What can an RN do than an LPN can't?

psalm, RN · Sep 28, 2005

...I was going to go to LPN school because I didn't want to be an RN due to being charge. My husband pointed out that if I got my RN from our local college, I would have an associates degree, a college degree. If I got my LPN I would be a nurse but I wouldn't be a "college graduate". Then if I decided after graduation I didn't like nursing, as an RN I still had that degree...(I graduated at age of 49 with some health problems that could have potentially shortened bedside nursing, which I prefer).

...Our hospital has LPNs and they are wonderful. But on most floors they are not allowed to draw blood from PICCs or ports, hang blood, witness for blood, give IVPs and other practice-specific care. Some of our RNs sit around also. Some of them just sit around and others sit AFTER their work is done, or there are a few spare moments before the next round of activities. Our med/oncology floor does an amazing amt. of IVP for pain, nausea, hanging blood, and drawing blood.

...when I worked LTC one of the supervisors was a former LPN who did EVERYTHING the RN did at our facility but was getting paid as an LPN. So she went back to school for her RN and is now a DON :)

sjb2005 · Sep 28, 2005

Whew! This is a loaded subject. I was a CNA, LPN, then a RN. I only recommend a nurse become at least an ASN (RN).

LPNs play an important role in patient care settings. Many are extremely competent and perform exceptionally well. There are certainly some times when I would trade off a fellow RN for a more competent LPN.

With that said, LPNs must begin to realize the cold hard truth. RN is where it is at. You may certainly be capable of doing the same as an RN but without the diploma and licensure you will be SOL. Hospitals are a service industry and like it or not, they need to make money to survive. Many hospitals are striving for higher standards or some type of ranking in medical services that put them as a choice hospital over others. Whether it be a Magnet status or a Top 100 facility. Patients will choose those hospitals if given a choice. When hospitals need to get a higher status in the medical industry, the staffing requires more RNs. It is the current trend in acute care: More RNs less LPNs. Survival of the fitest. It's what the customer wants.

In LTC, LPNs feel impowered by the increasing responsiblity they have been assigned. It boosts the ego but it doesn't reimburse them for the roles they are fulfilling. They are at very high risk in the role of charge nurse or supervisor and getting peanuts for it. With the tighter budget constraints on LTC, the only option is to find LPNs willing to accept this terrific challenge for virtually no $$$$$.

Once LPNs are virtually phased out in acute care, ASN nurses are next. I will be on the chopping block then. I may be more experienced and competent than a BSN or MSN, but I will eventually be out on the street because I did not pursue more education in nursing. Hopefully, I will retire by that time.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2005

:uhoh21: Oh, no! Why does the title of LPN exist if they do the same things but are paid less, why on Earth, Tweety? Is there a historical reason? (I'm ignorant about this.) Perhaps years ago there used to be a clear distinction between the duties of both ?
I spoke to the coordinator for the LPN program at my community college. She does not recommend changing from RN to LPN. She says here too in South Florida LPNs are being phased out of hospitals. Oh, my. :stone
Will team nursing ever come back? Wouldn't it be the best arrangement for both patients and nurses?

Well FYI if you want to be an NP some day (as indicated by your name on this site), you will need a BSN as a pre-requisite for NP school. LPNs have to start from scratch to get a BSN.

TNRNMAN · Sep 28, 2005

I'm currently finishing up my LPN program. I'm enjoying every minute of it. I have thought about going on to RN, but I see all the RN's just sitting at the desk or just giving out meds. They dont seem to take that extra bit of time and just sit with the patient and talk. It's like they have lost that bed side manner. An RN has more responsibility, more paper work to do and more education under their belt. The hospitals were we do our preceptor ship at say that LPN nursing students seem to have more nursing skills than the RN students. As an LPN you can take extra courses such as Orthepedics (casts), IV courses so u can start an IV just like an RN, Surgical courses to work in the OR and do the same job as an RN. I guess it's up to u whether u are committed to 3-4 yrs of school compared to 1-2 years. I honestly believe if u are doing it just for the pay raise you are doing it for all the wrong reasons. Good luck

I hate to disagree here but I am going to, I was an LPN and now an RN and I am rarely behind the desk and I am always in my patients rooms, in and out while they are awake, LPNs have meds to pass and paper work to do too, it is a bit inapporpriate to label a group by saying they don't seem to spend that extra bit of time with their patients, your experience may be that way, but that is not a rule, RNs are caring and nurturing just like LPNs, the point of LPNs having more skills than RN students is somewhat true, because so much time in the LPN programms are spent on the Floor DUH, I do not think RNs have lost their bedside manner some nurses LPN and RN and APN alike have fell victim to a very difficult giant MANAGED CARE and NURSING SHORTAGE, but not all are in this group, if you want to be an LPN go for it that is great, and it will give you experience that if you decide you want to go further you will be very prepared and ahead of the rest. In my state LPNs are not allowed unless further education is done to start IVs, push IV meds. They are not allowed under any circumstances to do Intital Assessments, Triage, or Start Care Plans. Having said all this LPNs are a valuable part of the health care team and have much to offer all aspects of healthcare. I do however see a trend of getting away from hiring LPNs into specialty units. Just some thoughts have a good day. :)

