[lynn bee]

hi everyone. i am just interested in finding out if any lpns in iowa feel like they are being phased out of the workforce.i am a lpn and feel only thing to do is work in ltc.and so far places where i have worked sucks.and i had to quit asap.i am trying to land a job in private duty,but the pay is not good.i just was interested in seeing how other lpns feel.i cannot get a job in the hospital .seems to not being able to utilize lpns.god what is going to be left of lpns in iowa.do we all need our rns degrees.

[debblynn13]

Hi Lynn,

I'm from Iowa also. I am an LPN, graduated last year, but haven't worked as I am continuing on for my RN this year. I have noticed that some of the county hospitals do hire LPNs. I see you are in the Iowa City area, so I can't say how they are there. I know Broadlawns in Des Moines and Mary Greely in Ames both hire LPN's. So I would look around at the county hospitals.

Good Luck,
debblynn

[Tanzanite]

I know of a local girl in my home-town who is an R.N, (but also holds her LPN) who wanted but couldn't get a job in a local Dr.'s office as an R.N (clinics don't want to pay R.N salaries) so she choose to work in the Dr's office on her LPN license. She has small kids at home and wanted those hours.

I just seen in our paper that she's now moved on to home-health care. (hopefully on her R.N license )

[lpntornat43]

Both Sartori and Covenant hire and utilize LPN's in direct patient care. The starting pay in almost $14 an hour with $1.10 shift diff and another $.55 for weedends. Hope this helps.

[cewlmom3]

I have been an Lpn for over 10 years, I feel very fortunate in the experiences I have had. I have work at the VA have been nurse Manager in Family practice and currently work at the Iowa dept. of corrections In Ia City, hang in there.. There are many oppotunities for us much needed LPN'S.

[purple_rose_3]

I work at a Skilled Nursing Home in Southeast Iowa as an LPN and I make 17.39/hour with .50 on weekends. Hope that helps!

[LPN0207]

Originally Posted by lpntornat43

Both Sartori and Covenant hire and utilize LPN's in direct patient care. The starting pay in almost $14 an hour with $1.10 shift diff and another $.55 for weedends. Hope this helps.

Wow- that's not too bad. I am surprised about that, but its good to hear. I would like to stay in the area after I graduate.

[Harleygirl]

It does seem to me that LPN's are being phased out of hospitals, including rural hospitals, and LTC offers the draw (ususally) of better pay for LPN's. I worked as an LPN for 6 years before I went back to get my RN degree. I worked in LTC for that entire time because I really couldn't take the pay cut to go work anywhere else. I interviewed at a medical clinic but I would have had to take a $6.00/hour pay cut and I just couldn't do it.
I think the hospitals hire only RN's because it makes it easier to staff because they don't have to think about how they have to staff to accomodate needs, if they have all RN's, then it doesn't require as much planning.
And it seems to me that clinics are leaning more toward hiring CMA's and phasing nurses out altogether. Which I think is sad, but in the clinic, the CMA's training is specially for clinic use, i.e. blood draws, X-ray, etc.
When I get a chance to speak to LPN students, I urge them to continue on and get the RN degree. Your options are so much more.

Harleygirl

[mewmeow]

Originally Posted by lynn bee

hi everyone. i am just interested in finding out if any lpns in iowa feel like they are being phased out of the workforce.i am a lpn and feel only thing to do is work in ltc.and so far places where i have worked sucks.and i had to quit asap.i am trying to land a job in private duty,but the pay is not good.i just was interested in seeing how other lpns feel.i cannot get a job in the hospital .seems to not being able to utilize lpns.god what is going to be left of lpns in iowa.do we all need our rns degrees.

Hi,

LTC in Davenport pays about 14.00- 17.00/hr depending and agency is paying $20.00/hr.

I work with alot of agency nurses many of them LPN's. Unless I have misunderstood some of them work at University Hospoitals there in I.C.

I know I've asked them about it but guess because I wasn't ready to make any moves don't remember all the details.

Are you saying they don't hire LPN's????????????

Don't know anything about 'the phasing out of LPN's" except that I've seen a few comments about it at this website. What can you tell me about it???

thanks

[cewlmom3]

I called themUIHC, around November, they do hire LPNS but not in that capacity.... more like medical assistants, cna's that sort of thing.... I know that IOWA DEPT. of Corrections is building a special needs unit that will be complete in aprox. 1.5 years and they will be looking for quite a few LPNS and RNS