LPNs in pediatrics?

I have been an LPN for over 16 years and for the majority of these years I have been a Pediactric Nurse both in the Hospital setting as well as in the rural heath setting. At the hospital I currently work at we utilize LPN's on all shifts with RN supervisors. As a LPN in this field I have made the extra effort to make sure that I am as current a most of my RN co-workers in my areas of certification specific to my role as a pediatric nurse.

The hospital I work for used to have a few LPN's in Pediatrics(inpatient) but as those people quit or retired, they replaced them with RN's. It was like having 2 nurses taking care of the same patients. By this I mean that the RN had to "cover" the LPN for things like charting, IV meds, taking doctor's orders, and procedures that they legally couldn't do. It was always a pain for the RN as they would have their own assignment and ultimately be responsible for those of the LPN.
I must say that all of the LPN's I've worked with delivered excellent care and had top notch assessment skills.