Tell me why an LVN/LPN is a "real nurse"

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 23, 2017

Hey allnurses!
So today I was upset by a comment/question one of my coworkers made.
I am currently working as a CNA but I graduated from an LPN program and passed the NCLEX (currently looking for an LPN job). I don't want to let people know that I passed the boards or that I'm looking for a job, so as far as they know, I've only graduated from the program.
Anyway, today one of my coworkers asked me if I was a nurse, I said "no, not yet" she then asked "but you went to school to be a nurse right?" I said "yes I did" she then asked "so are you going to be a real nurse, or just an LPN?" I was VERY bothered by this question and I absolutely DESPISE when people don't see LPNs as nurses.
LPN, for people who are ignorant, stands for Licensed vocational NURSE! LPNs need to take and pass the NCLEX (the board examination that "real nurses" take) to be able to work as a NURSE. We need to apply and get accepted into a program which is NOT very easy. We study human anatomy, physiology, microbiology, AND pass those courses with A's or B's to get into a program. We spend clinical hours in various settings not only shadowing nurses but also getting hands on experience as the role of a NURSE. We've been in clinics, hospitals, long term care facilities, sub acute, psych units. I've passed meds (PO, SQ, IM), I've seen a live birth (assisted as much as I was allowed), Did trach care, reported with other nurses/doctors... I mean, I'm not going to go on and explain what I did as an LPN/LVN student. Point is, I went to school to study to be a NURSE, period. I passed the NURSING board to practice as a NURSE in my state. I really hate to be label as "just an LVN", "LVN" or "Not a real nurse". I'm a NURSE, darn it! And just because I did LPN/LVN doesn't mean it was easy, it was a very complicated, long, difficult journey!!
So, Why do people think that LVN's are not nurses? Is there a reason I don't know about as to why LVN/LPNs are not respected as "real nurses"?
Just wanted to know reasons why we ARE nurses. Maybe there's something I don't know.
Also, just to have reasons to tell other people why we ARE nurses. The only thing I was able to tell my coworker was that we do everything "real nurses" do except IVs (even then some states can do IV's).
Thanks guys, just a little annoyed, can't formulate words that well lol

Some folks are just ignorant.

When I was a new grad about 40 years ago, the LPNs are the ones who took me under their wings and showed me how things worked. Most of what I learned about being a nurse, I learned from the stellar LPNs and NAs I worked with in my first job! The RNs only finished off my education about hanging blood, pushing IVs and doing charge . . . things the LPNs could teach me after having observed for so long, but didn't because they weren't supposed to.

LPNs are nurses, too, and the ones I've known were damned good ones!

neuron · Aug 23, 2017

I have been in healthcare for 35 years. First, I served as a private companion to a stroke patient. I did a lot of things that a CNA, LPN, and even RN might do but not ALL by all means and I didn't have the knowledge base and skill set of the others. I then went on to get certified as a Nurse Assistant. I ASSISTED nurses, I was NOT a nurse. The public gets very confused by this in nursing homes and especially in assisted living facilities and even in some hospital settings. I wasn't required to take many prerequisites to get into my LPN program. I graduated in one year with primarily a FOUNDATION in nursing. I think it's important to look at the terminology and at what is actually on the NCLEX that distinguishes one exam from the other. LPNs/LVNs are practical, vocational nurses. They are very skilled at performing practical, technical tasks. The thing I remember drilled into us as we bridged from an LPN to an RN was CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, prioritizing, looking at the whole picture, and delegating. The NCLEX reflects this. Less about memorization and more about rationalization. The "whys" not just the "whats." Still, ADNs are trained primarily to serve on MedSurg floors at an entry level. They go on to do amazing things after years of experience and moving from novice to expert in their specialities. The BSN is being recommended as the PROFESSIONAL level of entry for RNs. The Future of Nursing campaign calls for 80% of the nursing workforce in our hospitals to have BSNs. There is a reason. Bachelor-prepared nurses are trained beyond the MedSurg floor. They are trained to take leadership in their institutions and in the larger scope of healthcare in this country. They are trained in Community Health/Public Health. Not just a foundational understanding of these roles but an indepth application of these roles in the larger healthcare system. Additionally, numerous studies show that there is better patient outcomes and fewer re-hospitalizations within 30 days of discharge when a facility has 80% or more of their nursing staff Bachelor-prepared. It is not that the LPN/LVN is not a "real" nurse, it is that they are limited in their scope and depth of the nursing process and it's application. While I, too, love the field of nursing because we can enter into at various points and move through it in unique directions, this also creates a great deal of confusion for the public and the rest of the medical community, in general. We see such a cross-over of terms and skills and scope from state to state and facility to facility (LPN1, LPN2, etc). This is all in response to the tremendous understaffing and need for qualified nurses. Unfortunately, we also see medication and other nursing errors because nurses are pushed to perform outside of their scope of training. I have the utmost respect for all levels of the nursing profession, I have been all of them.

There are some (and I've seen a few) LPN's and ADN's who work in the hospital. I believe they will seep through the 'cracks' of the 'only BSN in hospital campaign' because there are excellent LPN's with moral character and reflect the skills needed by the hospital (even though they have to ask the RN to hang blood, draw blood from/remove central line.)

