RN student assigned to LPN???

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jan 31, 2009

At my CC LPN students and RN students are all togehter in theory and at clinicals. Some of us LPN students may work with RNs and vice versa for RN students. It doesn't matter what title nurse you are working under as long as you are learning. LPNs are still nurses and very knowledgable. Yes, RNs have more eduaction, however being a student isn't going to give us many options to what nurse we would be under. I'm a LPN student and I learn from EVERYONE at clinicals. Techs, doctors, nurses, housekeeping, etc. Don't think you are being cheated, be glad that you are even in the opportunity to learn !

itsmyturn · Jan 31, 2009

I agree...be thankful you have the opportunity. I learned a lot from the housekeeper...kind of like being in cahoots with the man who knew about the secret tunnels under Disney World...they may just be quietly meandering through out the halls cleaning up our messes but they have ears the size of dumbo and can let you in on things and help you out when you get lost with what your doing. I also agree about the title not having anything to do with experience because as someone already said, everyone in that clinical area knows more than you do just learn and be happy.

amjowens · Jan 31, 2009

I'm a new LPN, and in RN school. I'm only in my first semester, and while I don't readily announce the fact that I'm an LPN, word has gotten out. So, rather than just go through the motions of doing the tasks that are simple for me right now (only because I was already taught), I'm thinking, might as well help out my fellow students while in clinical. I do help and share advice, and most of my fellow RN classmates are SO thankful. The ones who aren't are the same ones who feel "too good" to do bed baths, etc. One actually didn't do her assigned bath, and when it was time for lunch and our instructor went over our charting, noticed it wasn't charted. When asked about it, in front of everyone, this girl unbelievably said that she thought it was the job of the nurse aide! We had to take a late lunch to wait for her to do the bath! She was SO angry, and told us how she's going to be a flight nurse, and won't be doing "that" kind of nursing, etc. While I'm not saying that you are thinking like this at all, I AM noticing that the same "type" who isn't open to learning all aspects of nursing is the same "type" with overall challenges with personal character. You can pick up a book and read about the few differences between LPNs and RNs to see that LPNs truly don't have as broad a scope of practice. You'll also hopefully find there are a few things you might be able to learn from an LPN. I'd focus on those things the LPN can teach you. The nursing diagnosis, push meds, and certain IV meds that the LPN can't do will be picked up by you relatively easy when you do have access to RNs. Good luck.

anewday · Jan 31, 2009

It doesn't matter. A lot of the basic principles of nursing that students cover in clinicals can be learned from working with an LPN. A lot of LPN's have a broad scope of practice. At one of my clinical sites, there weren't any RN's on the floor... only LPN's. At another clinical in an acute care setting I was placed with an LPN before. It didn't make one bit of difference. LPN's are still nurses. As a matter of fact the LPN's at my school are in the same classes as the RN's.

GeauxNursing · Feb 1, 2009

So I started med-surg clinicals last week and when assigned to my nurse I notice on the name tag that the nurse is an LPN as did most of the other nurses on the floor. The only RN I saw was the charge nurse. It seems strange to me that I am going to school to be an RN yet I am assigned to an LPN at clinicals. I don't understand how I am supposed to learn what an RN does if I'm not assigned to one. At previous clinicals I was with an RN. My question is besides pay what is the difference between an LPN and RN... The LPN I was with hung blood, started an IV, gave meds IV push and performed assessments on all the patients.. same as I have been taught to do.

if that LPN was doing everything that you as the "RN" are learning to do, then what's the problem? are you learning to do management stuff in this clinical or are you learning to pass meds and do dressing changes? Did you ask your instructor?

SunnyAndrsn · Feb 1, 2009

You remind me of two of my aids who are in nursing school. Stop worrying about the titles and start learning--you'll be able to relax so you can learn.

good luck to you, but honestly, your post bothers me.

Heloisea3 · Feb 2, 2009

I am an RN student, and I will be graduating in May. I have been paired with LVNs at clinicals, and I have learned so much from them. Personally, I have found many of the LVNs to be much nicer and easier to work with than a lot of the RNs I have come across so far. I have learned a lot from them. In my experience, they have been great about teaching us and working with us. During my Med-Surg semester, there were RNs who literally became angry when asked to work with a student and flat out refused to do it, and they did this in front of us. Sadly, one of the RNs who did this was a recent grad from the same school I am attending right now. She has only been out of school for a year, and she is already treating students like crap. That's a shame. I don't mean to imply that none of the RNs I have been paired with have been nice or helpful. Many of them have been wonderful. However, I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to be paired with some wonderful LVNs.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2009

They do this at my school..until you are in your last semester. During our last semester staff are specifically told we are not there to give baths, make beds, feed, help ambulate, etc...it's not that as future RN's we are being taught we are above it...this is because we only have clinical one day a week and this is our last shot to do as much assessment as possible, start as many IV's as possible, change lines, give medications, etc.

The RN's at our hospitals here (with the exception of one), only charge except in the OB area...so if you followed around an RN here all day...you wouldn't learn much...which isn't going to help those of us that aspire to to work in larger hospitals, with many floors, especially in critical care areas, that only staff with RN's...and some don't even have CNA's....so they'll be plenty of times do catch up on baths and bedmaking!

janbug · Feb 2, 2009

Whether I'm working with an RN or an LVN I just look at it as a chance to learn. Granted there are good nurses and bad nurses, but I try to make the best of it. You can learn something from everyone. :)