New GRad Travel Nurse

[NurseBre]

Originally Posted by Kdog

REG NurseBre,
There is a huge amount of learning in RN school vs LPN training.
I can't believe you did not learn anything. Are you aware of the Nurse Practice Act?

Yes I have, what do you think I meant when I said in the state of Missouri LPN's cannot hang blood transfusions or give IVP medications? A Nurse Practice Act is state specific. And if you are to know, I graduated an LPN school who taught to the highest curriculum standards which apparently were even to the standards of the RN school I attended, which is the largest RN school in southern MO. I actually learned more in LPN school, which yes is hard to believe. If you went straight through RN school then you have no idea what they teach LPN's so I would advise not to go flapping your mouth. LPN students who bridge into RN school have better scores academically and clincially than students who are going straight through.

[NurseBre]

Originally Posted by AmandaWIRN

This statement alone is VERY frightening...

Thank you for taking my sentence out of context. If you read it correctly I stated, as an LPN I learned nothing new during RN school. Get off your high horse and stop trying to make others feel "less of a nurse" just because they are a graduate or LPN. I understand your concern for safety of patients, but there are other ways to present that. Apparently you know nothing about IV certified LPN's. As for graduate nurses, I agree, traveling is not advisable for a year. Although new grads are much more intuitive and may catch abnormals in their pt's that an "experienced" nurse may overlook, so I hope all the new grads do not forget this and keep looking closely at your pt's, you can be the difference.

[amberdouglas]

The fundamental differance in an Rn and an LPN is NOT I REPEAT NOT whether or not you can hang a blood transfusion or do an IV push!! An RN is trained in assessment, education, advocacy, delagation...an LPN can do a task. Thats it. Nothing more, they know HOW to do something, not WHY. If you failed to understand that in RN school, then you need to leave the profession, becasue I hope to god you never take care of me or anyone I care about.

[AmandaWIRN]

Originally Posted by NurseBre

Thank you for taking my sentence out of context. If you read it correctly I stated, as an LPN I learned nothing new during RN school. Get off your high horse and stop trying to make others feel "less of a nurse" just because they are a graduate or LPN. I understand your concern for safety of patients, but there are other ways to present that. Apparently you know nothing about IV certified LPN's. As for graduate nurses, I agree, traveling is not advisable for a year. Although new grads are much more intuitive and may catch abnormals in their pt's that an "experienced" nurse may overlook, so I hope all the new grads do not forget this and keep looking closely at your pt's, you can be the difference.

Um, I'm not the one on the high horse... I'm not the one who claims to have already known everything taught in nursing school before I graduated. I'm not the one bragging about what school I went to, how big my school was, what good grades I got, etc....

Good nurses don't need to tell everyone how good they are- their knowledge, skills, and, most importantly, their maturity, attitude, and level of professionalism speak for themselves.

I never said that anyone is "less of a nurse" because they are an LPN, but, like Amber said, an RN and an LPN are two different things, the difference between the two being much more than being able to hang blood or push IV meds.

Talk to me a year from now and then tell me if you think there's really no big difference between an RN and an LPN. But in the meantime, please keep things on this board professional and refrain from any personal attacks....

[hppygr8ful]

Well,
had to weigh in and just say that in the 8 years I've been an RN a day hasn't gone by that I don't learn "something new". In fact the day I stop learning is the day that I hang up my shoes for another profession.

The big difference here in CA is while an LVN/LPN can be certified to do many duties outside the normal scope that scope is still limited in what that nurse can and cannot do. If an RN/LVN were essentially the same thing why would anyone become an RN. Certainly not just for the money as any RN whose been around a while can tell you the money we make is rarely equal to the blood sweat and tears we pour into the work. By law LPNs observe and report their findings they do not assess patients. That is the RN's job. The RN also has many management and professional responsibilities that LPN's don't. This does not make LPNs any less valuable for what they do. When I was a new RN LPNs taught me ton's of things and I thank all for you out their for that. Still there is a general level of disrespect that I see between the two disciplines. This is one of the reason's there's a shortage of nurses willing to mentor and help train new nurses. We all need to treat eachother as co-professonals and understand and utilize our strenghts and weaknesses to provide optimal patient care, we should not be bickering among ourselves.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

PS

Started my new job today coordinating the clinical care for 36 adult DD patients in 6 group homes - talk a bout a lot to learn - sheesh

[NurseBre]

I did not mean that I never learn anything new. I said earlier that things are always changing in hospitals, meaning you are always LEARNING. Apparently I should have never said a word on this site. All you people do is attack others, and I was just the one trying to set things straight. Forgive me for that. You all who replied were apparently never LPN's and apparently the LPN's where you work dont do much. I learned awesome assessment skills in school because, to quote my teachers, they wanted us to be as knowledgeable as any RN so that we could deliver the best nursing care possible and not be discriminated against. I was not trained to "just do tasks" if I was then I would not have to go to school. I was taught why things are just like everyone else. Think what you all want, I am not being high and mighty I just have strong feelings toward this. I make mistakes just like everyone else. I love taking care of people and just cuz you have a title doesnt make you a better nurse. Obviously I went to school to expand my knowledge and was very disappointed that I was taking the same classes I already had and they were not even any more in depth. In case you are not aware, where I work I report abnormals myself to the Doctor not an RN. I was not at all bragging about the school I went to etc., I was giving you facts so you could see where I was coming from. I dont think all LPN's were taught to the level I was, I was lucky to go to school where I did. Obviously you did not see where I was coming from. WHy does everyone on this site take my sentences out of context? I think I know why, and I will never act in such a way to others, I will embrace them and encourage instead of cutting them down.

Just to throw this out as well, I think it is sad how many hospitals have to hold classes on how to be sympathetic to your patients and give comfort care, some programs are called FirstTouch, World Class Service, etc. I think many health professionals become too focused on being "professional" and forget to be human to others and put yourself where the pt is. A "good" health care employee knows how to do this.

[AmandaWIRN]

The reason people think you are saying you didn't learn anything new in RN school is because you said just that. In fact, you said it twice. Your exact words, NOT taken out of context were: " I have just finished RN school and learned absolutely nothing new." Then right after that, you said" "as an LPN I have taken teams as well so nothing is new to me."

I have included your original post below, so you an others can see the context of your own words.

Originally Posted by NurseBre

well I just wanted to say I am an LPN, have been for over a year, and I do many many many IV starts, I am IV certified. The only thing I am not allowed to do is blood transfusions(in the state of MO) and IV push meds. BOth of which are easy to pick up once you get your RN. I have just finished RN school and learned absolutely nothing new. You are right that floor nursing is different than what you learn in school, but as an LPN I have taken teams as well so nothing is new to me. I feel discrimmination against LPN's is not necessary if they have worked acute care. and to be honest all it takes is 6 months to become comfortable in floor nursing. If you every truly become comfortable that is, there is so much happening every day in large hospitals its always changing.

So, no one is taking your words out of context- if what you wrote is not what you really mean, then clarify that by saying so, but don't accuse others of taking things out of context when it is plain as day in your original post.

FYI: Part of being professional is being caring and compassionate. That along with a good attitude and respect for others, and knowing that you will never know it all is what makes a good nurse.

[kptravel]

My travel nurse wife tells me she had to have 2 years experience before traveling. Give my blog a look. We're having a blast. TRAVEL NURSE BLOG Traveling Carruth's

[Kdog]

NurBRE
I disagree regarding Need for hospitals to have Comfort Care classes. Think about this: Not every nurse is comfortable with Comfort Care and these classes help them Learn the necessary tools to care for the patient and family/friends.
Keep an open mind