudmommielpn · Feb 10, 2005

LPN's can do IV push here in KY as long as it is not life or death situation and you have been checked off. I myself have done numerous. I am a proud LPN and I think that we all just need to get along. Good grief we are all nurses!

BETSRN · Feb 10, 2005

Hello nurses!
I have been discouraged lately...I feel like I am constantly fighting off the stigma of being "just an LPN." When people ask what I do, I always say I am a nurse....they then want to know if that means "RN" and of course what hospital do I work at???!!!!! I work in a clinic and have been an LPN for several years. UGGGHHH!!! Anyone else have this challenge?
Denise

How about saying "I am an LPN" instead of "I am JUST an LPN"? The realisty of it is that while LPN's are very necessary and wonderful in a variety of settings, many hospitlas have joined the "all RN hospital" bandwagon. You have to admit that the training and approach is TOTALLY different.

Are you thinking of going on? If so, wonderful!!

BETSRN · Feb 10, 2005

I don't know if I would use the word "discouraged," more like pissed off.
One of the RN's I work with often will say things to families like "I'm the only nurse here right now, I'll have to get back to you later..." We work in long term care and he is a supervisor. I have said MANY times, "no, you're the only RN here..." The other day I was working palliative and he walked into the room, interuppted my conversation with a family I have worked hard to foster a relationship with and said, "hi, I'm THE NURSE here tonight, let me know if you need anything" and walked away. They looked at me as if to say, "then who the hell are you?" I have on many occasions gentley reminded him that I have an "N" after my name is well, but the truth is the next time I see him I'm going to rip him a new one. Enough is enough!:angryfire
PS He is a diploma RN and I have just started working on my BScN, so one day I'll be his boss.....

Sounds like this guy is really on a power trip. I hope you will be able to take him aside and speak personally with him: no emotion, just calmly and professionally, that's all. To begin with, he never should have come in and interrupted you at all! That has nothing to do with anyone's position. In fact, I think I would go from that angle: common courtesy. It doesn't sound like he has any people skills at all.

BETSRN · Feb 10, 2005

Used to boil my britches when someone used to say just a CNA/LVN/LPN NURSE .I have ran into More nurse grads with know it all mentalty Who used to say that to me and I had over 20 years as a CNA from the old school where we did everything except pass drugs litterally..
Case in point We had a agency RN New grad working with me one night 3-11 I had done all the Pt care for 12 mental health Pt's .Ran all the groups ,because RN refused to help at all RN Sat at the desk.Then one of the Pt's fell broke her hip.I told that RN that the Pt's hip was broken had seen it many times and my husband is a Doc.She stated WHAT DO YOU KNOW YOUR JUST A CNA. RN even forsed the lady to walk on it, refused to do an incedent report or call for x-ray services She said if there is any trouble the next shift can do it.
So I went over her head to My RN Buddy on another unit I had worked with many times ,I begged him to come over and look. He did and lady was fractured in 2 places on the right hip.Comfirmed by X-ray services.
The RN said she was going to write me up for going over her head. I said go ahead,I am JUST A CNA REMEMBER!
I ened up writing her up and needless to say she wasn't allowed back at our hospitail again.
I got the impression she thought CNA ment we were too stupid to go on to get the higher education. All I can say is I try to respect all of my CNA that work for me now .When they tell me something I listen. When they say there is change with the PT .They are my eyes and ears out there. My front line .That's the only way I know what's going on from day to day.
God bless the nurses that see the value in peoples life experances and Not just the title .

That type of new grad will get eaten alive somewhere. Somewhere along the line, she missed a few lectures!! In my opinion, new grads shold never be agency nurses anyway.

BETSRN · Feb 10, 2005

OK, I wasnt going to get into this one, but now your being just as rude..... "RN=Real Nuts? ... come on.....To be honest, there are alot of lpn's out there who are lpn's bcause they couldnt do the book work to become RN's. Not all, but alot. And since your doing your part to down RN's, I figured I would point that out. In my state, hospitals wont even HIRE an LPN. I guess economical factors take a back road there. Dont get me wrong, you can learn alot from an experienced LPN about pt care, procedures and such, and I am not one to devalue them, BUT in todays healthcare, they are being phased out. In many hospitals LPN's are equal to CNA's who can give po meds. Do I devalue CNA's? Absolutely not. Not everybody is willing to do that work, and most who do it are good at it, and they are a credit to the field. LPN"s deserve respect, and by the same token, SO DO REGISTERED NURSES, DOCS, ETC. There willl always be a pecking order. If you feel devalued, go get your RN, since you complain you "do as much if not more than an RN" get the title, the responsibility,the money, the opportunities, but most importantly, THE KNOWLEDGE behind those two letters RN (REGISTERED NURSE). and by the way "sondra"... this post is not directly in response to yours, but the "rn real nut' thing did set me off.

This discussion is ridiculous. before RN's start dumping on LPN's they better make sure their clinical skills are as good. Unfortunately, BSN programs do not do NEAR enough clinical to give their grads even minimal clinical skills. It's sad. I also feel that many BSN programs teach their students that they will be above any bedside work. That's too bad, too. I think that actual hands on bedside skills should be a pre-requisite to even being considered for management.

BETSRN · Feb 10, 2005

I think schooling does promote some of the i'm-better-than-you attitude. A local BSN program in this area employs an instructor whom i overheard saying "Remmber, YOU will be the nurse, do not focus on aide work.">>
This statement right here says it all...........This ""I am better because I have a BSN" stuff starts with the instructors: some of whom have not been at the bedsie in years, or ever!! I once had a professor (in a Masters program) tell an entire bunch of students (many of whome were BSN students) that it didn't matter whether they could put in a foley and she never did it until she worked in ICU. I think that's what turned me off right then and there. It's that type of attitude that sets the stage.

LPN1974, LPN · Feb 10, 2005

Yes, I agree there is alot of petty snipping back and forth on this thread.

This thread started out by an LPN who was discouraged. And it's ending up totally off subject.

I say if you want to beat up on other nurses, go get another board, and don't allow any nurses in who do not fit in with your grade. As one poster stated, "No LPNs allowed."

Then you can do all of it you want to, but while on this board, which everyone reads, keep the griping and b******g about other nurses and/or other nursing positions off of it.

Why can we not learn to get along???

If it's this bad on this board, I'd hate to work in a unit with some of these posters.

Ted · Feb 10, 2005

this thread is closed for a cooling off period and for moderator's discussion.

the allnurses.com staff