LPN's Are they really being phased out?

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

Some of the advisors at the college i'm attendin are saying that LPN's are being completely phased out. I was advised against the LPN program at ECPI by 2 different advisors even though my heart was set on being a nurse not a MA. Have any of you noticed that LPN's are actually being phased out? I know if I were to switch to the LPN program that I would eventually bridge over to RN. I guess what i'm asking is do you see the phasing out happening in the next couple of years? Thanks.

Amber

Where I live some hospitals are trying to do away with LPNs but keep having to hire them anyway due to the shortage of nurses. Even if hospitals do eventually phase out all LPNs I can't see LTC, clinics, Drs. offices, prisons, rehab centres, doing so. Go to any LTC facility and see how many LPNs there are to RNs. Where I just started working we have something like six LPNs and 1 RN on 2nd shift. If you dont have your heart set on working in a big city hospital then I dont think getting your LPN is a problem. You can always go back to a bridge programme later if you choose to.

I think LVNs in some areas of healthcare are being phased out or they just don't hire anymore of them cause the positions are already filled or the job functions are just too limited. I am from the SF in CA and when I checked listings for LVNs openings there were very few openings from hospitals and clinics. However it seems that some LVNs do get hired to work in long term care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living, retirement homes, VA hospitals, government correctional facilities, jails, etc. I think.

Even though I know that there is a chance that LVNs don't get hired after graduation, I still know that there are LVN to RN programs out there in the even that that happens. That is another good option is the way I see it. However, I still want to start the LVN program this August. Take care and good luck! Let us know what your final decision will be. hee hee.

Oh also, when I went to one clinic in SF, they told me that there were 4 MAs to 2 LVNs. I don't know if that is a good ratio or not... but that was just one clinic.

~829~

I graduated in 1978. I have heard them talk of phasing us out for years. In some area they are like the hospitals. They have this crazy idea that RNs can do it all. Maybe but not as well. I cant beleive the change over the years. We did not used to hear of bedsore in hospitals. Now they get them they dont turn them etc. You see LPN more in the Nursing homes, agencies etc.

me again. Answer to your question is depending what you want to get out of your license. After 38 years I am doing the bridge program. I wnat to go administrative

Specializes in Geriatric Nurse.

Hi---I just found this site and joined. I graduated Practical Nursing School in 1969--and even then LPN's were going to be phased out. WELL, let me tell you I am still going strong !!!

I am now a Charge Nurse/Infection Control Nurse at the Lutheran Services for the Aged.

I am very proud of being an LPN and would not change my status if you payed me. :nurse:

Specializes in med surg, ob, ER, pedi home health,.
In the part of northern California I live in there are no LVN/LPN in the hospitals, only in convalescent homes, but they are still around. Since the govonator has been in office there are not even CNA's in our hospitals...the Rn's to it all, from changing sheets to pushing IV's....

Wow, do yall have patient ratios? Texas still has LVNs and Nurse aids working in the hospital. With the nursing shortage, I dont think they have much choice.

My grandmother was a LVN/LPN and when she was working they were talking about phasing out the LVN. This has been going on forever. Think about it, it isn't profitable. The LVN with IV cert. can almost do as much as the RN, except push meds. and initiate the care plan

Specializes in ICU.

I concur with many of the posters here - I've heard since the mid 90s that LVNs were being phased out in favour of the "professional" nurses (RNs.)

I've also heard that 2 year RNs would become the new LVNs and 4 year RNs would the only "real" nurses.

PERHAPS this could happen if the nursing shortage went away and there were 3 applicants for every 1 position....but when that happens I'll strip naked and streak the hospital.

Truth be told, I've seen the industry lean towards RNs for a while citing the "professional" role of the RN and then I've seen it oscillate to LVNs for the more cost-effective delivery of care. In my opinion, it will continue to vacillate slightly so ad infinitum.

At 23,00 a pop it sounds pretty lucrative to me. For that kind of money I could not imagine anyone phasing anything out. Go for the LPN and if you have to go back later to be an RN to keep on being a nurse do it then . One thing is for certain political change does not happen fast. 20 years ago the ADN program was suppose to be phased out to but as you can see that was a lie and no where near happening even now. Don't worry about politics and do what you dream about doing.

Specializes in ICU, Pediatric, Psychiatric, Med/Surg.

I agree with Drifternurse on this one,,,in 1983 they told us the same thing.

Alot of Doctor's offices wouldnt hire RNs because they didn't need the IV therapy to do the job. Also, Nursing Homes don't usually hire alot of RNs, or Extended Care facilities.

There is a place for all of us. My mom was a wonderful LPN.

You can give a patient all the meds you want, assess them 20 times a day, but if they are not clean and fed, they won't survive for long.

Specializes in Mental Health.

Yeah, I don't think that LPNs will ever be completely phased out because

RNs make more money and will not do some of the jobs that LPNs will...I'd much rather hire an LPN and pay them $17 an hour than to pay an RN to do the same job and pay them $27 an hour or more.

Hospitals are phasing out LPNs that's a fact, because most of hospitals here in Miami don't hire LPNs...However, there are a host of nursing homes, ALFs, and correctional facilities that can run without us. :wink2:

LPNs cannot do a lot of things that RNs can do such as IVs..The first admit assessment..

+ Add a Comment