TNRNMAN · Sep 28, 2005

Whew! This is a loaded subject. I was a CNA, LPN, then a RN. I only recommend a nurse become at least an ASN (RN).
LPNs play an important role in patient care settings. Many are extremely competent and perform exceptionally well. There are certainly some times when I would trade off a fellow RN for a more competent LPN.
With that said, LPNs must begin to realize the cold hard truth. RN is where it is at. You may certainly be capable of doing the same as an RN but without the diploma and licensure you will be SOL. Hospitals are a service industry and like it or not, they need to make money to survive. Many hospitals are striving for higher standards or some type of ranking in medical services that put them as a choice hospital over others. Whether it be a Magnet status or a Top 100 facility. Patients will choose those hospitals if given a choice. When hospitals need to get a higher status in the medical industry, the staffing requires more RNs. It is the current trend in acute care: More RNs less LPNs. Survival of the fitest. It's what the customer wants.
In LTC, LPNs feel impowered by the increasing responsiblity they have been assigned. It boosts the ego but it doesn't reimburse them for the roles they are fulfilling. They are at very high risk in the role of charge nurse or supervisor and getting peanuts for it. With the tighter budget constraints on LTC, the only option is to find LPNs willing to accept this terrific challenge for virtually no $$$$$.
Once LPNs are virtually phased out in acute care, ASN nurses are next. I will be on the chopping block then. I may be more experienced and competent than a BSN or MSN, but I will eventually be out on the street because I did not pursue more education in nursing. Hopefully, I will retire by that time.

I have to agree with this and it is sad in some respects but it is a cold hard fact. :wink2:

sbic56, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2005

I started my CNA class last night, and it's being taught by a woman who's been an LPN for 40 years. When she found out that most of us in the class were going for an RN, she advised us that it was not worth it to get an RN, and that an LPN is just as good and they can do everything an RN can. She said if you want to sit at a desk all day and do paperwork, get your RN. Needless to say, I was confused because I thought there was a lot that LPN's can't do, but I'm also new to this so I'm not sure. Can anyone help? If I could cut my schooltime in half and save some money, I would get my LPN.
Thanks.

In this state, one thing an RN can do that an LPN can't, is be a CNA instructor.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 28, 2005

Only reason why i am going back to school is that i would like to teach an A and P class someday. I stoppped answering the "Oh you're just an LPN, when are you going to go back for your RN?" question. It's rude for anyone to ask that.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2005

I'm currently finishing up my LPN program. I'm enjoying every minute of it. I have thought about going on to RN, but I see all the RN's just sitting at the desk or just giving out meds. They dont seem to take that extra bit of time and just sit with the patient and talk. It's like they have lost that bed side manner. An RN has more responsibility, more paper work to do and more education under their belt. The hospitals were we do our preceptor ship at say that LPN nursing students seem to have more nursing skills than the RN students. As an LPN you can take extra courses such as Orthepedics (casts), IV courses so u can start an IV just like an RN, Surgical courses to work in the OR and do the same job as an RN. I guess it's up to u whether u are committed to 3-4 yrs of school compared to 1-2 years. I honestly believe if u are doing it just for the pay raise you are doing it for all the wrong reasons. Good luck

Having been a CNA, and LPN and now an RN, I certainly disagree with your observations. I am a travel dialysis nurse. In many states, LPNs can't work in dialysis. If they want to, they must work as techs, and their nursing license is not recognized. This was the case with my last 2 contracts.

Buy, hey, if you want to be an LPN, more power to you.

GLORIAmunchkin72 · Sep 28, 2005

At our nursing home the QMAs(med techs) do mostly the med passes and treatments and the nurses do paperwork and answer the phone.

She might have been talking about LTC, where in some cases the RN is the paper pusher.
RNs here start about making $5.00/hr more than LPNs. The job opportunities for new grad LPNs in hospitals is drying up here.
I'm an RN and haven't sat behind a desk since I started, even during my charge nurse years.
But to answer your questions, LPNs don't do the primary assessment, initiate care plans, or do charge. In reality on the floor they are doing the same things as the RN, just making much less doing it.
Go for the RN for the better pay and job oportunities and ignore this instructor. :)
(In nursing homes the roles are a bit different, and I can't tell you what they are. LPN is a valid career and definately an integral part of the nursing team, don't get me wrong. Many people choose to be and choose to stay LPNs and that's o.k. I just think your instructor is a little off base here.)

lady_jezebel · Sep 28, 2005

What is up with all the comments about RNs "sitting at their desks" while LPNs do all the work??? First of all, none of the nurses except management have desks in my university hospital, or any other hospital that I've seen. Secondly, we hardly ever are able to sit down, even for breaks. We do total care, and the work is hard as h_ll. I've worked in 4 hospitals, and they're all the same -- RNs are working their orifices off.

But I've only worked in one hospital that even had LPNs -- a VA hospital. The RN was responsible for charting assessments while the LPNs passed out meds. It was a miserable setup for all nurses, in my opinion. We don't need this kind of division in labor.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 28, 2005

What is up with ANY remarks stating that one or the other is sitting at their desks???????

Neither are right. I think that's one of the things that annoys me about nursing: "I'm working, everyone else sits on their orifice.". :uhoh3:

That old saying "labels disable." So do generalizations!

onmyway06 · Sep 30, 2005

...you will need a BSN as a pre-requisite for NP school. LPNs have to start from scratch to get a BSN.

Not here! If you are a licensed practical Nurse and would like to bridge into the BSN program, you can. You are placed in the 3rd semester of the BSN. In fact the LPN program here is a Diploma program and is two years. I've heard nurses say that it is the old RN program. :confused: