Why is it so bad to be an LPN ????

[behensley]

I have also received RN training, and while I do understand that the level of theory is more involved with that training, right now I choose to work as an LPN. In the hospital that I work at, if I were to get my RN at this point, I would be transferred into a different department of the hostpital and I enjoy the area that I am working in.

That being said, with the scope of practice that is ever expanding in the LPN/LVN license, there are becoming less and less practice differences in my state between the RN and LPN. As our practice expands, we are becoming more and more independent. I work along side my RN collegues and have a few problems with respect from them when I show that I do have the skill, insight, and ability to perform an equal performance.

The main respect issue is usually not from RNs, but from the layman off the street, or the patient who is unfamiliar with the quality of care that they receive. After they have received quality care, they usually change their tune.

I don't think that LPNs/LVNs are going to be phased out at this point. With the nursing shortage as it is and is predicted, LPNs/LVNs will continue to be a large part of the health care team. Do I think that RNs, wether ADN or BSN, or even MSN deserve higher pay?? Of course, the increase in study, blood, sweat, and tears to get to that point deffinitly shows that they have earned it. But should LPNs/LVNs be paid better and closer to the RN-ADN salary range, yes. As LPN/LVN scope of practice expands and we take on more responsiblity so should the pay increase as well.

I don't think that it is so bad to be an LPN... I just think that the community as a whole needs to be shown and informed that we are nurses as well. We are nurses ... we just got here in a different way.:nuke:

[Fiona59]

I just have one comment on that survey--if BScN's provide the best care what does that say about the care of the diploma/hospital trained RN? I tend to read it as a "let's make this a degree only area of employment".

PNs in Canada are constantly having their scope of practice expanded. Currently in several provinces, we are working at the same scope of a graduate of the hospital training system. Does that make us a lesser or better nurse? Two years at college, constant upgrading at the employment site, and hospital/health authority certification in our expanded skills. We are tired of hand holding the new university grads hands while they become "comfortable" in their new jobs. They have two years to become comfortable with iv starts and meds. The PN is given two days training by her hospital and four supervised starts/hangs and then is expected to get on with it. We're not happy nor is our union.

[behensley]

i agree with the fact that all of us are trained at the various levels, but please let us not eat our young! as an lpn i have had to train rns to do their jobs so that they can be paid as much as 75% more than me. i don't begrudge them that initial orientation time that all nurses should have when beginning their career or new job.

[LPN0207]

I initially worried about becoming an LPN, but no longer. I love my job, I have worked in two jobs so far in the year I have been a nurse. My first job was at a nursing home, that oddly enough employed mostly RN's. I was one of 2 LPNs but I never felt put down. I was charge on my shift, as there was only one nurse on duty at a time. Got to learn a lot and being in the nursing home, any practice questions never came up. We didn't do blood, or Iv's or anything. But, after that position I went to a hospital where I remain. Again, I am in a minority, however, we are hiring more LPN's as we go, which is fantastic. Currently we have 4 LPN's and about 10-12 RN's. I have never felt like I was lesser to the RN's by anymeans. They are all great about helping me on the floor with IV's or anything not in my scope of practice. The one and only time I have felt slightly slighted was actually yesterday. One of the nurses, that I really respect, she works tons of hours and is just always there if you need her. She is a wonderful nurse. Yesterday however, she was on call and was thinking about asking one of our LPN's to switch with her for the evening. As she was leaving, she mentioned again that she would be on call. I mentioned that I thought she was going to have SB pick up her call? "No, I figured if they needed anybody that they would need a nurse". Well, this totally rubbed me the wrong way. I lost just a tad bit of respect for her, then. I really don't know if she meant it the way it came out, but it made me feel that she felt LPN's weren't nurses.

Other than that slight, I don't feel bad at all about being an LPN. I love my job, I love the RN's they treat me as an equal. and during assignments they are very fair, and don't just load up the LPN. I don't envy the RN's at all, they are charge, take patients and work the ER. Too much for me. Just give me my patients and I am off and running!

[HeartJulz]

Even family has judged me! Having very little excitement for my LVN and when I mention RN they sound much happier. Im at my wits end.. because I have done it all on my own .. no husband, no family.. being a single mom. my husband passed away in 97 and basically had to start a life out here in CA ( he was military) and this is where I am. I also bought a home and have been a very good mom to my daughter. eventually I will pursue RN but sick and tired of when I say Im a nurse , oh a RN? now Im just brushing it off... this is MY life and if they all have something to say.. try just a month or two in nursing school... doubt anyone could hold a candle!

[ER JUNKIE]

even family has judged me! having very little excitement for my lvn and when i mention rn they sound much happier. im at my wits end.. because i have done it all on my own .. no husband, no family.. being a single mom. my husband passed away in 97 and basically had to start a life out here in ca ( he was military) and this is where i am. i also bought a home and have been a very good mom to my daughter. eventually i will pursue rn but sick and tired of when i say im a nurse , oh a rn? now im just brushing it off... this is my life and if they all have something to say.. try just a month or two in nursing school... doubt anyone could hold a candle!

congrats on your new career!! good luck to you!! you should be very proud of yourself...i bet your daughter is very proud of you too! stay positive and don't let anyone take away from your achievement.

[momoftwoboys]

mamaoftwoboys

How lucky you are.do you ever feel like you work in a drama center?NO no not a trauma center,I said a drama center. Thanks me too!

proud2b1

I do feel like I work in a drama center. In fact at my place of employment you have to be in a click to be such a good nurse. I get so tired of the clicks. I dont need to be in one to be good nurse. Sometimes family members will go over my head with a concern and report it to someone in the office which really aggravates me cause I know this resident more than they do. I take care of her every day. I feel like the family members think that if they go over my head than things will get done quicker. Not necessarily tre cause after th family member tells the office nurses they will then bring it to me anyways cause they don't want to have to take care of it.:angryfire

[proud2b1]

that is so odd momoftwoboys.I also work in a place where the families are difficult,especially one inperticular.They have actually accused the nurses of "rigging labs"!What is funny is they go to the office and complain,and after they are done the so called head honjos laugh and gossip about how crazy they are.This goes every day.Sometimes I wish I could tell those family members"you know,I really know your loved one much better than them and I am sure I care more"!Also I want to say "oh by the way would you kiss my a-- and leave me alone to be a nurse to the other 40 res. here"!!thank you.:lol_hitti

[lamazeteacher]

Without NAs and LPNs, RNs would never get their work done! You are doing things I only dreamed about doing (like starting IVs, cath'ing male patients, etc. when I graduated in 1960, from my hospital R.N. program. Now I get to shuffle paper, and you guys get the interesting stuff.

Since your salaries are just a bit lower than that of R.N.s, you are in more demand than we are, and many employment ads read RN/LPN, and you know who they'll hire........

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Not always true...I hear that many places are looking for RNs for the moment, and are pushing for BSNs in particular. This has not really happened yet in my neck of the woods, but who knows? My experience thus far has been that they usually want one RN to supervise, but will have several LPNs working below her on my agency jobs. In the med-surg units, currently, there are more RNs and there is a job freeze. I have seen the see-saw effect many times...sometimes, the LPNs are in demand, other times there is a push for RNs. My hospital did not lay off LPNs, but promoted hiring RNs because they were applying for Magnet Status. Now, they didn't get it, the city called for a job freeze, and now, they are stuck with what they have.

[Woodenpug, BSN]

I've seen the back and forth with all rn staffing. My guess is that, if u're not an rn, you do not write the IR's. So, management decides to go all rn and improve patient care. They then find that just as many errors happen and decide that for a lesser cost, they do not need to be all rn.

I've followed the links claiming to show better outcomes with rn care, but they only show better outcomes with better staffing. We can keep discussing the value of better education, but seriously, nobody has done the research. Most likely, nobody wants to know.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I've seen the back and forth with all rn staffing. My guess is that, if u're not an rn, you do not write the IR's. So, management decides to go all rn and improve patient care. They then find that just as many errors happen and decide that for a lesser cost, they do not need to be all rn.

I've followed the links claiming to show better outcomes with rn care, but they only show better outcomes with better staffing. We can keep discussing the value of better education, but seriously, nobody has done the research. Most likely, nobody wants to know.

Not trying to sound dumb, but what is "IR's"? I can agree with you in that better outcomes would probably come from better staffing. From what I see, having more RNs that still have no time to observe the status of the patient or having the help to implement (which is what is most needed) still leads to the same thing. It is a vicious circle, really.

I think that what most LPNs are feeling is that they are not looked upon as positive contributers to patient care...more like sidebars. We learn so much in school on skills, advocating, the nursing process, etc; only to be looked upon as pets when entering into the real world. It seems to me, though, that no one is really satisfied; there is discontent all across the board. Obtaining an RN degree alone will not change or improve a person who already has issues; they become a high ranking person with issues. It doesn't solve problems, or improves life. That only comes from within.