I believe it is time for nursing to have one level of entry and that current system of multilevel nurses is absurd and archiac to say the least. As an LVN with over 30 years experience in all areas of nursing including ER, ICU, and OR; experience can't be compared to the new RN grad. They are entry level and can't have the knowledge or experience in patient care that I do. I don't care if they are the superior license or if they must by some riduculous law be in charge. The current system doesn't make sense. Nursing is still eating their own, when will it stop and sensible discussions on our future begin!

Andy, L.V.N., M.S.

I agree with CaptrainEricRN.  Experience and education is key.  I was also in the military and someone coming in right out of officer training school and someone coming in as an E1 and working their way up is two totally different things.  But thats two different systems that you can go into the military on.  You just bust your butt and work your way up.  I am just freshly getting into the nursing field, hoping to start in Jan 2010.  I dont think education can beat 30 years of experience but you have to start somewhere.  And with myself, seeing that I dont have 30 years of experience, I am going to get all that I can through education and pray that the experience will soon follow the education.

The point is the system of allowing someone with no experience to be in charge is stupid whether it is nursing or some other profession. Also the idea that a college degree is the same as practical experience is not realistic either. I have a Masters in biology and I mostly teach now. I am certainly not waiting for an RN license to be dropped into my lap. I made a decision many years ago that higher nursing education was not what I wanted. 

I really don't even understand why there are two levels of nursing licensure today. That should have changed years ago, it just isn't relavent in todays healthcare environment. Systems are difficult to change but that certainly doesn't mean we shouldn't attempt to change them. Change is what keeps a profession dynamic and alive; new ideas, new ways of doing things, new and expanding areas of practice.

I make no arguement that one level is better or worse than another or that LPNs have more skills or less than RNs. Individuals bring many skill mixes into each level of nursing, but to say that once you are LPN or two year RN you aren't capable of learning or expanding your knowledge base is silly. We can't make judgements just because someone has a piece of paper or plastic card that say they licensed.  I encourage everyone to go back to school and formalize there experience with academics, just as you yourself did.

Thanks Eric for joining this discussion and adding your well thought out comments. This is where it begins!

Andy

CaptainEricRN says ...

Very similar to the Enlisted / Commissioned dichotomy in the military. A 2nd Lt with zero experience is in charge. A Master Sgt with 30 years experience takes orders from the Officers. Ridiculous? Maybe, but systems are difficult to change.

RN's are college educated (to some extent), and must take classes in management and other tasks unique to RN's.

Arguing that many LPN's have superior skills will not change things. As you say, sensible discussions must begin. Meanwhile, the system will exist.

I was a nurse aide with a college degree and years of experience as an EMT and Army Medic. So, know what I did?

I went to school, graduated, took the nursing boards, and thereby earned the rights and privileges as an RN. Doesn't mean the "system" is infallible, but I wasn't going to sit around untill somebody made me an RN or put me in charge of a unit because of my intelligence and experience.

 

BTW just a side note. I am an L.V.N. with Masters degree and whenever I mention this to other nurses RNs and LPNs they are always taken back. The most frequent comment to me, "how is that possible", as though an LVN was self limited or those having LV/PN behind their names can't do anything else but become RNs. Not true and this is exactly what needs to change; the idea that one level is somehow innately more intelligent than the other. My degree doesn't say anything more than I spent the required time and received the minimum grades needs to graduate. That's all it says, the rest is individual. One can achieve growth in many different ways.

Andy