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 Orthopedics, Med-Surg.
It's so hard with this house and car. I can't afford it. If I were young maybe. But, I will hold on to my unit making money and leaning. You think it's really that worth it? How can I live, work for a year to get this degree.

If your unit is trying to phase out LPNs, do they have any sort of tuition reimbursement or assistance for returning to school to complete an RN bridge program?

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If your unit is trying to phase out LPNs, do they have any sort of tuition reimbursement or assistance for returning to school to complete an RN bridge program?

No they basically want me to take the retirement plan or work on the long term care facility. That's not fair, and not fun. I will further lose money by down grading my self to long term. I'm to told for school, and honestly feel I can handle the changes and make the same money. I can't be down graded because I new grad with the same skill set as me wants my job. It's not fair.

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Specializes in CVICU.
RN's back up NP's to be equally with Physicians and you can argue the same principles you just stated with education, but you know and I know physicians and NP's do the same and should be paid just about the same regardless of education, when you do the same role, you should be compensated the same.

Anyone who thinks that NP's are equal to Physicians in terms of clinical knowledge and education are on a serious acid trip. I say that as an RN student with plans to become an APRN of some sort. NPs go through 3 years of grad school training at the most (DNP) with considerably low clinical hours/rotations in comparison to even PA's. Comparing an NP to a physician, who had to go through 10 years of schooling at least, not even including fellowships, is just ridiculous. NP's are midlevel providers. They are valued and have a big role in modern healthcare, but they are not physicians. Nurses who hold the idea that the two are equal are living in a fantasy world.

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Specializes in Public Health.
If your unit is trying to phase out LPNs do they have any sort of tuition reimbursement or assistance for returning to school to complete an RN bridge program?[/quote']

I'm sure they do. Also, an ADN is not very expensive, especially since you are already an LPN. If you want to stay in the hospital then you need to get your ADN. There is no way that anybody is going to support legislature for reducing the amount of education required for their employees. It is perfectly okay to be angry that after all the time you put in as a nurse, you will be pushed out of your specialty but, you are one of the lucky few LPNs left in the hospital let alone IMC.

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I'm sure they do. Also, an ADN is not very expensive, especially since you are already an LPN. If you want to stay in the hospital then you need to get your ADN. There is no way that anybody is going to support legislature for reducing the amount of education required for their employees. It is perfectly okay to be angry that after all the time you put in as a nurse, you will be pushed out of your specialty but, you are one of the lucky few LPNs left in the hospital let alone IMC.

An ADN costs 20-30,000- and since the new requirement is a base of a BSN, does this make financial sense?

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Pretty soon, M.A.'s will be able to legally do what R.N.'s do if people don't quit trying to make nursing more than it is. The academia school teacher PhD nurses are killing the profession while in their minds they celebrate each other and their silly little journal articles in APA format. When is the last time a patient looked at you after speaking with the Dr. and asked about your "Nursing Diagnosis." #NursingBeingRuinedBySchoolTeachers

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Is their any other LPNs on here who would be will to advocate with me?
We have a forum called the LPN / LVN Corner where your ideas and thoughts would most likely be welcomed. Click on the link below to get there:

LPN / LVN Corner

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

In addition to the previous posters who are former LPNs as myself...you really don't KNOW until you actually sit in those classes the WHY; and before you start railing about "forgetting" :nono: I've been an RN for over 18 months FAR from it being a distant memory; I had wonderful knowledge and scope as a LPN, but now I get the depth that I felt was missing from my practice all along, and some wonderful knowledge to boot. :yes:

It's not about the skills...just sayin'.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I feel the effects truth me, being pressured to retire or quit. And I won't. Seeing how NPs will be running things soon, and every RN want to be a NP, that should open the market back for us to fill those gaps. As nurses eventually becomes docs in a sense, they'll need a nurse who can do that nursing stuff for them. Hope we move up together equally.
Seasoned ADN grads are being retired and pressured to go back and get thier BSN after 30 years. It's sad but true. LPN practice has been limited in many states by the governing boards which has relegated them to LTC. I owe much of what I knew as a new grad from an LPN. I sense your frustration but this is the new reality. You are an LPN with less schooling you will be paid less. It stinks but those are the facts. You can write and try but I don't see LPN schools investing the money and time to change their programs.
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Specializes in hospice.
No they basically want me to take the retirement plan or work on the long term care facility. That's not fair, and not fun.

Sorry to be blunt, but you sound less mature than my 6 year old here....

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Did you read the whole thread before you judge. NP's argue and state they should be paid equally with physicians, so why can't I Make a valid point as an LPN to be paid as much as an RN's since we do the same work except "yes you do nave more education, but so do physicians"with some limitations placed on us by governments. Please enlighten me on how you support one (NPs) but can find it reasonable to consider or support (LPNs) should be paid almost what RNs make . No one has yet to answer, but some have made valid points.

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No matter what side of the LPN/RN or NP/MD argument you are on, there are two simple facts that make the issues different.

Upon GRADUATION:

1. An entry-level LPN is (more or less) taught how to DO things.

An entry-level RN is taught in depth WHY they are doing these things - thus the extra education needed.

2. An entry-level MD has only his clinical experience when he walks through the door.

An entry-level NP has at LEAST 4-6 years experience as a real-world nurse with all the clinical experience that entails, PLUS the required clinical hours needed to complete an NP program.

I am not arguing for or against either side, just pointing out what happens to personally jump out at me as the differences.

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