We’re all nurses, dedicated to the same goal: patient care. So why does a ‘two-tiered’ system often feel like the reality for registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs)? Are we truly one profession, or are invisible lines drawn in the sand?

While both are essential to the healthcare system, an “us vs. them” mentality often permeates workplaces—fueled by subtle comments, ingrained policies, and perhaps most significantly, separate unions. Why are RPNs grouped in with teachers in a union, while RNs have their own separate nursing union? Why can RPNs read telemetry in some organizations, whereas others limit RPNs from a skillset that is within their scope under the College of Nurses?