Why can't I do everything a RN does as a LPN? We should be equal.

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Why do RN's make more when we practically do the SAME THING. I don't understand how RN's having the ability to start IV's and give a few medications IV push make them more valuable than an LPN. Those extra courses you take to become RN's, heck even BSN's don't add anything clinically. When I am on the floor, WE DO THE SAME THING, yet I take home 30% less than my RN/BSN colleagues. Does anyone else agree that us as LPNS should be able to make the same salary? I hope the Affordable Healthcare Act (AHR) addresses this issue with EQUAL PAY for EQUAL work. We are a lot cheaper to higher than RN's so hopefully the (AHC) will realize this and create more of a demand for efficient LPN's that are easier to train, and cheaper to higher, thus bringing RN wages on par with our wages. It just doesn't make sense for the hospital to pay a RN $25-30/hr to start, while I make $22/hr and have more than 18 years experience. Any thoughts?

Specializes in Med-Surg.

You stated more education makes you better than me and must know more than me, so how can you say you chased doctors in July and stated you have more knowledge than them. Because you don't according to your own statement of more education equals greater critical thinking kills. And from what we know MD have more years of training. And that's a fact.

Oh God, I know that somewhere in the 3 pages of responses between me reading this post and present, I'm not going to be the first to say it, but can you not detect sarcasm?

Take a look at my avatar. That sign Leonard is holding up. Yea, that one, imagine it with the post you attacked.

Come on mods, is this for real? This has to be a joke right? This is making me want to cry...

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

What? lol :cyclops:

Yeah, if I thought my brain hurt before...

This person is going through soooo many awesome memes in my head, I can't even choose just one!!

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This post is goofy, but there are valid points anywway. RN jobs are paying less all the time even as the requirements increase, and nurses are being replaced with low level type jobs that don't require much of an education. As health care costs escalalate there will me a more urgent focus on cost reduction, for sure. But an LPn, in theory, shouldn't have the same tasks or pay as an RN, much like a paralegal and lawyer status- but unlike law or other professions that are male dominated, nursing is female dominate and scattered, and lacks the policitical power to rule its own destiny.

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Specializes in NICU.
Thank you, finally someone who sees what I've been saying. You RN's have become too "great and elite" to now dismiss us as LPNs as a real professions.

Am I in the twilight zone, or did Lil'mama just say the EXACT SAME THING that many of us have been saying throughout this whole thread??

No-one has said they do not respect LPNs or we did not need LPNs or that they are not professionals. It has been pointed out that the education and skillset is different. If RNs have to delegate to and sign off on and supervise the job duties of the LPN, then why SHOULDN'T the RN make more money??

Bottom line, the RN can do EVERY aspect of your job. You cannot say the same. Not trying to come off as having the "great and elite" mindset--just pointing out a fact. Just like as an ADN, I cannot work in administration higher than a charge nurse. If I want the "management" career path, then I need to get at least my BSN.

It is what it is. The best option is to continue your education. Not only is it a better option for your career outlook and salary, it is better for your patients.

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Why do RN's make more when we practically do the SAME THING. I don't understand how RN's having the ability to start IV's and give a few medications IV push make them more valuable than an LPN. Those extra courses you take to become RN's heck even BSN's don't add anything clinically. When I am on the floor, WE DO THE SAME THING, yet I take home 30% less than my RN/BSN colleagues. Does anyone else agree that us as LPNS should be able to make the same salary? I hope the Affordable Healthcare Act (AHR) addresses this issue with EQUAL PAY for EQUAL work. We are a lot cheaper to higher than RN's so hopefully the (AHC) will realize this and create more of a demand for efficient LPN's that are easier to train, and cheaper to higher, thus bringing RN wages on par with our wages. It just doesn't make sense for the hospital to pay a RN $25-30/hr to start, while I make $22/hr and have more than 18 years experience. Any thoughts?[/quote']

Its dangerous for an LPN to push Iv meds for example or hang blood. Why? Because LPNs did not learn how to in school. Why? Because it's out of the LPNs scope. Someone can say they can safely do all the same tasks as an RN but how can we measure this? Oh that's right the nclex RN. I don't mean to be rude but there has to be evidence that a person has the education to practice safely before letting them take care of patients. We are all professionals with our individual scopes. One is not better than the other but the scopes exist for the safety of the public.

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You guys realize you are being playd by an RN turned MD from another online forum, right? This individual started a thread ******* all over nursing and nursing education on that other forum and then made this thread to demonstrate how incompetent, stupid nurses are, etc. Big discussion about it happening on a certain website for 'doctor students' in a certain section for 'current students of medicine'... I'd link directly to the thread, but I don't believe that is allowed.

Why do you think sweetpoo keeps bringing up physicians and NPs every 10 seconds. Trying to stir up so some med students who spend way too much time complaining about nurses on the internet can gawk and stare. Go back to memorizing the krebs cycle, kids!

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Specializes in CCU, CVICU, Cath Lab, MICU, Endoscopy..

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." ....Michael Jordan. ..

Please choose one already!!!!

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

So go get your RN license. You "already do everything an RN does anyway", go get the license and make that extra $. Oh yeah, and once you do, report back to us so we know how you feel once YOU are the one in charge of so much more than an LPN...

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Oh, and because you did it more than once, I can't believe its a typo (which I can overlook). "Cheaper to higher" should be "cheaper to hire". Education REALLY comes into play between the two degrees.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I'm not even off of the first page of 15 and I can see already that your mind is closed to a healthy debate regarding the topic and you have it in your mind that YOU (not your profession, necessarily) are heads and shoulders above RN's, at least many that you work with. I can't wait to see your humbleness unfold as I continue to read....

And Mr. Chicago, a lot of times my clinical judgement is better than my nursing coworkers. They ask me what to do a lot of the times. So what does adding another year or schooling or 2 for BSN which is just fluff according to many people who are now RN to BSN. Although administration jobs open up, but regards to floor nursing, there is also no difference.
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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

LOL, oh the irony of your use of the word "arrogant"...

There is no need to be arrogant, we are both nurses, and a year of education does not separate us, I have 18 years of experience, I can manage any of those issues, what can another year add on how to manage a chest tube that 18 years experience have not taught me already ?
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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Wait a minute. One post back you were saying "we're both nurses" and now it's "you nurses" YOU have just divided the ranks and suddenly you're no longer a nurse. Oy!

I see how it is, you nurses forget what it's like as a LPN I still have value and we are under utilized in this expensive healthcare system. How come its okay for RN's to back up NP's to become equal with physicians in pay (which I AGREE with) but you guys won't support LPN's who work just as hard as RN's. I see how this works now. It's not fair, and not right.
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