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

underwatergirl · Jan 22, 2005

SKM-NURSIEPOOH,

In my posting I did not say Licensed Nurses, yes there is a different...I said nurses, as a whole a CNA is still a nurse it is in his/her title, but you are right they are not licensed however they still provide nursing services therefore nurses in their own role.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Jan 22, 2005

skm-nursiepooh,

in my posting i did not say licensed nurses, yes there is a different...i said nurses, as a whole a cna is still a nurse it is in his/her title, but you are right they are not licensed however they still provide nursing services therefore nurses in their own role.

that doesn't hold water! just because the title cna has the word 'nursing' within it doesn't make them nurses!!!! you know it's only semantics here..... one wouldn't place mas in the same mind set of them being mds just cause the word 'medical' is within their title....right?

please look-up your sbon's website & check-out their regulations regarding who can & can't use the title of nurse. you'll find cnas, mas, nas, pct are all referred as uap (unlicensed assistive personnel) & not categorized as nurses.

as stated earlier, i do understand your sentiment, sensitivity, or even political correctness...but it's unfortunately misguided.

cheers!

moe

LPN1974, LPN · Jan 22, 2005

It's frustrating to a point, but not nearly as frustrating as a few of the RNs who have said to me "well if you want people to respect you, become an RN". Shouldn't have to do that for people to think about their insulting remarks before they make them.

Oh, so some RNs think that only RNs deserve respect??

What are WE....chopped liver?

Heck, I've worked with some RNs who are scared to death to give any kind of medication and would run a country mile to avoid the possiblity of it.

weetziebat · Jan 22, 2005

ah, denise, i understand totally. i was an lpn for 12 years before going back for my rn, and got sooooo tired of being asked if i was an rn or 'just an lpn' - man, i could've punched them i was so annoyed. i'd say "yes, i'm just an lpn" and they'd tell me they didn't mean it that way. well, what way did you mean it then?

but now, with an associate degree, i have people ask me if i'm a two or a four year r.n. - aaaarrrggh! i wonder if people do that to m.d.'s - ya know, "oh, are you a neurosurgeon - or just a dermatologist? :rotfl:

i don't think people mean it in a mean way - they just don't think before they speak. but it does show how little the general public knows about the roles of all nurses.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 22, 2005

I got mad enough one day to go back to school. Sometimes anger can be a good motivator.

I must be the opposite. I couldn't go back to school because i was mad at how i was treated as an LPN. I would have felt lke "they" got their way.

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 22, 2005

but now, with an associate degree, i have people ask me if i'm a two or a four year r.n. - aaaarrrggh! i wonder if people do that to m.d.'s - ya know, "oh, are you a neurosurgeon - or just a dermatologist? :rotfl:
i don't think people mean it in a mean way - they just don't think before they speak. but it does show how little the general public knows about the roles of all nurses.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :chuckle

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 22, 2005

that doesn't hold water! just because the title cna has the word 'nursing' within it doesn't make them nurses!!!! you know it's only semantics here..... one wouldn't place mas in the same mind set of them being mds just cause the word 'medical' is within their title....right?

please look-up your sbon's website & check-out their regulations regarding who can & can't use the title of nurse. you'll find cnas, mas, nas, pct are all referred as uap (unlicensed assistive personnel) & not categorized as nurses.

as stated earlier, i do understand your sentiment, sensitivity, or even political correctness...but it's unfortunately misguided.

cheers!
moe

i understand everyone's point and i agree it shouldn't make a difference, but i gotta agree with moe on this one. people are quick to jump and say they are a nurse, just because the word is part of their full title.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 22, 2005

...., as a whole a CNA is still a nurse it is in his/her title, but you are right they are not licensed however they still provide nursing services therefore nurses in their own role.

A = Assistant which means to assist the nurse. I love our CNA's they are wonderful employees and great people, but they are NOT in any way shape or form a nurse. Sorry

Blackbird · Jan 22, 2005

I think people are getting a little sensitive.

An assistant nurse still nurses. She or he can still say she nurses.

So what? Whether you're an assistant nurse, enrolled nurse or registered nurse, you are still a nurse. Just like a doctor of philosophy still has a Dr before their name or a vet can still say they're a medical practitioner.

Really. Get over the titles, people.

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 22, 2005

I think people are getting a little sensitive.
An assistant nurse still nurses. She or he can still say she nurses.
So what? Whether you're an assistant nurse, enrolled nurse or registered nurse, you are still a nurse. Just like a doctor of philosophy still has a Dr before their name or a vet can still say they're a medical practitioner.

Really. Get over the titles, people.

Would you want as assistant physician (oh I'm sorry, I believe they are called physician's assistant) operating on you?? This person is not an assistant physician; by calling them this you are saying they are a physician. Therefore the same applies for a CNA, certified nursing assistant, not a CAN, certified assistant nurse. You can't just "get over it" when it comes to titles. That's why is most if not all states, it is illegal to refer to oneself as a NURSE when you are not one.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 22, 2005

I think people are getting a little sensitive.Really. Get over the titles, people.

No not sensitive just living in "reality". I think you are the one being sensitive as I see no title behind your name, eh? Titles are very important and if you want a different one you have to work for it. Your rationale makes no sense whatsoever.

A little story: I worked with a CNA who used to tell the patient my name is Mary and I will be one of your nurses today. The patient believing that Mary was a licensed/registered nurse told her that she was having pain in her jaw. Mary not having been to nursing school did not realize that this was potentially important information for a patient admitted with an abnormal EKG. Mary went to her next patient and changed the linens and thought well I'll tell her nurse about the jaw pain next time I see her. The patient coded and died of an MI. The doctor said was she not having any pain/symptoms? The husband said only jaw pain but she told her nurse. The nurse knew nothing about the jaw pain because the patient thought she had told her "nurse". A little information can be a dangerous thing. The patient who died was only 38 years old. How do you think Mary felt after that? She only uses her title CNA since that time. Enough said?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 22, 2005

I think people are getting a little sensitive.
An assistant nurse still nurses. She or he can still say she nurses.
So what? Whether you're an assistant nurse, enrolled nurse or registered nurse, you are still a nurse. Just like a doctor of philosophy still has a Dr before their name or a vet can still say they're a medical practitioner.

Really. Get over the titles, people.

If "sensitive" is another word for "reality", then fine, i am.

A nursing assistant is NOT A NURSE. It's false representation if they say they are. Nursing Assistant being the key letters. Check with your state board on what is considered NURSE.

I won't "get over" the titles. There are DIFFERENT TITLES for DIFFERENT JOBS. If we all did the same thing, we'd all be CALLED the same thing.