RNs superior???

Hanna0225 · Oct 22, 2008

i always hear about this, it's very unfortunate. i am only in nursing school, and i'm already preparing myself for this (trying to get thick skinned). it seems like you have to get in, do your job, and get out. there will always be a doctor, an rn, or anyone else who will try to "degrade you" but in the end... they can only "degrade you" if you let them.

picurn10 · Oct 22, 2008

honestly, I think it's lack of knowledge on the part of certain RN's. I decided early this year to take the LPN to RN route because it shaves 6mo off of the time it will take me to get my RN. I was clueless about how tough and serious LPN school is. From the many people I've known, who've gotten their LPN first, I've heard that the only difference in RN school is a few skills (but most are the same) and that the focus is on critical thinking, and leadership compared to the LPN, which makes total since.

AFA not being "real" nurses, that makes me really angry for her :banghead: If you have two Marines, one enlisted and one officer (a great analogy I read here once) you wouldn't dare tell the enlisted Marine he/she wasn't a Marine! They both went through "bootcamp", have the same mission, just different levels of practice.

I'm glad that I'm getting my LPN first because I think it's going to give me so much extra clinical experience and just make me a better RN all around. I will never take for granted or look down upon an LPN (not that I did, though I was pretty clueless about their scope of practice) knowing now what they learned and how hard they worked to get through nursing school. They are every bit as much of a nurse at the RN, or BSN, or MSN! :redbeathe

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2008

The nursing profession sometimes attracts a fair share of people with low self esteems. Persons who suffer from low self esteem need validation and ego-boosting in order to feel better about themselves. Thus, the disrespect between the different levels of nursing occurs. A person who does not feel good about oneself is more likely to have the superiority complex.

Some nurses who possess self esteem issues actually achieve some temporary pleasure by behaving in a disrespectful manner toward their coworkers. For some odd reason, their egos get a temporary boost when they insult their colleagues and play this superiority game.

You must always remember that a person does not feel the need to disrespect or act superior toward another human being unless his/her own self esteem is buried in the ground.

Woodenpug, BSN · Oct 22, 2008

Thecommuter makes an excellent point.

I'd like to ad that it seems, everywhere I have worked, some nurses are very resistant to change. Those nurses will do anything they can get away with to sabotage change.

Most places have policies against verbal violence as described by the op. It could be helpful for your good friend to look into those policies.

:twocents:

Trauma Columnist · Oct 22, 2008

Agree with Commuter - it makes no sense to put others down in order to make you appear superior. Tell your friend to either hang in there and prove herself or find somewhere that will appreciate her.

missjennmb · Oct 22, 2008

The nursing profession sometimes attracts a fair share of people with low self esteems. Persons who suffer from low self esteem need validation and ego-boosting in order to feel better about themselves. Thus, the disrespect between the different levels of nursing occurs. A person who does not feel good about oneself is more likely to have the superiority complex.
Some nurses who possess self esteem issues actually achieve some temporary pleasure by behaving in a disrespectful manner toward their coworkers. For some odd reason, their egos get a temporary boost when they insult their colleagues and play this superiority game.
You must always remember that a person does not feel the need to disrespect or act superior toward another human being unless his/her own self esteem is buried in the ground.

:yeahthat:

xt1 · Oct 22, 2008

whats the difference between a RN and a LPN?

about $15/hr

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2008

i worked with many lvns at a time when cnas and nursing assistants were not hired. i was always happy to delegate tasks to lvns. it was interesting what happened. some lvns resented the extra work and wanted to stay at the level of just performing as nursing assistants--go figure. then, there were lvns who welcomed the challenges. i got heat from my rn colleagues who would constantly question my decision to give so much responsibility to lvn colleagues.

all i can say is no one is ever happy, are they? hopefully, your lpn friends will find rns who understand the facility job descriptions and what delegation is and know how to practice it. i suspect that part of the problem is rns who are afraid to delegate. people who are afraid to delegate tend to want to do everything themselves. this, unfortunately, leads to burnout, under usage of the people who are there to assist them and bad feelings toward those who are there to assist them but are being under utilized. a vicious cycle--kind of a catch 22. they really should go to the manager and complain that they are not being allowed to do what they were hired to do.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2008

whats the difference between a RN and a LPN?
about $15/hr

This is not the case in my city. The RNs who work alongside me earn approximately $5.50 more per hour than the LVNs. The pay gap between RNs and LVNs is not huge in my state of residence due to the wide-open LVN scope of practice here.

CuriousMe · Oct 22, 2008

Since the LPN's are new in that facility, is it possible that the RN's are feeling a bit threatened by the presence of the LPN's coming on the scene?

Even if it's true, it's not an excuse for the behavior....but it might help to explain it.

Peace,

CuriousMe

RNKel, ASN, RN · Oct 23, 2008

whats the difference between a RN and a LPN?
about $15/hr

--------

Wow, not here! Med/surg RN's start off at around $21/hr. An LPN wouldn't be making much if the above were true here!