Why are LPNs only hired in LTC?

[KRODD]

In my area (upstate NY) the only jobs for LPNs I see are in LTC. I know other areas of the country are similar, some different and they do hire LPNs in hospitals and acute care settings.

My question is why where LPNs seemingly phased out of hospitals completly in these areas was it scope of practice limitations or something else?

[LpnChyna]

Probably because we are mainly suppose to deal with STABLE patients and you have to get the experience in order to go on and deal with patients with more serious problems

[KRODD]

Probably because we are mainly suppose to deal with STABLE patients and you have to get the experience in order to go on and deal with patients with more serious problems

Yeah thats what I meant by scope of practice, but its not just hospitals in my area dyalisis centers, homecare etc. seems like all they are looking for is RN or non nurses positions.

[agldragonRN]

i believe it's because of the lpn's scope of practice. you can't iv push. you can't assess, etc..of course the scope differs in each state.

heck hospitals don't like rns with adn also because of the magnet status crap (in my area).

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

I live in Upstate NY by Syracuse. This is not the situation here. There are a plethora of LPN jobs. Home Care agencies do not hire RN's for shifts, just visits or a supervisory role. Insurance companies will not pay RN rates for a case that can be done by an LPN, which covers 99% of the cases avalible. LPN's work all over here. Many RN jobs are avalible in my area too. So it may be what is going on where you live, but not here. LTC jobs are not the only option here.

[caliotter3]

The something else is that RNs are preferred. Easier to sell your product if you can advertise that your providers are higher caliber.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Because the RN has a broader scope of practice, they want to hire someone that can do it all, not just some of it and have to have a second persons (the RN) to do the rest of it. They still hire LVNs in my hospital. I think in smaller ratios (more RNs than LVNs) the LVN can be really valuable; our ER has LVNs. In my department it's not so useful. An LVN could theoretically work in my dept and take couplets, but I work on a LDRP unit and when it gets busy and people are having babies in the hallway we need all the nurses to be able to do labor...