RN bashing

[SCRN1]

I don't know about the rest of you RNs, but I'm sick of seeing all the posts where we are being bashed by those who aren't one. When I joined here, I actually thought it was a place for nurses to communicate with other nurses by sharing things about their work, asking each other's opinions on things, etc.

What I keep seeing more and more of is a CNA or LPN complaining about how registered nurses are so bad in how they treat them. True, there are some registered nurses who may have a thing against them. But, most seem to appreciate all the help they receive from them and those who come here are constantly trying to tell them that.

Why can't we all just get along and do our jobs in which we were hired?

[RN34TX]

I completely agree, mattsmom.

_____________________

I just get really sick and tired of people that find it necessary to preach about the obvious. Yes i know i'm not an RN, nor do i have an RN's education, but there's 2 things i'm already sick of 1) being asked when i'm going back for my RN and i haven't even giving any indication that i'm going back to school to anyone at work or home and 2) being REMINDED where my place is, or why i don't deserve the pay, etc. I KNOW this already, long before i even worked in healthcare, period. It makes for a crappy work environment, frankly i won't have the time to deal with the nursier-than-thou. Why i say nursier-than-thou? Because, even if it may not be the intent to come across that way, the attitude still comes across as that.

I'm right behind you LPN2Be2004!!

When I was an LPN I too was tired of the "when are you going back to school" routine. I felt like saying "I'm so sorry that I'm just an LPN, when you RN's delegate tasks to me, please speak slowly and don't use too many fancy medical terms so I can understand." LOL!!

Too many people love to talk about how much better they are because of their credentials. Actually showing it is a bigger challenge.

Rather than argue about who is better, worth more, etc. why not ask yourself:

How am I making my work environment a better place as a result of my credentials? What am I bringing to the table that others without my credentials can't? I'm not talking about hanging blood or writing care plans because that is simply a matter of hospital policy and the nurse practice act.

LPN's (and others) cannot be fooled into believing that you are a better nurse simply because you have more education. This mentality leads to a lot of the hard feelings between LPN's and RN's, CNA's and LPN's, or ADN's and BSN's, etc.

If the person you are working with has less training/education than you, are you setting a good example for them?

If not, you may not be as valuable as you thought. You might be getting paid more, but that may be the hospitals problem for wasting a paycheck on someone who likes to talk about their status but doesn't do a lot with it.

Example: The BSN RN who throws temper tantrums like a child at the nurses station regardless of how serious the situation is or who may be listening.

What message does that send to the rest of the staff that is "below" your level?

You don't always have to be liked because you may need to make some unpopular decisions at times, but if you are not at least respected and on some level admired for your years of hard work in school, what are you really worth?

[FNP2B]

example: the bsn rn who throws temper tantrums like a child at the nurses station regardless of how serious the situation is or who may be listening.

what message does that send to the rest of the staff that is "below" your level?

you don't always have to be liked because you may need to make some unpopular decisions at times, but if you are not at least respected and on some level admired for your years of hard work in school, what are you really worth?[/quote]

50-60k anually!!!!!!:rotfl:

"it's never to late to be what you might have been"

[dianaeve]

congratulations on your graduation & good luck in what you decide to do with your future! :balloons:

thank you!

you are so nice!!

[RN34TX]

Example: The BSN RN who throws temper tantrums like a child at the nurses station regardless of how serious the situation is or who may be listening.

What message does that send to the rest of the staff that is "below" your level?

You don't always have to be liked because you may need to make some unpopular decisions at times, but if you are not at least respected and on some level admired for your years of hard work in school, what are you really worth?[/QUOTE]

50-60k anually!!!!!!:rotfl:

That is true!! But I really wasn't talking about money when I was referring to someone's worth.

Everyone wants the title, status, and "50-60k" but there are also responsibilities that go along with it, like setting a good example.

I'm just as tired of the RN bashing as everyone else from jealous and burned out CNA's and LPN's.

But I'm also tired of seeing RN's who are an embarrassment to the profession, which in turn fuels the fire of discontent from LPN's and CNA's.

We need good LPN's and CNA's in this business and we need their respect. We're never going to get it with the "I'm the RN and I said so" mentality.

I don't know about everyone else, but I wouldn't want to be a patient in a hospital being taken care of by CNA's and LPN's who get treated like crap by the RN's. I'm sure that their patient outcomes are nothing to brag about.

[MassLPN2005]

I am starting an LPN nursing program this fall. I have heard "Oh you are only going to be an LPN?" so many times. First of all, all of the RN school were full with long waiting lists. I have pre- req's with a 4.0. This shool is all day every day, a ten month program. It was extremely competitive to get in. It has a 100% pass rate for the boards. I plan on going straight to my RN this was the quickest and best way as an adult for me to do it.

But then again... why do I even have to explain myself? Has being an LPN become shameful somehow? I am remebering that the nurse that inspired me as a sick little girl to want to become a nurse was a LPN.

Nurses have come so far. RN's have so much responsibility. LPN's do a lot of very important real nursing. We all have come such a long way. Lets have pride in and support each other. Oh and btw... I am a CNA now and I am a member of the health care team, an integreal one, but not a nurse. When I am a nurse, an LPN, please don't lump me in with the CNA's I find that insulting.

[RN34TX]

MassLPN2005 I hope you weren't talking about me when you said "Please don't lump me in with the CNA's I find that insulting." If so I apologize.

LPN's are licensed healthcare professionals with responsibilities and scope of practice that clearly sets them apart from the CNA.

I was only referring to the strained relationship between RN's and others in the healthcare environment, particularly CNA's and LPN's as these two categories work very closely with RN's.

I like to brag to people in other fields that nursing has different levels that people can choose to start or stop at and you don't have to have a bachelors degree to be a part of it. Many other professions cannot say that.

It should be looked at as a career ladder, not a hierarchy.

I also started as an LPN due to the long waiting lists at RN programs. It can be very discouraging and I also heard all of the "your only going to be an LPN" crap, much of which came from people who never went to college at all!! What is that about?

As far as shameful goes, becoming the best LPN that you can be is noble, not shameful.

Being an RN who barely graduated by the grace of god with poor clinical and people skills who rely on their degree and title to back up their arrogance and hide their lack of knowledge, now THAT'S shameful.

[MassLPN2005]

MassLPN2005 I hope you weren't talking about me when you said "Please don't lump me in with the CNA's I find that insulting." If so I apologize.

LPN's are licensed healthcare professionals with responsibilities and scope of practice that clearly sets them apart from the CNA.

I was only referring to the strained relationship between RN's and others in the healthcare environment, particularly CNA's and LPN's as these two categories work very closely with RN's.

I like to brag to people in other fields that nursing has different levels that people can choose to start or stop at and you don't have to have a bachelors degree to be a part of it. Many other professions cannot say that.

It should be looked at as a career ladder, not a hierarchy.

I also started as an LPN due to the long waiting lists at RN programs. It can be very discouraging and I also heard all of the "your only going to be an LPN" crap, much of which came from people who never went to college at all!! What is that about?

As far as shameful goes, becoming the best LPN that you can be is noble, not shameful.

Being an RN who barely graduated by the grace of god with poor clinical and people skills who rely on their degree and title to back up their arrogance and hide their lack of knowledge, now THAT'S shameful.

No I wasnt talking about you at all.:)

Sorry if it seemed that way because you had the last post. :uhoh21: It just seems like LPNs get lumped in with CNAs by a lot of people...more "civilians" than professionals. I wish everyone were more educated as to what an LPN is and isn't yes, a real nurse, no not an RN.

[mattsmom81]

I was an LPN before I was an RN. I was a good nurse then and I'm a good nurse now.

I remember 'a few' bad attitudes among the RN's I worked with, but I sensed MOST of them were sincerely trying to compliment/encourage me when they asked if I was going on to be a RN. The message I heard (again, from MOST) was there would be more opportunities, better pay, AND I was sharp enough to cut it in RN school. I chose to not let the vocal, bad attitude minority influence my goals or my attitude.

If someone is chastising an LPN about not returning to school, why not simply state its not a priority in their life right now, but they appreciate the encouragement? That's what I say when someone implies I 'should' get my BSN-MSN.

[Angela Mac]

i also believe that everyone is important, but i believe in levels of importance. the lpn that just changed the sheets for a patient is not as important (notice i said not as..they are still important) as the md that has to go into the family room to tell the family that the patient that the lpn has just changed the sheets for has just been diagnosed with malignant cancer.

it also falls into the level of responsibility. i have said this before and i will say it again. rn's are not paid considerably more than lpn's because society has it out for lpn's. it is simply due to the fact that rn's have a greater level of education than lpn's and they have a greater level of responsibility than lpn's, so in reflection they are of greater importance...(not saying that lpn's are not important because they are and if you want to be technical so are the cafeteria personnel) every one in a hospitial is important. from the janitor to the ceo of the hospital, there are just different levels of importance.

"its never to let to be what you might have been"

you have so much to say.....becuase you are an rn student, you publically bash nurses who know what the workplace is like and have been there since you were still in high school. if you don't have the experience to comment, refrain from doing so......oh, by the way, a nurse with experience is valued more than one who is booksmart.....you have alot yet to learn.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I was an LPN before I was an RN. I was a good nurse then and I'm a good nurse now.

I remember 'a few' bad attitudes among the RN's I worked with, but I sensed MOST of them were sincerely trying to compliment/encourage me when they asked if I was going on to be a RN. The message I heard (again, from MOST) was there would be more opportunities, better pay, AND I was sharp enough to cut it in RN school. I chose to not let the vocal, bad attitude minority influence my goals or my attitude.

If someone is chastising an LPN about not returning to school, why not simply state its not a priority in their life right now, but they appreciate the encouragement? That's what I say when someone implies I 'should' get my BSN-MSN.

One of our secretaries and CNA's are starting LPN school in the fall. I asked one of them if they were considering continuing on the RN school, and she said she hadn't thought about it. What I said to her was "you really should think about it....blah blah blah." I asked her if she could tell the difference between what the LPN floor nurses and the RN floor nurses did. She couldn't and I said the difference was $200.00/week.

She could have gotten all sensitive and called me a snooty arrogant RN and I don't care. I think without encouragement and gentle cheering on people they might not realize their potential, or feel they are good enough. When I say to a LPN "you should get your RN" it's a compliment. Not that RNs are smarter or better, but the LPN I'm talking to has what it takes to tough out school and that they deserve that $200.00/week.

All that person has to say is "No, LPN is my one and only goal right now." I'm sure it gets tiresome though have people tell you to get your RN all the time. But sometimes the reasoning is sincere. I'd hate to think of my favorite secretary and CNA not getting all they deserve. :chair:

[nursebedlam]

Medical dominance is really not my thing. I don't respect dominance in the work place or anywhere else. I love being a RN.

[Rhoresmith]

fnp2b all i can say to you is [sigh] in my 20 years of being in and out of medicine the rn's i met like you were the ones that burned out fast because they are on their own. if you go in to a hospital and have that attitude what lpn, cna is going to do anything extra to help you. who is going to cover your back ? all the book education in the world will not make up for the years of hands on education these other team members have. you go in with that attitude about how much more you make and guess what you better be the best da** nurse out there cause you are going to find you will get no one to back you up. i have seen this with many new grads and even some rn's that have been around a little (notice that word little) while. in defense of new nurses (rn and lpn) most are willing to listen to the veterans and realize that in nursing experiance is worth more than any book out there

hope you grow up and realize this before you start working (yes i brought age in because ask any nursing instructor life experiance in nursing is a big big plus)

rhonda future lpn and very proud of it