Hello. I am just about to finish my first semester in an LPN program. I hope no one will take this the wrong way, but I never knew there was so much negativity between LPN's and RN's, and in the work place with employees and bosses. When I joined this site it was to meet other nurses and receive support. I had no idea there is so much disagreement between each other. It is almost like a prejudice against certain groups because of the letters behind the name. I want to be a nurse to take care of patients, I really enjoy helping people. I didn't know all the stress I hear about nursing would be compounded by my peers. I guess I just had rose colored glasses on. I talked with my instructor about this and she told me it's true unfortunately. Doctors stick together and have a special bond because they are doctors, but nurses eat their young. She said it could be because we are mainly women, and women are catty. The males I have seen so far don't seem to be this way. Right now we are doing clinicals in a nursing home, and do the same job as the nurses aides. I would never consider myself above them.
I am happy to learn from them. When I first found out I would be doing clinicals in a nursing home I was scared. I thought ok I'll just get through it until I get to the part of nursing I really want to do. I found out that I love taking care of the patients so much that if I was just allowed to do that, I would be happy. It is very rewarding to be apart of their lives. We should all just pitch in where we can. (In our scope of practice) But certainly never consider ourselves above someone else. Maybe part of the nursing burnout is the lack of support from each other. I know there are alot of you who do not feel this way and express it here in your responses to the negative comments, but the fact that the animosity exists, I guess is just beyond my comprehension. Maybe it's because I am going the LPN route to get to my RN could be why I don't see it. I am just happy to be here till I get to the next step. I respect people where they are and the choices they make. Anyway just my 2 cents.
Kim Z. -SPN - SCC (Just 2 more semesters to go!!! YAA!!!)
You don't think women are more catty? I'm afraid I agree that they are. Have you ever sat with a group of women on break or at lunch? I feel that women definitely gossip more than men....myself included I'm afraid....which should be a
I'm not afraid to disagree.
It might just be that particular group you're hanging with, no reason to come to the conclusion that women are worse because of that.
nursing isn't an easy job. but there are numerous benefits to it.
with the whole rn vs lpn thing... some people (people, not nurses) are on a power trip. they do whatever they can to feel better about themselves. this would mean they like to put others down who don't have quite as much education. this is seen across all professions, and even fast food workers. i worked fast food befoe nursing. the one general manager thought he was g-d. everyone else should bow down to him. we also had an assistant manager who thought he was so much above the shift managers. (i was a shift manager) then some of the shift managers thought they were so much better than the crew members. fast food isn't even a "skilled" job and its seen. its at every job.
just about all of the rn's i've worked with have nothing against lpn's and cna's. yes, i met rn's who have the superiority complex. they are usually (notice i say not always so please do not flame!) the rn's who have never worked as an lpn or cna and don't know what their jobs consist of and how challenging they really are. so it can just be lack of education of their part. and a few of the rn's would be like that no matter what profession they were in.
i worked as an lpn and a cna before becoming an rn. i know what it feels like to be asked about when you will be getting your lpn, then your rn. when you get the adn, people will ask when you will get your bsn and msn. or when will you be going to med school?
many in the nursing field really do value cna's and lpn's. and rely on them. i know my job would be much more difficult without them. i am thankful that there are many avenues to work in nursing. that way everyone who wants to work in nursing regardless of availability to go to college or lack of interest in college can have a place in nursing and still make a difference in peoples lives.
as for the eating of the young... when i was a cna i was eaten alive by a senior (not in age, but in experience. she was about 8 years older than me only) cna. she chewed me up, swallowed me, regurgitated me up and then spit me out and stommped on me. it turns out she had some kind of inferiority complex since i was futher along in nursing school than she was. (she was still doing the pre-reqs) she realized that i would be her boss soon even though i was still a new cna and very young. i was to be graduating lpn school soon.
however, once i became an lpn, i did not go through this. all of the lpn's where i worked were very helpful to me. i did not experience the eating of the young at all. i felt like they took me under their wing. almost like they were my mom.
when i became an rn (i am an rn for 3 years now) the hospital where i started (psych) all of the nurses helped me except one. some were very helpful, some helped me as little as possible, and there was only one that tried to set me up to fail. it was just her personality. she liked to torture all of the new hires, especially new grads. (she was charge sometimes) she even liked to torture people that worked on specific units. she loved to be charge and feel like she had "the power". admin did catch on to her. it was funny how i was only an rn 6 months and was offered to take her place. (i turned it down)
the next hospital i worked in (the last place) as in an area different geografically. everyone welcomed me with open arms and helped me so much. no eating of the young at all.
i know this is getting long, but basically all i am saying is that some people are pompous jerks, in nursing, and in any job/profession.[/quote]
i enjoyed reading the above post because it gives a good overall view of what to expect in your nursing career (or any career, for that matter). i tend to dwell on the negative people that i've met as i've started my nursing career (lpn school, clinicals, cna) but reading this thread, the op's comments, and gooeyrn's post has helped me to see the importance of emphasizing the positive experiences and people.
also, i've never thought of allnurses as negative, moreso realistic.
Drysolong is absolutely correct. It does not matter what profession. I have even seen the "eating" among stay at home moms in my old neighborhood. Some felt superior because little Jonny did this or that and you were basic sh*t because your child did not. I swear this is an American society thing and not nursing. Right now I am working in a department store part time to have gas money to commute to nursing school. It would shock you to death to know the power trips there. I just mind my own business. They talk down to me, blah blah blah, and they do not know that I have a business degree and worked high up in corporate america. I really don't care to let them know. I have a friend who was eaten alive at a non nursing job, who was doing it only to supplement her income while she went saved money for med school. Unbelievable. Anyway, this behavior crosses all boundaries.
Drysolong is absolutely correct. It does not matter what profession. I have even seen the "eating" among stay at home moms in my old neighborhood. Some felt superior because little Jonny did this or that and you were basic sh*t because your child did not. I swear this is an American society thing and not nursing. Right now I am working in a department store part time to have gas money to commute to nursing school. It would shock you to death to know the power trips there. I just mind my own business. They talk down to me, blah blah blah, and they do not know that I have a business degree and worked high up in corporate america. I really don't care to let them know. I have a friend who was eaten alive at a non nursing job, who was doing it only to supplement her income while she went saved money for med school. Unbelievable. Anyway, this behavior crosses all boundaries.
Excellent post. It's not just nursing, it's EVERYWHERE.
A lot of students read this message board and think that this is truly representative of the nursing community. IT IS NOT. Like someone said earlier in this thread, people aren't going to sit around posting, "Gee whiz, I had a great day!" all that often. Happens sometimes, of course, and it's always great to read about things like that. But more often than not, people come here to vent or ask questions. So this is NOT representative of the true nursing community. Please take these posts with a grain of salt.
I have found over the last many years that I enjoy people who are positive in nursing and no those people are not few and far between.
I do not enjoy stress but I do enjoy challenge and sometimes with that comes the stress. I like to be able to share my thoughts with others both the bad and yes the GOOD.
You have multiple responses here and each has some very good points which I think you realize. It can sometimes be real easy to get discouraged.
Hang in there...you may come work with me anytime!
(i turned it down) 
Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN
12,126 Posts
I'm not afraid to disagree.
It might just be that particular group you're hanging with, no reason to come to the conclusion that women are worse because of that.