"Oh, so you'll be doing all the dirty work..." Help?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I am back in school after receiving a BA nearly 20 years ago, in hopes of being admitted to a local college's LPN program after I complete my pre-requisites.

I have been in school only two weeks, part-time, and was telling my neighbor this morning about it for the first time. I told her my goal was to become an LPN. She said, "Oh, so you'll be doing all the dirty work!"

How do I respond to statements such as this? I told her I felt sure there was plenty of "dirty work" to go around. Is this a common belief? And is it true??

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I am back in school after receiving a BA nearly 20 years ago, in hopes of being admitted to a local college's LPN program after I complete my pre-requisites.

I have been in school only two weeks, part-time, and was telling my neighbor this morning about it for the first time. I told her my goal was to become an LPN. She said, "Oh, so you'll be doing all the dirty work!"

How do I respond to statements such as this? I told her I felt sure there was plenty of "dirty work" to go around. Is this a common belief? And is it true??

Alot of people are misinformed of the duties of a LVN/LPN. Dont let peoples rude comments bother you because you now what your job is and you should be proud of it because it is an important function to the facility you will work at.

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Specializes in psych nursing.

Some people are just plain rude. :madface:

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

That shows you how uneducated people are. LPN's, RN,and CNA's all have to do grunt work. When I was doing my clinicals I never saw RN's just sitting around passing off task to other personnel. They all worked hard. Give me a break!!!! You are making a good career decision. Some of my RN friends started out as LPN and advanced their careers. You do what best for you. Im proud to be an LPN and I'll shout it to the world.

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Specializes in Almost everywhere.
I am back in school after receiving a BA nearly 20 years ago, in hopes of being admitted to a local college's LPN program after I complete my pre-requisites.

I have been in school only two weeks, part-time, and was telling my neighbor this morning about it for the first time. I told her my goal was to become an LPN. She said, "Oh, so you'll be doing all the dirty work!"

How do I respond to statements such as this? I told her I felt sure there was plenty of "dirty work" to go around. Is this a common belief? And is it true??

I would have said..."what do you mean by dirty work?"

Does dirty work mean reinforcing patient teaching and promoting a person's well being?

Does dirty work mean holding an elderly person's hand as they verbalize their fears?

Does dirty work mean knowing about tons of medications and their side effects and administering them to people.

Or was she getting at the butt wiping thing, which I as a RN STILL do and have been doing the last 17 years as a LPN. I guess I don't consider cleansing someone to avoid skin breakdown and promote hygiene "dirty work." It is part of caring for someone as a whole.

For every person that has ever said to me "Oh, you are the LPN? Well then you will be doing the dirty work, grunt work, etc" I would like to :trout::trout::trout::trout::trout:

And I know I am suppose to be Beary NICE.

You will find some folks just don't get it!!! Press on and follow your dream!!!!!!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Well, I am used to hearing it because people underestimate the role of nursing, the LPN role in particular. My girlfriend's mother has a friend that just completed LPN school and she stated she had NO IDEA how the LPN was trained and their responsibilities. She was sort of in a state of shock. Well, LPNs are no dummies, either.

Some people are just rude, and others are ignorant. Press on and be proud of what you do, or plan to do!

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Specializes in ER.

When you're confronted by those smug people that believe LPN's do nothing but wipe butt, just smile and reply: "Yes, I will be wiping @ss. And one day you'll appreciate me when the @ss I'm wiping is yours." Has worked for me on more than one occasion.

And of course, don't ever forget to mention that you'll also be on the "giving" end of foley caths and enemas as well...I have one butth*ole of an uncle that swears he'll never come to my ER. He made fun of my being an LPN the entire time I was in school. At some point after graduation, it suddenly dawned on him that I'm an ER NURSE and he might end up at my mercy if he's ever in an accident. My dad swears my uncle drives slower and has worn a seatbelt ever since I started working....its hilarious!:lol2:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

So, your friend does not think that RNs do their fair share of "dirty work"?

RNs who work in the ICU often don't have aides, so they must give their own baths, change diapers, and turn and reposition Q2H. RNs who work in L&D see their fair share of poop, because fecal matter frequently comes out of the laboring mom's anal sphincter as that 7-pound neonate is progressing through the birth canal (right on top of the rectum) to the outside world. RNs who work in the NICU often change poopy baby diapers. RNs who work in med-surg often empty their own urine bags if they want to visualize the color and clarity of the patient's urine for themselves.

All nurses, RNs and LPNs alike, must participate in the so-called "dirty work." The "dirty work" seems unimportant to misguided people, until they end up in the hospital and need someone to take them to the bathroom!

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Just ask her if she's capable of CPR, wound care, and comforting the dying, calculating safe doses of drugs, immunizing a schoolaged child...

Peoples eyes glaze over when they realize what I can do.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I am back in school after receiving a BA nearly 20 years ago, in hopes of being admitted to a local college's LPN program after I complete my pre-requisites.

I have been in school only two weeks, part-time, and was telling my neighbor this morning about it for the first time. I told her my goal was to become an LPN. She said, "Oh, so you'll be doing all the dirty work!"

How do I respond to statements such as this? I told her I felt sure there was plenty of "dirty work" to go around. Is this a common belief? And is it true??

I would have said "Yep, that includes listening to uninformed people make assumptive comments."

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Specializes in Hospice, ER.

A lot of these type of comments seem to go along with "when will you be a real nurse?".....

Another opportunity then presents itself to educate the ignorant.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
A lot of these type of comments seem to go along with "when will you be a real nurse?".....

Another opportunity then presents itself to educate the ignorant.

I've had other nurses say to me "Oh, why don't you want to be a nurse?" or " You need to go to nursing school":angryfire:angryfire

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