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| No. 40 | 
May 23, 2008, 11:46 AM
 Re: LPN Petition to Take RN Boards Originally Posted by Jolie  A similar question would be," Should experienced CNAs be allowed to challenge LPN boards?" The obvious answer to that is no, considering they have no nursing education. Having said that, if our educators feel it is appropriate and safe to create a certification program enabling CNA's to perform the licensed duty of passing medications; why can they not create a curriculum whereby LPN’s can become certified in assessment, delegation, and critical thinking; as these are the tasks most of our State Practice Boards say we are not qualified to perform. Why do hospitals pay upwards of 10,000 dollars to hire a foreign RN, when they can spend this money on certification and mentor programs to bring back the experienced LPN, and the “team nursing” concept back to acute care?  | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 41 |
May 23, 2008, 12:24 PM
Re: LPN Petition to Take RN Boards Originally Posted by lisalake The obvious answer to that is no, considering they have no nursing education. Having said that, if our educators feel it is appropriate and safe to create a certification program enabling CNA's to perform the licensed duty of passing medications; why can they not create a curriculum whereby LPN’s can become certified in assessment, delegation, and critical thinking; as these are the tasks most of our State Practice Boards say we are not qualified to perform.
Why do hospitals pay upwards of 10,000 dollars to hire a foreign RN, when they can spend this money on certification and mentor programs to bring back the experienced LPN, and the “team nursing” concept back to acute care?
In many states, CNAs are required to complete a formal curriculum and pass a state certification exam, which, unlike NCLEX, includes demonstration of hands-on skills. Also, many states allow experienced CNAs to become certified in medication administration, and pass oral and topical meds under the supervision of licensed nurses. Considering this, some would argue that there is relatively little difference between the practice of an experienced med-certified CNA and an LPN/LVN.
Disclaimer: I am not saying I agree with this, because I don't, just like I don't support LPNs challenging RN boards without additional formal education. I am simply playing devil's advocate that what is considered for one category of healthcare provider should also be considered for another.
| | No. 45 |
May 23, 2008, 11:19 PM
Re: LPN Petition to Take RN Boards Originally Posted by lisalake why can they not create a curriculum whereby LPN’s can become certified in assessment, delegation, and critical thinking; as these are the tasks most of our State Practice Boards say we are not qualified to perform.
Your state board says that LPN's are not qualified to do assessments, delegation and critical thinking????
What the heck do they let you do? No matter which setting I end up working in (acute care, LTC, clinic etc), I will be performing all three of those. Without them, it sounds like a CNA with a license. And I don't mean that as a disrespect to those LPN's, I'm knocking those state boards!!!
| | No. 46 |
May 24, 2008, 12:25 AM
Re: LPN Petition to Take RN Boards Originally Posted by elkpark "They" have -- they're called "LPN to RN bridge programs," and they're all over the place. 
I don't think that's what the poster was getting at.
Although on this board I've seen people mention how they learned "so much" going from LPN to RN, the vast majority I've actually worked with on a daily basis who have done the LPN to RN bridge programs had the same complaints about much repetition of material and a lot of time spent in med/surg type clinical rotations getting graded on the same things they do at work every day as LPN/LVN's.
Now LPN/LVN's who don't have hospital experience, that may be another story. But I personally believe that time in clinicals could be much better spent than checking off LPN to RN students on drawing up insulin, inserting foleys, or hanging IV piggy-backs. Talk about repetition.
I'm not saying that I favor LPN/LVN's challenging the RN boards without more formal education or that programs like Excelsior are the perfect answer either, but from what I've seen working at teaching hospitals in several states over the years, LPN/LVN to RN "bridge" programs in general need to be totally revamped.
The programs should be structured more toward the actual learning needs of these unique students instead of trying to give them a one semester "bridge" course and then trying to integrate them with generic ADN students during the second year.
Second year generic ADN students and LPN/LVN to RN students are apples and oranges with completely different learning needs. They should not be taught in the same classroom.
| | No. 47 |
May 24, 2008, 12:35 AM
Re: LPN Petition to Take RN Boards
One of the biggest complaints I have is having foreign nurses coming over here and working. I love diversity at work, but we are taking nurses from other countries that need them too. But the draw of working in the US is too great to pass up. I currently work with some Filipo nurses who tried for 4 yrs to get picked up to come to the US.. I found out they are only making $18/hr. This is a lot more then what they were making in thier own country, but a LOT less then what new grad RN make... Originally Posted by lisalake The obvious answer to that is no, considering they have no nursing education. Having said that, if our educators feel it is appropriate and safe to create a certification program enabling CNA's to perform the licensed duty of passing medications; why can they not create a curriculum whereby LPN’s can become certified in assessment, delegation, and critical thinking; as these are the tasks most of our State Practice Boards say we are not qualified to perform.
Why do hospitals pay upwards of 10,000 dollars to hire a foreign RN, when they can spend this money on certification and mentor programs to bring back the experienced LPN, and the “team nursing” concept back to acute care? | | No. 48 |
May 24, 2008, 09:45 AM
Re: LPN Petition to Take RN Boards Originally Posted by RN34TX I don't think that's what the poster was getting at.
Although on this board I've seen people mention how they learned "so much" going from LPN to RN, the vast majority I've actually worked with on a daily basis who have done the LPN to RN bridge programs had the same complaints about much repetition of material and a lot of time spent in med/surg type clinical rotations getting graded on the same things they do at work every day as LPN/LVN's.
Now LPN/LVN's who don't have hospital experience, that may be another story. But I personally believe that time in clinicals could be much better spent than checking off LPN to RN students on drawing up insulin, inserting foleys, or hanging IV piggy-backs. Talk about repetition.
I'm not saying that I favor LPN/LVN's challenging the RN boards without more formal education or that programs like Excelsior are the perfect answer either, but from what I've seen working at teaching hospitals in several states over the years, LPN/LVN to RN "bridge" programs in general need to be totally revamped.
The programs should be structured more toward the actual learning needs of these unique students instead of trying to give them a one semester "bridge" course and then trying to integrate them with generic ADN students during the second year.
Second year generic ADN students and LPN/LVN to RN students are apples and oranges with completely different learning needs. They should not be taught in the same classroom.
I don't disagree with anything you've said. I have many problems with how all levels of undergraduate nursing education are organized and implemented these days!
I agree with your concerns about experienced LPN (RN) students having very different needs than "generic" nursing students. I think the issue is, though, that there aren't enough returning-LPN students to justify having separate, "free-standing" programs, and, as we all know from reading these boards, the students want the programs as convenient and close to home as possible and most would not be willing to travel a longer distance to attend a separate, specialty LPN-to-RN program that was centrally located for a larger area (in order to have a larger student body to justify/support a "specialty" program). I've taught in an ADN program that accepted LPNs into the second year, and it was basically to do the local LPNs who wanted to continue their education a favor, to provide them a way to become eligible for RN licensure; but there were only a few LPNs (per year) in our area who wanted to do that and there was no way it would ever be practical or cost-effective to try to create a separate, LPN-only program ... Maybe the situation is different in larger, urban areas.
Also, I would draw your attention to how many people post here about how they're only going into an LPN program because their local "bridge" program is easier to get into than the generic RN programs, and how many people post here about how they're already applying for bridge programs before they even complete their LPN program -- apparently, many of the LPNs applying for these programs are brand new LPN grads and aren't any more experienced than the RN students they will be joining.
I freely admit there's no perfect answer that will do a good job of meeting every individual's needs. But I don't think the answer is to water down the educational and licensure standards and requirements; we've done more than enough of that already, IMHO.
| | No. 49 |
May 24, 2008, 10:10 AM
Updated
May 24, 2008 at 10:13 AM by NursesRmofun
Re: LPN Petition to Take RN Boards
Sorry, but I would not sign the petition for LPNs to be grandfathered in as RNs or for LPNs to take RN boards without further education. I also believe the further education is a good and necessary thing. I was an LPN for 12 years prior to becoming a RN....
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