why does teachers and some Rn's think LPN is not a nurse!

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Is anyone can answer my questions. Why do some teachers at school and some RN's think that LPN is not a nurse. I feel like we are put down at all times and can not argue with them. I;m doing my LPN- BSN program and the teachers always impying that LPN does not have the same therapeutic communication skills than the RN have ouch it's really hurt but i can not say anything because I don;t want to fight with the teachers:no:.

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Some RN's I'v come across that make statements like that are the same who had to retake thier boards multiple times. So what does that tell you.

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Specializes in Utilization Review/Case Management.

Hellllloooo, Yes, LPN/LVNs are nurses!

And just like any job/profession/group there are good ones, bad ones and mediocre ones.

Perhaps more instruction is given in the RN program versus the LPN program on therapeutic communication, but from my personal experience, it is not something that can just be taught, it needs to be practiced. (btw....in my experience, many of my instructors knew the "steps" of communication, but were not masters of it :(. Therapeutic communication means you actually listen to the other person, then formulate your response based on what they say. some of my instructors forgot to listen:nono:)

That being said, there is a lot of other theory and information taught in RN programs that is very different than what most LPN programs are able to teach.

Study hard, take it one day at a time and you will do fine.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

Some days all we can do is suck it up. Yes, we know we are nurses. We over come ignorance about what our abilities are and can be one shift at a time in some cases.

Sometimes we educate each other, as we have all gone to school or worked in different states where practices can differ.

If only we were allowed to work UP TO our Scope of Practice instead of having our Practice narrowed year after year.

keep your head up, stay in school and get your RN do not stop at LPN. While I have been happy as an LPN. That may not be the future of other LPN's coming out of school.

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thank you all for the wonderful reply. It is devastating at times because we are all put down maybe we should have a representative and speak to the LPN's in the board of nursing eh. Just curious if that is possible.

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Which province are you working in? The LPN is a valued nurse in nearly every province. In fact, our educational programme is now basically the diploma RN programme that has been phased out. The only nurses with that attitude I've met are the ones who are over 60.

Often these judgments are based upon how the student or nurse presents themselves. Are their written and oral communication skills up to par, are they non native English speakers, etc are used in how the judgment is formed.

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I'm not actually leaving in canada at the moment I'm here in the US. One of the teacher that I'm taking classes made that comment at one time. I find it not cool. Also one teacher made another comment that LPN should not even do head to toe assessment in the patient because is not in our scope of practice. Is that true. If anyone can answer that question that will be good.:nono:

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Well, I think your instructors need to look at the scope of practice wherever you are.

It is within my scope of practice to assess anyone from head to toe. LPNs do the nursery assessment of newborns, admission assessment of post-partum mothers, post-op patients being recieved from the OR, geriatrics upon admission to a facility (be it LTC or acute care). I do this under my own licence and without an RN's supervision.

Which province did you receive your education in? The schools here in Alberta are very forthcoming on what is within our scope of practice legally. What a hospital or health authority chooses to restrict is within their perogative. I was taught how to insert an NG in school but in my hospital it is a skill restricted to the RN. I can start an IV and administer all drugs except those required in chemotherapy, but I can administer oral chemo drugs. Facilty policy has a lot to do with it.

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The RNs I work with are amazing and don't differ between RN and LPN - we're all nurses! However, the only people I've had issue with are some PATIENTS. Some will say, "So when are you going to be a nurse?" I tell them that I already am a nurse, to which they reply, "No you're not. You have to be an RN to be a nurse." *sigh*

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

Honestly, this is one aspect of nursing that I could live without, this RN vs. LPN thing. Even if I were an RN, this just doesn't strike as a way to build teamwork at all. I like being a nurse but despise the politics. JMO.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Honestly, this is one aspect of nursing that I could live without, this RN vs. LPN thing. Even if I were an RN, this just doesn't strike as a way to build teamwork at all. I like being a nurse but despise the politics. JMO.

I find it to be an ultimate turn off as well. What I find amazing is that the amount of people...even RNs that really believe that LPNs are not nurses. I remember saying to one that she should be embarassed with the years it took to obtain her BSN that she was not aware that LPNs are nurses as well. To say that she was insulted is an understatement, but hey, life sucks...:chuckle

Because you are a nurse, have been to nursing school before, you know the drill...the professor is always 'right' even when they are dead wrong and stupid. The same way you kept your feelings to yourself while in LPN school, you'll basically have to do the same now...let them spew their nonsense, get your degree and move on. It isn't worth the headaches to let them get under your skin. You are moving in another direction. Best of luck to you!

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Does your teacher actually know the true definition of "therapeutic communication?" Impress her and tell her Therapeutic Communication is a conscious and deliberate process used to gather information related to a patient's overall health status (physical, psychosocial, spiritual, etc.) and to respond with verbal and nonverbal approaches that promote the patient's well-being or improve the patient's understanding of ongoing care. This type of communication looks easy and natural when performed by an experienced health professional, but it is a skill that requires time, effort, and is an art. knowledge of the individua's educational background and interests provides nurses with a starting point for converstaion. This defenition is all verbatim from Mosby's "Basic Geriatric Nursing" book. Your teacher is obviously ignorant, and should know herself, that rather an LPN or RN, nursing is a learned skill no matter what. An RN student doesn't come out of school knowing how to do Therapeutic Communication right away. If I were you, I would just laugh to yourself about the ignorance of your teacher and just ignore her. You know who you are, and what type of nurse you can be wether being an LPN or RN adn that's all that matters.

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