Are LPN's going to be phased back into the hospital settings?

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Apr 7, 2014

There's only one hospital in my area that only hires RNs. The rest always have & never stopped hiring LVNs. Of course they want you to have experience.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2014

At my Texas hospital, there were a few med/surg LVNs who'd been "grandfathered" in. They didn't hire any new ones for the 2+ years that I worked there.

IN California (where I work, at least), it's the same situation.

LVNs at both places are/were also the first to get canceled, floated, etc.

I haven't been a nurse for long, though, so I have no idea what the odds are of things swinging in the opposite direction. As an ADN, I worry about getting phased out, myself.

thenightnurse456 · Apr 7, 2014

Phase them in phase them out again, it's the same circle of nursing life that just keeps going on and on and on.

mfigueroa22 · Apr 7, 2014

Why won't they just keep them. It makes sense financially for hospitals to pay an LPN to do a lot of what RN's do and a cheaper salary. Not that I mind working LTC facilities I'd just like to have options.

thenightnurse456 · Apr 7, 2014

Financially it might make sense, but regardless of how awesome the LPN is, pressure is put on the RN when it comes to patient care when it comes to scope of practice issues. And let's not forget that the US focuses on magnet status and customer satisfaction... For some reason LPNs can't be apart of that *eye roll*

In the UK the LPN equivalent has been irradiated, it's now all bachelor educated registered nursing. It's made things a lot simpler for them, and there's definitely no BSN vs ADN vs LPN drama that happens on allnurses every day.

pookyp, LPN · Apr 7, 2014

Here in south Florida I see the magnet hospitals hiring LPN's again. I saw 3 postings at one particular hospital the other day. For a med surg floor, ICU, and CCU. I was shocked because this hospital phases LPN's out years ago. I see other hospitals looking for them too.

kaydensmom01 · Apr 7, 2014

Why won't they just keep them. It makes sense financially for hospitals to pay an LPN to do a lot of what RN's do and a cheaper salary. Not that I mind working LTC facilities I'd just like to have options.

Maybe they would go for the cheaper route if patient outcomes were the same, but it has been proven that there is a higher infection and mortality rate with LPN's compared to RN's.

BMC Health Services Research | Full text | The association between nurse staffing and hospital outcomes in injured patients

"The association between nurse staffing and hospital outcomes in injured patients, 2012.

A 1% increase in the ratio of licensed practical nurse (LPN) to total nursing time was associated with a 4% increase in the odds of mortality (adj OR 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02-1.06; p = 0.001) and a 6% increase in the odds of sepsis (adj OR 1.06: 1.03-1.10; p

https://massnurses.org/files/file/Le...art_Attack.pdf

in-hospital mortality.Results:

From highest to lowest quartile of RN staffing, in-hospital

mortality was 17.8%, 17.4%, 18.5%, and 20.1%, respectively (

P

0.001 for trend). However, from highest to lowest quartile of LPN

staffing, mortality was 20.1%, 18.7%, 17.9%, and 17.2%, respec-

tively

P

0.001). After adjustment for patient demographic and

clinical characteristics, treatment, and for hospital volume, technol-

ogy index, and teaching and urban status, patients treated in envi-

ronments with higher RN staffing were less likely to die in-hospital;

odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of quartiles 4, 3, and 2 versus

quartile 1 were 0.91 (0.86 – 0.97), 0.94 (0.88 –1.00), and 0.96 (0.90 –

1.02), respectively. Conversely, after adjustment, patients treated in

environments with higher LPN staffing were more likely to die

in-hospital; odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of quartiles 4, 3,

and 2 versus quartile 1 were 1.07 (1.00 –1.15), 1.02 (0.96 –1.09), and

1.00 (0.94 –1.07), respectively.

Conclusions:

Even after extensive adjustment, higher RN staffing

levels were associated with lower mortality.

mfigueroa22 · Apr 7, 2014

Here in south Florida I see the magnet hospitals hiring LPN's again. I saw 3 postings at one particular hospital the other day. For a med surg floor ICU, and CCU. I was shocked because this hospital phases LPN's out years ago. I see other hospitals looking for them too.[/quote']
Same here, I work in a magnet hospital and they phased them out a whole back and now starting to hire them again. It believe it's for a couple of different reasons. One a shortage in nursing and two budget cuts.

Fiona59 · Apr 7, 2014

I've never been phased out of a hospital. But then Canada doesn't have ADNs. Two year PN programme or four year BScN.

The UK gave their SEN (LPN) staff the opportunity to return to school to upgrade their education at no cost. Many UK nurses feel it was a mistake.

Still Standing · Apr 7, 2014

There is one hospital in South Alabama that's always hiring LPN's and there is one that I only noticed 1 LPN working but she's been there for years and another hospital that has a bunch of LPN's working but they are smaller hospitals in this area. I think it's a good opportunity as far as getting the experience in that setting, but they tend to pay them a few dollars less than the nursing homes.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2014

Same here, I work in a magnet hospital and they phased them out a whole back and now starting to hire them again. It believe it's for a couple of different reasons. One a shortage in nursing and two budget cuts.

There is no nursing shortage and while this may work at this facility....many states have limited the LPN's practice so they are not efficient in the acute care setting.

This has been cyclical throughout my entire career....35 years...however I have not seen the reintegration of the LPN which I do believe would be a good thing.