Why do so many people insist that LPN'S AREN'T REAL NURSES!!??

RN34TX · Sep 26, 2006

I've also wondered how an organization could call themselves the ANA since LPNs cannot become members. They should just change their name to the American Registered Nurses Association. Also, since their position paper on nursing education promoted the bachelor's degree, do they only allow bachelor-degree RNs to become members?

They should change their name to "The American Bachelors degree prepared Registered Nurses Association" and their motto should be:

"When you get a "real" degree and become a "real" nurse, you can join our elite club."

LOL!

It does, however, surprise me how many ADN RN's are members and support the organization when their position is clearly anti-anything "less" than a BSN.

When I was an LPN, I tried to join a men in nursing professional organization. I think it was called something like the "American Assembly for Men in Nursing" or something similar.

I found out that LPN's could only be "honorary" or some other substandard category of members without full voting priviliges and otherwise within the organization. They actually placed limits on an LPN member's ability to become active within the organization.

That was nearly 10 years ago or so and things could have changed since then. But I have no interest in becoming involved with them again as it left a bad taste in my mouth.

The division between RN and LPN within an organization geared toward the advancement of men in the profession somehow seemed counter-productive and ironic.

rebel1 · Sep 26, 2006

There has been times in my 31 years as a LVN that I would turn my badge around because I was ashamed of just being a LVN- now I keep that badge front and center and I will gladly tell anyone who asks what the difference between a RN and LVN. The degree does not make the person- showing compassion is what counts. It does not hurt to keep up with your education and make sure that you are knowledgeable, but sometimes giving a good backrub works better than giving drugs.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2006

Most of these posts are from LPNs defending their position. Are there any RNs out there ready to defend LPNs?

There have been quite a few RNs on this thread who have defended LPNs. I will cite examples if you wish.

:yawn:

twotrees2 · Sep 26, 2006

There have been quite a few RNs on this thread who have defended LPNs. I will cite examples if you wish.

i have made several posts advocating strongly for LPNs - i am an RN - and i couldnt do my job without my LPNs - LOVE lpns :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2006

There have been quite a few RNs on this thread who have defended LPNs. I will cite examples if you wish.

I agree, the overwhelming majority majority of this thread is LPN supportive, with plenty of RNs in the mix. Myself included. :)

rambisisking · Sep 26, 2006

How about if we agree as a group that most of the people that have posted here do believe that LPN's are nurses and that there are some people who do not. Furthermore, How about if we agree as LPN's that it is unimportant to us whether everyone believes this as a fact in their soul of souls or not. Isn't it only important that we continue to be the nurses that we are and continue to deliver the loving, devoted care that we have been giving to our patients coupled with the knowledge and experience that we have gathered and will gather over the years. Those who understand what a nurse is will always see us as nurses and those that don't will not. We cannot change it by stating the reasons that we think should convince everyone, and why should it matter? We know what we are what we have been and what we will continue to be.

I began my training in 1973, my first day in class our Director stood up in front of us and told us that LPN's were being phased out and that within the next 10 years there would be no more LPN's working. That was Feburary 1973! We are aparently valuable enough that we are still here and kicking 33 years later. Be who you are, do the best that you know and be thankful that you are able to give in the way that you give. Not everyone has that gift, be thankful for the gift and use it with the best intention. That is our obligation, not convincing anyone of our importance...our work will do that for us.

AliciaMarieGPN · Sep 26, 2006

As a freshly graduated practical nurse, I have heard a lot of comments about LPNs and RNs.

The 1st time I ever heard it, I was at dinner with my boyfriend and his neighbor. The neighbor's daughter was telling me about the RN program at our local community college and how her clinical was. She said "In clinical, all the NURSES and LPNs act like you are dirt on the bottom of their shoes." I didn't really care about the fact how the nurses would treat me. I already went through a year n a half of clinical in my high school LPN program. They all treated me fine. What I cared about was how she said NURSES meaning RNs.

Another time was at an orientation to a local hospital/residential home that only services pts. that have mental retardation and things like that. The orienter who I can't really remember her title... said.. Whether you are a Nurse later on or an LPN, we would love to see you come back!

Oh and this girl in my LPN class said.. "My sister said since we are SPN's (Student Practical Nurses) ... we are just STUPID PRACTICAL NURSES. Since an 8 year old said it, I'm sure an ignorant adult would too.

