[jschmidt49]

At Ball Memorial in Muncie they are giving them the option to stay on as a CNA or they can go back to school for a year to be a RN. They will reimburse them the money once they are done. I heard this from some poeple who work there.

[pepperann35]

I am a LPN originally from Indiana. I started out as a CNA, then became a QMA and then a LPN. Big difference between the education from a QMA to a LPN. I cannot imagine what they are thinking if this is true.

[pepperann35]

Originally Posted by jschmidt49

At Ball Memorial in Muncie they are giving them the option to stay on as a CNA or they can go back to school for a year to be a RN. They will reimburse them the money once they are done. I heard this from some poeple who work there.

Why don't they just offer to pay for it as they take the courses. That would be a well deserved gesture.

[gods_gift]

Originally Posted by nd_mom

If I may ask "what is a QMA"? I know what an MA is and here they are called CMA for certified medical assistant, but have never heard of QMA.

Qualified Medication Aide. They pass meds like LPN's but can't do any of the clinical work like assessing and documentation. Some actually do treatments.

[mrs.frog]

LPN's will be around for a long time. The job opportunites, of course, will be much less than an RN.............but they won't replace them with a QMA.

A QMA does not know drug interactions or how to acess the patients if they have a reaction to the meds and the education time is much less. I don't think they are even registered by the Health Professions Board in Indy are they?

Brenda

[racing-mom4]

The hospital I work for FT.Wayne has phased out LPNs, the only area they are allowed to work is ECU and Behavioral Health. And they will not hire a new LPN, they only selected a handfull of existing LPNs and offered them the ECU/BH jobs.
I heard over the weekend that IPFW will no longer offer an ASN program.
They will only offer the BSN starting Fall of 08? maybe it was Fall of 09? I also know University of Saint Francis in FW has phased out their bridge program for the ASN to BSN. They replaced it with a bridge program for ASN to MSN.

FYI we dont employ QMA's and only a handfull of CNAs and those are only on high census floors.

Our nurse externs those who are in their last semester of nursing school--no longer to admin oral meds, even under if the RN gets them out of the Pyxisis and puts them in a cup and walks them to the patients room. So now the nurse externs are being utilized as much needed CNA's.

[nurturing_angel]

Within the last year or so, LPNs at my hospital are slowly having duties taken from them. Now they are only allowed to pass meds and do VS. What a shame!!! These nurses are vital members of our nursing community and they are being treated like 2nd class citizens. And who is getting to take on all the stripped away duties of the LPN???? The already overworked RNs as my hospital certainly isn't going to add any aides, secretaries, etc. The LPN is to function as the aide if we need one.
I think they are trying to secretly force the LPN out but of course no one admits to this. It will eventually come back to bite them in the butt as the sick and elderly pt population continues to increase and the nursing staff strains under the burden. I see trouble on the horizon if this trend is allowed to continue!

[Valerie Salva]

There has been talk of phasing out LPNs for over 50 years. I don't think it will happen.

[gods_gift]

Originally Posted by nurturing_angel

Within the last year or so, LPNs at my hospital are slowly having duties taken from them. Now they are only allowed to pass meds and do VS. What a shame!!! These nurses are vital members of our nursing community and they are being treated like 2nd class citizens. And who is getting to take on all the stripped away duties of the LPN???? The already overworked RNs as my hospital certainly isn't going to add any aides, secretaries, etc. The LPN is to function as the aide if we need one.
I think they are trying to secretly force the LPN out but of course no one admits to this. It will eventually come back to bite them in the butt as the sick and elderly pt population continues to increase and the nursing staff strains under the burden. I see trouble on the horizon if this trend is allowed to continue!

You are so right. The elderly population is growing by leaps and bounds because the "baby boomers" cohort are retiring. This means more work for nurses to take on. If the RN's think that they are over-worked now, what if us LPN's all decided to go on a strike at the same time? That'll teach em! I feel like this, I am worth every penny that I negotiate before I start working so if you aren't willing to give it to me, someone else will. And I haven't worked as an LPN yet because I just passed my NCLEX on the 19th of Feb. But regardless, you have to think of yourself as valuable and walk the walk! Respect always has to begin with self.

[gods_gift]

That ASN-MSN program sounds cool. I wish that they had an LPN-MSN program. That rocks. It's sad to hear that they treat the LPN's like that in that hospital. Personally, I would leave. I know my worth and I will be treated as such. That is just how I live my life.

God's Gift
aka
Kimberlee D., LPN