Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
LPN / LVN Corner /

Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,421 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Feb 05, 2008 04:26 PM

Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?


I'm about to start my LPN education in a few weeks. I have a cousin who is an RN and at a recent family gathering she said to me, "You might have a hard time finding a job after graduation. Hospitals aren't hiring LPNs anymore." I did some research on a couple of career websites and it appears that she's right. Most of the job postings for LPNs seem to be in nursing homes. I guess there's nothing wrong with that...but I had kind of pictured myself working at one of the major hospitals in the area. What's up with them not hiring LPNs?


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply
15 Comments
No. 1
Old Feb 05, 2008, 04:38 PM

Default Re: Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?
Because LPN's are a more limited in their scope of practice and must practice under an RN supervision.
Top
 
No. 2
from Fiona59
Old Feb 05, 2008, 04:49 PM

Default Re: Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?
You need to research information for your own state and not go by what you "hear".

Where I work in Canada, PNs are everywhere in the healthcare system. We work under our own license and not under the supervision of an RN.

Research is the key to answering your question.
Top

2 Readers Gave Kudos
 
No. 3
from greatan
Old Feb 05, 2008, 05:25 PM

Default Re: Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?
In my job search for the last 4 months since I graduated from LPN school I have slowly watched all the hospital jobs disintegrate. There are only 2 major hospitals in my area. One only hired LPNs at their satellite hospitals. Now in the last few weeks they have removed all LPN positions and are calling them some kind of clinical technican. These technician positions state that this employee can insert and remove catheters, take vitals, do simple dressing changes, feed, change, bathe and do adls. The other major hospital stopped hiring LPNs at the main hospital and the satellite hospitals are offering LPN jobs to internal applicants only. All this after I went to school for a year. This is causing everyone to flock to LTC which then is allowing these employers to be a little pickier about who they hire and it is now harder to get in than it was before. Good luck with school.
Top
 
No. 4
Old Feb 05, 2008, 06:53 PM

Default Re: Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?
I have not experienced this difficulty, but am hearing that many LPNs in other areas are. I work in an area in New York where at least 5 of the major hospitals are still hiring LPNs. I do think that is is best to check out the area you reside in, as well as others on the outskirts to determine if this will be a fact for you. In case this does become a reality, I have been taking other continuing education courses to be able to compete for jobs. Good luck!
Top
 
No. 5
from Young28
Old Feb 05, 2008, 07:28 PM
Updated Feb 05, 2008 at 07:33 PM by Young28

Default Re: Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?
I feel the same, in my area we only can look to LTC for employment and it can get really hard to get a job in a facility if you don't have a good reference.

I'm currently working towards my RN but I think it is getting really hard to keep employment. Most nursing homes are always understaffed and you have to beg for meds.
Top
 
No. 6
Old Feb 06, 2008, 01:55 AM

Default Re: Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?
There are LPN/LVN hospital jobs in my area, but I prefer to work at the nursing homes due to the higher pay.

Most nursing homes in my area pay LPNs/LVNs between $18 and $24 hourly. I recently accepted a job at a local nursing home with a pay rate of $23 per hour.

On the other hand, hospitals in my area pay LPNs/LVNs poorly. The major hospitals in my metropolitan area pay LPNs/LVNs between $13 and $16 hourly.
Top
 
No. 7
Old Feb 06, 2008, 07:31 AM

Default Re: Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?
I see. But aren't the other people that they hire like CNAs or Medical Assistants working under the RN's supervision also?
Top
 
No. 8
from jean333
Old Feb 06, 2008, 09:54 AM

Default Re: Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?
The area I live in seem to slowly be phasing out LPN's in hospitals. There are VERY few positions in hospitals except the VA hospital. On the other hand there a plenty of jobs in doctors offices,nursing homes, private duty. I work in a doctors office but I really want to work at a hospital so I am going back to school for my RN next year(hopefully)

Jean
Top
 
No. 9
Old Feb 06, 2008, 12:07 PM

Default Re: Why aren't hospitals hiring LPNs?
Originally Posted by babycakes78 View Post
I see. But aren't the other people that they hire like CNAs or Medical Assistants working under the RN's supervision also?
Yes, these people are under the RN's supervision.

However, it comes down to dollars and cents. The bean-counters have decided that it is more cost effective to hire aides and techs to do the basic nursing tasks such as inserting foley catheters, taking vital signs, drawing blood (venipuncture), and obtaining fingersticks for blood sugars, in addition to baths, showers, toileting, feedings, etc. A tech or aide at a hospital can do these things for significantly less pay than an LPN/LVN.

Some hospitals have decided to save money by hiring RNs and aides only.
Top
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
219 members
2,412 guests
2,631

2

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

6

Possible breakthrough regarding MS

63

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

10

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts

6

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't

4

Air Force RN Found Not Guilty

7

California Imposes Stricter Rules Regarding Drug Abuse In...

48

Are older nurses being forced out of the profession?

3

An outlook in California?

8

Australian surgeons successfully separate conjoined twins



1

Society Needs Care Too

12

Why am I doing this, anyway?

2

Nurse Heal Thyself

9

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

17

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

16

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

37

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

20

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

19

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

24

Error and Attitude

10

It's Just a Shower





Sponsored Links

Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: