Are LPN/LVNs a dying breed?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hi all....

I know this topic has probably been around before, but I was hoping some of you seasoned LPNs could comment on what you think about the future of LPN/LVN nursing. I'm planning to enter LVN school this June, and am both excited and apprehensive! I do plan to eventually earn my RN, but earning a paycheck within about a years' time sure sounds good.

Also, what are your experiences with stress in nursing? I used to be a high school English teacher, but got out of that after three years because of UNBELIEVABLE expectations placed on my by parents/administrators, and the fact that I felt I was little more than a glorified babysitter....

I know these topics are nothing new to you, but I'm a newbie and anything helps! Cheers y'all.

I feel as with the rising cost of health care the hospital heads are going to do everything they can to cut costs. Lets just hope they understand what a value LPN are.

Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

It has been said we were a dying breed since I graduated in 1978,,yet here I am still working a hospital. \\

Times change, and somethings never change, the pendulum just swings back and forth

I live in NJ and around here, they are not hiring LPN's in hospitals at all. I am currently taking my pre-reqs at a snail's pace to get my RN. But then the other day, someone said to me that EVEN with your RN degree, you won't get hired in hospital. NOW they are saying that you MUST have already or at least PROOF that you are WORKING on GETTING your BSN!!!! Now , I ask you WHAT GIVES?????!!!!??? Do we, as LPN's who are (46) (meaning Me!), continue to get the RN degree if there is NO CHANCED of getting in to a hospital???? I have no intention at my age to go any further than the Associate degree.

Anyone know if this is true or not?:confused:

Specializes in all of hospital with exception to ICU..
I live in NJ and around here, they are not hiring LPN's in hospitals at all. I am currently taking my pre-reqs at a snail's pace to get my RN. But then the other day, someone said to me that EVEN with your RN degree, you won't get hired in hospital. NOW they are saying that you MUST have already or at least PROOF that you are WORKING on GETTING your BSN!!!! Now , I ask you WHAT GIVES?????!!!!??? Do we, as LPN's who are (46) (meaning Me!), continue to get the RN degree if there is NO CHANCED of getting in to a hospital???? I have no intention at my age to go any further than the Associate degree.

Anyone know if this is true or not?:confused:

I have heard this before. If you have your BSN you are more likely to be hired, then someone else with their RN. I have researched until I am blue in the face. What I intend to do is to at least make it to my bachelors. If I go any further it will be because I have no other choice when it comes to taking care of my family. I am fortunate enough to not have to worry about working right now......don't know how long that will last with the economy in the shape it's in....but I have heard the same. My previous instructors are encouraging me to go all the way to my masters and become a NP.....well, I'm 33 by then I will be 38 or 39. I will miss my 12 year old daughters high school years. My 6 year old will be at that age by then. You have to figure it all out for yourself. No matter what education you have.....you will never know it all. Age is only a number. You are not old. One of my previous instructors is 58 and she is going back for her BSN. It's just the way the system works it flip flops around....and possibly by the time I get my BSN there may be no jobs for me. They may just be wanting Rns. One thing is for sure with all the research I have done. LPNs are being phased out...replaced by MAs and CNAs...home health care is on a rise and with those two professions being less costly insurance companies are going to point more toward them.

Now about the BSN I have thought about it and God knows I am too much of a thinker. With all the MAs taking over for the LPNs in hospitals they are going to need more people with an upper level of education to watch over these MAs because the Rns are going to be going out of their minds busy and rechecking on patients because of being scared to death that a law suit is coming. Basically the Rn is going to taking the role of the LPN and MA is taking a role of the LPN....if that makes any sense. Not that they are equal in that sense, but it is giving the Rns more of a work load. The Rn with the BSN will take on the role of management, that is the way they are taught. They will just have to be more involved with patient care then they have been in the past.

I am only talking theory. I have read several articles and have come up with my own theories.

I believe if you have your Rn you will not have to worry about finding a job no matter where you are, but in order to be in the place you want to be you may have to get your BSN. Different states have different things going on. If you google and research what you are looking for you can find out what is going on in your state. It just takes time to find legit articles.

Good luck to you and you are not too old...don't let anybody tell you different. You can always go online and take a LPN to BSN course. University of Illinois or Indiana offers one. Again good luck with everything! :)

Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I have not seen or worked with one MA in a hospital setting, yes they are in doctors offices in our area, but not in the hospitals. Perhaps it is different in other areas of the country.

Yes, ideally go for your RN while you have the inclination to do so.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

The medical assistants that have gotten hired at the hospital I work for function as PCAs. They do not administer medications or treatments.

Specializes in correctional and psych and longterm care.

yes where I work it the same I work 75% as a Psych aid but I don't loose and money that an advantage. here in pa.

Specializes in Med=Surg, ER, Step-down.

Hi, I,m an LVN living and working in northern California, and yes its in a hospital med-surg, 12hr nights. While its true the unions that represent RNs in California are trying to squeeze out LVNs the biggest trouble maker is CNA, Oh what do these letters stand for California Nurses Association, Who apparently don't recognise LVNs as nurses. However local hospitals around where I live have been hiring LVNs for all shifts and this includes full-part time with benefits. Taking away skills taught to LVNs is a waste of time because you will never remove that skill from the mind. Thanks for reading.:yeah::cool:

Here in VA, the hospitals are slowly putting us out, or retaining us to do CNA work, and pay us that. Got a call from UVA hospital a couple of weeks ago as I had applied there, they were only offering me $12/hr to work with them, while LTCs and Rehabs start offering at $18 and up. And then worse, down here if you're an LPN in a hospital, boy- you will earn every penny of it cuz the RNs will make sure they work you. Reminds me: there's a joke going around; LPN = Low Paid Nurse, RN = Real Nurse. That's why I've registered for an RN program already, just incase. Besides as someone mentioned, RNs get a little more respect, but with it come more stress and responsibility.

-Zouk

Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/nursing/lpn/c6.htm

Above link to Use of LPN's supply/demand. I read the entire article. I found it of interest. Perhaps others will also

They say that some of the hospitals want you to get your RN, but then in my area of ohio there must be 6 LPN schools in a 40 mile radius!

jobs are slim at times.

I hope not, but I believe that is what NY state is trying for..I became an LPN in 1993. My first job was for a Med/Surg Tele floor- It was the typical new grad hire time- there were 12 of us going through orientation - 6 new LPNs, 6 new RNs. As LPN's we were able to manage our patients with just the Charge nurse looking over our assignments. Three years ago, NY decided we had all been working "Above our scope of practice"- My Nurse Manager called me at home and informed me that as LPNs, we could no longer take our own assignments, listen to lung,bowel sounds, chart on much of anything- and to add insult to injury, we now had to be paired up with an RN, who would oversee us while working our shift. You have NO idea how horrible it is to suddenly not be capable of doing your job. The RNs resented what they saw as their increased patient load- it commonly caused hurt feelings, actually caused things to be missed,and all three of us LPNs that worked the floor got to the point where we hated going in to work. We would get paired up with nurses who at times were BRAND-SPANKING new- who were complaining about how horrible it was to be paired up with the LPNs- These were newbies who knew very little about floor nursing. Several times we worked a shift where there were two RNs and two LPNs, plus the CN. It was common to hear RNs complain about the staffing, saying that "It was SO bad, we worked with only 2 nurses last night!" Things like that rip your heart out.Out of the three LPNs from night shift, I'm the only one who is now an RN.I actually enjoy my profession again, but I still believe LPNs have a very important place on the healthcare team.Unfortunatly, those who make policy in NY and at my Hospital do not agree. The new policy is that NO LPNs, no matter what their experience level, can be hired to work on the Med/Surg floors. Nursing Homes only. It makes me sick to see practical nursing students coming in for clinicals...I want to warn them that they are in for a world of "discrimination" in NY.What a waste.

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