NrseJen · Aug 25, 2017

Well, you will get a real paycheck for your real nursing job! You could just show them your real paycheck. You could show them the real student loans you have. Be proud of yourself. You accomplished a goal. Remember what my girl Taylor Swift says, "Haters gonna hate hate hate...shake it off!"

cherribaum · Aug 25, 2017

I too am sick and tired of not being recognized as a "real nurse". I have been an LPN for 29 years, working 60 hours a week. So really longer than 29 years. I have done everything that I am licensed to do for decades. I have done CPR many times. I have had to deliver a baby several times when the doctor was "delayed"....but the baby wasn't. We, as LPNs/LVNs NEVER need to introduce ourselves as "just an LPN". BE PROUD. WE SAVE LIVES AND MAKE LIVES BETTER!

MelissaC71 · Aug 27, 2017

I really think a lot of the flack LPN's take is from RN's who are threatend by our percieve invasion of their territory. As seperate bodies we don't really know what the other groups are capable of/What their scope is until we look. I have educated myself on my scope as an LPN, the scope of the Psych nurse and the scope of the RN's. Where I practise the biggest differences in our scopes are: I can't hang blood, but can do the rest of the monitoring, just can't spike that bag, Can't run TPN (not that I care about that either) Can't go in the vag and do a cervical check. Pretty much the rest I can do. I do IV meds/Centeral line meds, dressing changes and lab drawn. I do lab draws at work all the time. I do ECG's and can interpret them, I can run a trauma and do most anything the RN does.

In my workplace I am one of 3 LPN's. We work circles around the RN's. In skilsl, knowledge, critical thinking and assessment skills. Our doctor trusts two LPN's more than 18 other nurses we work with. He didn't know we were LPN's until he charted something calling us RN's...We clarrified that for him. :)

Other disciplines are threatened by their perceptions and the various nursing organizations propagate that bias. RN's think they are superior and think LPN's want to be RN's....LPN's want to be LPN"s, those that want to be RN's go on to become RN's. Frankly you couldn't pay me enough money to be an RN. The last 10 years what has come out of their programs does very little to impress me. They are being trained more for managerial types of roles as opposed to bedside nursing roles. The LPN's are the ones who know the patients, (as are the HCA's if your facility employes them) we are the ones who spend the most time with the patient. We listen to them complain, we bath them and can see all their skin, we know their family members and friends.

I do not work under the supervision of an RN/ I never have...I maintain an independant license and I alone am responsible for my practise. Ego's need to be put aside in all aspects of nursing/health care. Do the best for your patient...That's who we are there for. Respect the RT's, OT's dieticians, HCA's and each other, we all make up a complete team, we all have a different role to fulfil. LPN's are real nurses and the best thing you can do to earn people respect in your field is to be the best you can be. Be an advocate for your patient and do right by them. Work hard and know you have made a difference. Before you know it, people will look at you and see a nurse, not a "registered" nurse, or a "practical' nurse, but a nurse. I am a proud LPN and very pro LPN. I am also very pro RN. If that is the path people have chosen, like I said, you couldn't pay me to be an RN. I get to do far more as an LPN. I get to know my whole patient and I am usually the one who knows when something is not right with that patient. I also have the brains to know when I'm in over my head too. There are times I need an RN to step in and take over. Vice versa, there are times the RN's need us too. We are all part of a team. We are all nurses.

klonnon83 · Aug 31, 2017

Love the way you broke it down, I agree 1000% alot of RN's were once LPN's anyway they just dont like to admit it

Cactus Nurse · Sep 1, 2017

LPN is Licensed Practical Nurse, same as LVN just depends on state, FYI.

People are just stupid. I honestly am so glad no one has ever made that comment to me. All I think about at work is, hmm the RN and I do the exact same job... no difference, just pay. I work in a Sub- Acute LTC and I work the same cart as a RN, shes days I'm nights.... she didn't even know how to take a INR, has never done a TB test... I've had to AMBU bag a pt who's vent stopped working... RN's don't necessarily know more. They went to school longer, but we forget MUCH of what we learned in school anyways until we finally see it in the workfield, so in theory we all know a lot, just depends what we have been exposed to.

I've been a LPN for almost 2 years and I've seen more and know more meds than some RN's I have worked with, just my exposure, so I guess I'm more of a real nurse :)

SvSanchez · Sep 19, 2017

Yes I must agree with this although I am not there yet I have witnessed people make these sort of comments. They don't know the struggle of becoming a nurse whether its financial hardship or family or just getting into a nursing program. I believe all nurses are equal, yes there are levels to it, some titles can do more than other but that's not just in nursing it's in every field. People can be ignorant. nurses are nurse no matter what training they have completed and you are appreciated! â¤ï¸

Wa_Kit · Sep 23, 2017

Uhg. I got that yesterday when I said I was working towards becoming a NP. Oh so eventually you want to be a MD? Nope.

Pam3yrs · Sep 23, 2017

Just to clarify she didn't say she took the same nclex as an RN.

Pam3yrs · Sep 23, 2017

It is kind of aggravating when someone says what do you do for a living? I say I'm a nurse. And they say oh a RN? I say no I'm an LPN.

Pam3yrs · Sep 23, 2017

Just to clarify she didn't say she took the same nclex as an RN.