why are there still LPN courses?

[johnsboo]

After working as a CNA in a hospital for several years, and now being a student nurse going for my RN, I am wondering what the LPN position really does for anyone. I worked in long term care when I first became a CNA. After working in the hospital as a Medication Technician, and CNA/PCT, and now a Nurse Tech, I am wondering what LPN status really is. Because in the hospital, the CNA is given specialized training to do the very thing that LPN's are doing in the LTC facilities. Probably why none of the hospitals in my area use LPN's. CNA's are cheaper, and are trained to do the same thing as the LPN.

Many of the LPN's that were charge nurses in LTC did not have the management skills necessary to be charge nurses. Not to say many were very good with the staff and patients, but that seemed to be on a personal level of character, not something taught in nursing school.

Other than long term care, is there even a market for LPN's anymore? I have several LPN's in my RN course that are saying it was a waste of their time to go for the LPN, just to have to turn around and get the RN degree to get a job outside of home health or LTC.

Does anyone know what other opportunities there are for LPN's? I know the LTC pay rate for the LPN, is equal or in some cases even less than what CNA in a hospital is getting. And what about incentive programs for degree courses for LPN's to upgrade their education in a hospital. That needs to be addressed as well. Just something that I am seeing in the real world and would like an answer to.

[txredheadnurse, BSN, RN]

I learned my management skills while serving in the military. Actually that is also where I went to LVN(LPN) school so I learned a whole slew of things that have served me well through the years. Anyone can be taught to supervise, fewer can learn to manage effectively and only a handful can lead. Degree or lack there of is not the determining factor in my opinion.

[maxcat]

Well, I'm just going for my CNA now, in a LTC facility, and due to geographic circumstances, the nearest and most practical thing for me to do is get my LPN first. It's cheap, and it can even be done part time in 2 years, for those who need a "lighter" schedule. As a mother of 2 young kids with a very busy husband, this may be the route I need to take (and I fully plan on getting an RN... I already have a bachelors and an MS in another field...so it's not as if I'm not academically driven...). I can then do an LPN-RN on line, or do it later on at the nearest LPN-RN program on a campus (90 minutes away). So, I am glad it's still around-it will be decent pay in my neck of the woods, and good experience for an RN program. But our hospital and LTC facility do hire LPN's.

[Luving Nursing]

I entered the profession 13 yrs ago as a CNA. I went to LPN school and went on to get my RN. My experience as a LPN was very relevant. It taught me to everything I needed to be a successful RN. As an LPN, I worked in a hospital (just as they still do) on a med-surg unit. I pushed medications with certain limits, hung blood products, trained new RNs, and made a good salary. Some of the best nurses I know are LPNs or have an LPN background. I never worked in LTC.

[Grace Oz]

This same old argument has been around here in Australia for the past 40 years. Here the LPN equavilent -or close to it because they are quite different in many respects- is the Enrolled Nurse.

It is my firm belief that there is, always was and always will be, a place and a need for a multi tiered nursing profession.

People study for whichever qualification for many and varied reasons.

When the different levels work together cohesively to serve those in their care,- and trust me, as healthcare providers, we are servants, so don't get carried away with your own self importance and ego regardless of what level you're serving at! - the outcome for those being served is optimal and achieves the desired results more often than not.

When there's bickering and dysfunction amongst people as to who is better qualified, who can do what ... or not, what better opportunities are open to those with higher qualifications etc etc etc blah blah blah ......it only serves (There's that word, again! :)) to polarise the very people who need to pull together as a group to attain an outcome which is beneficial to all.

Many a healthcare institution has, to it's detriment and great regret, ceased to employ certain levels of healthcare workers in order to "save money", provide only degree qualified staff, etc etc ........ many of those same facilities soon made an about turn in order to correct their mistaken beliefs that they could operate both fiscally and safely with reduced but only highly qualified staff.

I'm no expert, I do not have the magic wand which could solve the discrepencies,flaws, inadequacies and dysfunction which permeates today's nursing workforce.

But my time spent in it, and the experiences gained, convince me there will always be a place for a multi tiered profession.

[Eliseinalaska]

I am an RN who works regularly with LPNs. Our LPNs are excellent nurses whose work is very relevant. They may not have had all the humanities/ management courses that a higher level nurse has taken, but the education they have is very patient focused and appropriate for nursing. When I'm working AC/ER and an LPN is working LTC, I do the assessments and give the IV meds. There's a whole lot left for an LPN to do that a CNA can't (at least here). Besides, I'd rather work with a new RN who's worked as a CNA and an LPN first than one who's never taken care of patients outside of clinicals.

[kieta2006]

I for one truely agree that nurses are not being use as they should be im a med tech in a RCF they have us doing so much office work its not funny. I heard they only came up with med techs to down size which i believe is a mistake due to we are not only doing office work which includes Faxing dr orders ,admission,filing,charting, write uplabs,mail,change overs,make sure dr signs all papers,insulin shots, make beds, tedhose,vital signs,pass meds, asst. residents been at my job for about 13yrs now have seen so much changes going on it look like every day its something new their not looking @ the big pic which is the passing out the right medication over us is a very important job

[alexg524]

CNAs who have been caught doing the nurses job, because "in their country they are a 'nurse'", have caused the assigned licensed nurse to get terminated.

What the heck is that suppose to mean!? I am sorry but most cna's I know are from the United States of America lol. I'm sorry but I feel like that was suppose to be kind of racist/prejudice in a general and indirect way, meaning most CNAs are from a foreign country or something.... Wow lol...

I know a lot of CNAs who were trained to draw blood and other things but they just can't give meds. I've heard that they are replacing LPN's with medical assistants and are trying to train LPNs to be RNs, but only in hospitals. There are many different places where LPNs are needed, and an LPN would get paid a whole lot better somewhere other than a hospital.

[wsp4905]

What the heck is that suppose to mean!? I am sorry but most cna's I know are from the United States of America lol. I'm sorry but I feel like that was suppose to be kind of racist/prejudice in a general and indirect way, meaning most CNAs are from a foreign country or something.... Wow lol...

I know a lot of CNAs who were trained to draw blood and other things but they just can't give meds. I've heard that they are replacing LPN's with medical assistants and are trying to train LPNs to be RNs, but only in hospitals. There are many different places where LPNs are needed, and an LPN would get paid a whole lot better somewhere other than a hospital.

For the most part, Medical Assistants are replacing a lot of LPN positions in doctor's offices. Because they can perform pretty much all the same tasks for less wage. A lot of specialty docotors still employ still prefer LPN, because of additional training.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

not that I am saying a CNA is the same a an LVN. But how come a CNA with enough hours and experience in CA can challenge the LVN and take the NCLEX for LVN? How are they getting these skills if CNAs can not do what LVNs do? (not a rhetorical question, I really don't understand how they can do this)

[caliotter3]

not that I am saying a CNA is the same a an LVN. But how come a CNA with enough hours and experience in CA can challenge the LVN and take the NCLEX for LVN? How are they getting these skills if CNAs can not do what LVNs do? (not a rhetorical question, I really don't understand how they can do this)

This is a question for the CA BVNPT. You are not the only person who can not see the sense in the practice.