There are times that I wish I was an RN because the pay is double where I will start working, tomarrow, and the job really isn't TOO much different. But I'm only 18 and it would basically be impossible for me to work as an RN. In 3 years I'll be there though. :)

maryshome8 · Sep 26, 2006

I mean, the title does have "Nurse" in it.So why are so many people insisting that LPN's arent real nurses? When I go to the hospital, I see these people giving medication , care, comfort and other services to their patients, isn't that what nursing is all about? What do you think about this issue? Do you think LPN's aren't real nurses?

I'm not a nurse yet, but that attitude probably comes from the "old timers"...I'm talking those that got their RN's 35+ years ago.

When my mother was a DOR, I hate to say, I heard the same thing from her, but she called it something else, which I won't post here b/c it's unnecessary.

I think it comes from the days when either you were an RN or you were not a nurse, and I think when LPN programs were created, the RN's didn't want to share the nursing title, because for many years, nurses were treated poorly by doctors...it's not perfect, but the status of nurses has increased dramatically.

However, at the same time, my mother encouraged every single LPN to get her RN, and was very, very insistent on it...she said, "Why do twice the work when you get half the pay and half the recognition". She didn't understand why anyone would get an LPN in the first place.

Now, at her hospital, there were few CNA's, but lot's of LPN's..the LPN's did the baths, bedpans, general cleanup...RN's never touched it. So that was another reason why she encouraged LPN's to do the extra year of schooling to get their RN...the hospital even paid for it.

Every hospital is different (she worked at the same one her entire career).

But yeah, LPN's are definately nurses..I disagreed with her on that.

Midwest4me · Sep 26, 2006

quote:AliciaMarieGPN:"She said "In clinical, all the NURSES and LPNs act like you are dirt on the bottom of their shoes." I didn't really care about the fact how the nurses would treat me. I already went through a year n a half of clinical in my high school LPN program."end quote.

Hi Alicia: What's a "high school LPN program"? I haven't heard of this.

quote AliciaMarieGPN:"The orienter who I can't really remember her title... said.. Whether you are a Nurse later on or an LPN, we would love to see you come back!"end quote.

That orienter obviously had her preferences or was just ignorant. I've heard something along these lines lately: we were out looking at manufactured homes and discussing our careers. Both my husband and I are in the health field; he mentioned his role as a mental health therapist and I said I am a nurse. The salewoman said: "Oh? An RN?" I replied: "No, an LPN." She then said "Oh I think it's great that you're both in the health field.":uhoh3:

smk1, LPN · Sep 26, 2006

quote:AliciaMarieGPN:"She said "In clinical, all the NURSES and LPNs act like you are dirt on the bottom of their shoes." I didn't really care about the fact how the nurses would treat me. I already went through a year n a half of clinical in my high school LPN program."end quote.
Hi Alicia: What's a "high school LPN program"? I haven't heard of this.
quote AliciaMarieGPN:"The orienter who I can't really remember her title... said.. Whether you are a Nurse later on or an LPN, we would love to see you come back!"end quote.
That orienter obviously had her preferences or was just ignorant. I've heard something along these lines lately: we were out looking at manufactured homes and discussing our careers. Both my husband and I are in the health field; he mentioned his role as a mental health therapist and I said I am a nurse. The salewoman said: "Oh? An RN?" I replied: "No, an LPN." She then said "Oh I think it's great that you're both in the health field.":uhoh3:

Some high schools have vocational program majors such as dental assisting, CNA, food prep/cook etc... You graduate with a certificate in your area of study along with your diploma from High school. I am assuming her program had an LPN major. The two Tech high schoolsout here don't have LPN I have seen a few other people post about doing an LPN program in High school so it must be out there at other schools.

AliciaMarieGPN · Sep 26, 2006

Hi Alicia: What's a "high school LPN program"? I haven't heard of this.

It's a program through BOCES. A vocational school. I don't know where you live and if they have vocational schools tied in with high school programs. Anyways, for our junior year we went to BOCES from 12-2 and in our senior year, we would go from 8:30-11. In between our junior and senior year there was a 6 wk summer program. Monday lecture, 8-4. Tuesday-Friday clinical from 7-3. However, the program is terrible. The teacher never teaches and the only time I ever learned anything was when I was out at clinical with a different instructor. The clinical rotations are so short that we never did anything besides bed baths and toileting. I maybe changed 10 wound dsg. and I passed meds maybe a total of 2 hours out of 2 years. I'm glad the program enabled me work as a GPN right out of high school, but I feel the program needs to be shut down. NY state tried to shut it down before but someone came to rescue it somehow.

Midwest4me · Sep 26, 2006

HI AliciaMarieGPN and SMK1: Thanks for the infomative responses. :) High schools have changed volumes since I attended nearly 30 years ago!