Why won't hospitals and staff nurses acknowledge prior LPN experience on new graduates of nursing?
I speak from experience as a new nurse, some of the best hands on training I received came from the seasoned LPNs on our floor!
Hello. If I understand the question correctly are you asking why you don’t get recognized for your years of LPN experience. I am a new grad about to the start the RN residency program and the hospital I’ll be working at does recognize my (19yrs) as a LPN. It’s also calculated into my pay and also for other jobs that I have interviewed for as a RN they considered me because of my prior LPN experience because otherwise they would not consider me because I was a new RN. Hope this helps.
That is an unfortunate hold over from the old we need to all have BSNs to practice argument.
It is a cultural holdover we all need to work with our local State Boards and Professional Organizations to eliminate this.
It also helps decrease your onboard pay if they do not count the prior experience. As a Nurse Manager and a Commander in the USAF I loved the LPN, Diploma RN, and ADN experience because I knew I was getting a wealth of knowledge. These staff needed less orientation time and were the first to start increasing their education.
I read your question as actually 2 questions. The first is "Why won't hospitals....". Hospital systems along with the CNO/ Nurse executive of the system and individual facilities work with HR to set the standard of education and professional nursing standard they want to obtain. This normally mirrors the standards set by Magnet, Pathways of Excellence, nurse practice acts of the state, and evidence based research pertaining to higher nurse education and decrease in medical/ nursing errors.
The second question, ".... and staff nurses acknowledge...". It goes back to the nursing practice act. LPN/LVN scope of practice is limited. While facilities can training LPN/LVNs to do more, the facility and the CNO assume the risk. Which in-turn mean the training team/mentor/ educators assume the risk to ensure that all new grads are trained to the same level. It doesn't matter how much experience a LPN/LVN has. The good thing is experienced LPN/LVNs should orient faster to clinical duties.
Now that's talk reality. Passing the RN exam mean you are minimally competent to begin practicing in a different role. This was/is me, you, anyone. Let the ego.....go. The best thing that anyone can do is use the orientation time to learn, study and ask questions. The worse thing anyone ADN/BSN/MSN prepared can do is continue to say, "Yeah, I know, I know." This will get you known as the nurse that "knows" everything and people will stop teaching you and may let you fail in front of the boss or doctor.
I recommend that you read, THE FIRST 90 DAYS by Michael D. Watkins. I have read it when I changed facilities and or was promoted. The other is Crucial Conversations by Patterson and others. I also can't state this enough, Read your state's Nursing Practice Act and Rules and Regulations.
Jerry Criswell MSN, RN, CNOR
Combat Medic 1988-91, Pharmacy Tech 91-95, ADN 96-98, BSN 98-2013, MSN 2014-Present
Staff nurse- TSICU, OR, Pre-OP/PACU, ENDO
Manager- Surgical Services
Director- Surgical Services
ACNO- Clinical Services including LAB and Pharmacy
CNO- Hospital
That's a question that I often hear. I have 12 yrs of LPN experience and it's seen as nothing unfortunately. LPN take on the load for the RN and doctor. It's horrible but thats how it is. You're not a nurse until you have your RN.
Keep experience on your resume. It's human resources that wants to lessen the call for inexperience at discernment. Keep it on because director of nursing recognizes this speaks to your qualifications and skills. It is a feather in your cap. And then send resume to director of nursing and human resources.
Because an LPN does not have nursing experience. Practical nursing has a different skill set. You would have to be trained as a new nurse
LPN title is looked down on by RNs and others in hospital setting, until they realize we can do almost everything they can and are always willing to learn more! As a LPN for 10 years now, I just started working in a level 1 trauma ER and most RNs aren’t aware of LPNs skill set or experience! I’m proud to be able to contribute in this ER as an LPN. I’ve learned so much in just 13 weeks, I think all LPNs should be able to experience working in hospital setting-not just because the nursing shortage is so severe. Working here gave me the motivation to sign up for my RN bridge program.
Many facilities do. My daughter even got credit for her 2 years as a PCT when she transitioned to her RN position. Not sure what your options are, but keep looking if a facility is offering you new graduate pay with your experience.
The old way of nursing is a slow and stubborn way of thinking. You can only move up by doing time. Because you didn’t have an RN status with your prior experience, it’s disregarded. I’ve had the same experience with leadership positions. Although I meet the requirements of the role of a clinical director, I haven’t been a unit manager in a hospital setting, so I don’t qualify based on those unspoken rules. However, my prior experience includes being a regional manager in retail, business owner, assistant manager of banks and brokerage companies. I’d still be leading people, it’s just a different product in the same manner you are taking care of patients, now with more education and responsibility. Don’t give up hope. Ignore the haters! We have to continue to advocate for change. Be better than they could be by leading from your role. Treat the next cohort the way you wanted to be treated and apply all that experience you have to providing the best care to your patients.
Sometimes they do. It depends. Mine did, but they also employee LPNs.
Because they do not want to PAY!!!
My hospital takes LPN years and divides in half but they do give you at least some credit for your LPN experience
Nursing Unions and Registered Nurses do not consider Licensed Practical Nurses as competent caregivers. I have been a Licensed Practical Nurses for over 16 years.
I worked in a major hospital on the postpartum floor to have the union remove all the LPNs and place us in the ambulatory department. This was in my opinion petty.
I loved and excelled at my job. After leaving the department my RN colleagues would regularly have me cover shifts for them.
Terrible decision.
Because they weren’t practicing as a RN so that isn’t experience in the RN role. Job applications doesn’t read “nursing experience”, typically says something specifically about experience as a RN. Because that’s what they want…..
Most hospitals are rehiring LPNs to work at the bedside.
