Why don't people take LPNs seriously?

[Hellostudentnurssee]

I understand that as "nurses", we're the bottom of the food chain. I don't want to sound like a cry baby or put myself or other LPNs on a pedestal but I'm tired of people with the "you're just an LPN attitude". I do know many RNs that have been supportive and understanding. I know when you're a nurse, you have tough skin (and I usually do) but there are some days (like today) when it just gets to you.

I've been going to school for a long time - it's almost been 10 years from when I graduated high school. I've just been trying to get into any nursing school. I got my AA degree, became a CNA, worked, had to take pre-reqs over, and then the 2 years of LPN school. Now that it's all over, I realize how HARD it was...everything - emotionally, mentally, physically...especially if you had those really difficult instructors who made you feel incompetent. Anyhoo, the "problem" is mainly family members. I don't expect people to jump at my feet and floor me with compliments or attention but it's nice to be acknowledged. But if they don't, no big deal. I'm happy with myself with this accomplishment. I do get alot of "oh it's just LPN, no big deal" or "it's not an RN or BSN, so it's technically not a nurse yet." I do get what they're saying bc I have high expectations for myself and I know I'm not done in my career path but it really IRRITATES me and I think it's bc someone degrading the hard work I went through. Any kind of nursing school is HARD WORK. No offense but it's not like in CNA school...nothing compared to do that. It's almost like, "how dare you say that?" I think it's also a cultural thing to bc in my culture, it's like a stereotype to be a nurse. Anyhoo, sorry to be a debbie downer and vent but it really irritates me and I need to use my assertive, nursing communication "I-statement" skills now, should I? :)

[sidroc]

I'm staying out of the rest of this discussion, but your statement here piqued my interest: what State requires that one be a CNA (or pct?) as a condition of acceptance into a nursing program? I would think the individual schools would make this determination, not any one State's BON. Of what law are you speaking?

Washington State seems requires this. ,I have heard the BON made the move and have never heard of a college in the state that did not require it. I could be wrong on it being a state requirement but thats what I always heard. Not a single program I have applied to has not required it.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Well the University of Washington does not legally mandate being a CNA. It states you need to have some paid or volunteer healthcare experience which many schools have but its not a legal requirement. So thats just one thing. So it makes your post very uncredible when your throwing out statements like by law I need my CNA to apply for nursing school. Oh and this is only from 45 seconds of research.

"Applicants are expected to have 100 hours of health care experience in a paid or volunteer position in one setting for three months or more, completed within 12 months preceding submission of the application. The majority of applicants present health care experiences of several hundred hours for nine months or more."

School of Nursing

[conroenurse]

Swore I was out of this,

BUT had to comment.

I STAYED an LVN, NOT because I can't learn, afford, or think so little of myself but because I have 4 children who I raised by myself. After they left the nest I had a grand-daughter with Epilsepy, and even the healthy ones needed a grandmother to Love, care and make cookies.

F I put my need for a bigger title in front of their lives what would I think of myself.Nursesonly CARE if we are CARED FOR IMO. MY DH, kids, gkids make my world go round' and I need their love when my patients are too sick to make it. Try rocking a dying baby in your arms and suddenly things like titles, education, ANYTHING you can think of will go by the wayside. I am good at what I do, NOT BY MY WORD, but by my nurse managers,peers (both RN/LVN), and I don't need anything else in this life. 'nough said.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Washington State seems requires this. ,I have heard the BON made the move and have never heard of a college in the state that did not require it. I could be wrong on it being a state requirement but that's what I always heard. Not a single program I have applied to has not required it.

The State of Washington itself have no laws on the books to require this. The states nursing commission (the BON) however, has made a decision that in order to be an accredited nursing school you must have as a prerequisite that the nursing canadets go to CNA school or can take the exam by challenge. This is to assure that all nursing candidates have basic nursing skills like blood pressure taking and bed making, lifting patients, turning and positioning.......prior to starting the program.

It is a required part of the school curriculum of accredited school in that state, set by the BON, but it is not a state legislature

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

How is that different to other nursing schools where you can challenge the CNA certification after the first 6 weeks? Can you post your reference on this Esme12. Thanks =D

I also went through the BON for WA and did a random sampling of admission requirements and while I found a couple of LPN programs required a NAC license most RN schools simply prefer it or some kind of health experience usually for extra points.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

I do not pride myself as having a higher intellect than a LPN, nor have I alluded to it. I am a CNA starting a ADN program and do not know more than a LPN. What I will say is that it is a travesty that someone with the capacity to become an LVN or LPN does not advance to their RN. It to me is telling about their motivation. It makes me wonder if their in it for a paycheck big enough to buy their pizza and beer after a 12 hour shift, or if they truly want to make a difference and become personally successful as well as take pride in their status in healthcare as well as advance the cause of adequate patient care. I truly believe that anyone with the ability to obtain their LPN is capable of becoming an RN, however one who does not peruse higher education beyond the minimal will never have the same level of standing in my eyes. Many of you might respond that life was difficult when you finished your LPN and that moving on was impossible. I believe this to be a fallacy as I have met many many immigrants from Ethiopia and Gambia, as well as other 3rd world countries who came here in the late 90's with their wife and kids penniless and now are RN's and BSN's at major hospitals. If a penniless immigrant with a wife/husband and children on a green card can do it, We have citizens have little valid excuses. All things considered, I am disappointed by the level of discourse you have displayed Wild Irish LPN given the immediate resort to an ad hominem, If you must know, I generally post from my phone on lunch at work and this can lead to many types of errors.

You should go read The Commuter's article on how most LPNs make wages competitive with most four year college graduates. I went to one of those vocational schools you seem to have so much disdain for. After 10 months of school I am making over 22 dollars an hour (in a low wage "rust belt" state) and have completely paid off my student loan in a year. I can obtain my RN at my leisure, which is more than I can say about many BSN students I know struggling to make ends meet in retail or whatever for 4-5 long years. I wanted a job where I could make good money FAST. I was NOT interested in working for peanuts anymore while going for a long drawn out BSN degree. If that makes me shallow, so be it. One man's "shallow" is another man's "common sense"....

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

How is that different to other nursing schools where you can challenge the CNA certification after the first 6 weeks? Can you post your reference on this Esme12. Thanks =D

I also went through the BON for WA and did a random sampling of admission requirements and while I found a couple of LPN programs required a NAC license most RN schools simply prefer it or some kind of health experience usually for extra points.

I found multiple references to this.....Nursing Links - Washington State Nurses Association

Nursing Assistant Requirement Questions.........

Nursing Assistant Requirements

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

I found multiple references to this.....Nursing Links - Washington State Nurses Association

This is just link to a list of links.

Nursing Assistant Requirement Questions.........

Nursing Assistant Requirements

And this is just one school not a mandate from the BON stating that it's a requirement.

Here's a couple of schools in WA state that don't

Welcome to Peninsula College - Program Details

Admission Requirements | Lake Washington Institute of Technology

If its a mandate from the BON there should be something concrete on the BON website and there's not.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

my misunderstanding. I did see it....and cannot find it. This paper talks of it and there is reference to the curriculum standards. On or about page 22 but there is no law. http://www.wsna.org/Education/documents/White.Paper.Nursing.Education.2007.pdf

I'm not sure.....but I think we agree there is no law.

I bow to your knowledge about this for I have none

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Thanks =D this is closer but this is still just a white paper from the Washington Nurse's Association but honestly for me on this issue it's fine since I was hoping the poster in question would justify his statement. I don't need to be going back and forth with Esme12 on this =D

I still got some interesting data from digging around all those sites though. One little factoid from the WA BON was that RN graduates have increased by 101% since 2001. That probably has more to do with phase out of LPN's in that state than anything else.

[sidroc]

Thanks =D this is closer but this is still just a white paper from the Washington Nurse's Association but honestly for me on this issue it's fine since I was hoping the poster in question would justify his statement. I don't need to be going back and forth with Esme12 on this =D

I still got some interesting data from digging around all those sites though. One little factoid from the WA BON was that RN graduates have increased by 101% since 2001. That probably has more to do with phase out of LPN's in that state than anything else.

I already clarified. I apologize for not being as clear on on this particular matter the first time around, but my follow up was sufficient. As with anything else in a good debate, you have zoomed in on this even though it was said in error admittedly and yet have not attempted to discuss what I have said about the actual topic matter of this discussion.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Y'know I have a problem with posters like you who only post negative rhetoric so if I reply to you what can I expect back? More negative? No thanks. I've gotten your message. You think your superior because your PLAN for your future is much better than other people's reality. No amount of me debating with you will change your opinion on that. Only time and experience will.