Are LPN/LVNs a dying breed?

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Hi all....

I know this topic has probably been around before, but I was hoping some of you seasoned LPNs could comment on what you think about the future of LPN/LVN nursing. I'm planning to enter LVN school this June, and am both excited and apprehensive! I do plan to eventually earn my RN, but earning a paycheck within about a years' time sure sounds good.

Also, what are your experiences with stress in nursing? I used to be a high school English teacher, but got out of that after three years because of UNBELIEVABLE expectations placed on my by parents/administrators, and the fact that I felt I was little more than a glorified babysitter....

I know these topics are nothing new to you, but I'm a newbie and anything helps! Cheers y'all.

Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

Where in California are you?? I am in SoCal, and I know Mission Hospital is hiring LVNs and also lots of hospitals in LA, for different units....L/D, ER, etc...

In northern California LVN are not being hired at the hospitals. Has been this way for a while.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

there is no way lvn's will ever go away unless someone invents a licensed robot to working the nursing homes or they come up with enough rn's to cover it.

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

yes LTC will be there, but I am affraid the day will come when that will be are only option as an LVN. MY nursing instructors said the day will come soon were LVN's will only be used in LTC, a place many dont want to work.

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That is just awful that they are phasing them out....so do they think RNs will then pick up the slack?? You can't pay RNs to do most of the jobs, and they can save money by hiring LPNs to do the work!! Ridiculous!!! But, I always told my hubby when he was in the Air Force, that if a woman ran things, we would be a richer country and have far less waste!!

:)

Oh, well, I suppose if I want to work somewhere other than Med/Surg or LTC, I will have to get my RN??

Thanks for the info

Deb

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

there are a lot of hospitals in the country that still use lvn's and not to mention the rehab hospitals. all of the hospitals in my area are all rn one week then can't fill the spots so they revert back to lvn's...i laugh at the thought of making bsn entry level.. hell ,we cant even get enough adn rn's to cover the hospitals so places like ny (or so i read in another thread) is looking at making the entry a bsn... right. i do agree that lvn's are being pushed in the direction of ltc, but once again where will the hospitals get the extra nurses... baby boomer's retiring and not enough nursing instructors to go around... my personal opinion is to lay some heavy focus on assisting lvn's with obtain their rn license...anyone tried to get into rn school as a lvn...impossible..most schools have 10-15 slots open per semester ..crazy. lvn's seem to overlooked when it comes down to increasing nurses in america...but i digress ....

yes ltc will be there, but i am affraid the day will come when that will be are only option as an lvn. my nursing instructors said the day will come soon were lvn's will only be used in ltc, a place many dont want to work.
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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

upgrading to RN from lvn ismvery difficult in northern california. The waiting time is anywhere from 3 - 4 years. Yes a girl has waited this long after doing 2 years of prerequsites.

We need more nursing instructors and schools that focus on lvn - RN if they want LVN's out of nursing then give us more options to get that god almight RN.

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I think there alot of hospitals that are trying to phase out LPN/LVNs. And our main work places do tend to be LTC facilities, DRs offices, prisons, etc.However, there is to big of a demand for nurses tp completely phase out LPN/LVNs. We may not be able to do as much as RNs but we can take alot of the work load an RN does have. We are less expensive than RNs to hire and are there for more cost effective. Basically I think there are too many places we can be utilized for us to be phased out.

I think hospitals would be smart to start utilizing LPN/LVNs in a more patient care/ cost effective manner. For instance why not have one RN over over a couple of LPNs who have an aide or two working with them. Each RN could have say 6-10 patients with each LPN having 3-6. IN my state the only thing a LPN can't do is like the others. No IVs, no pronouncing dead,and that is about it. So the main thing the RN would have to do is the IVs, care plans. What do you all think?? Does that not make any sense?? Ideas, thoughts, criticisms (be gentle I bruise) welcome.

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.
That is just awful that they are phasing them out....so do they think RNs will then pick up the slack?? You can't pay RNs to do most of the jobs, and they can save money by hiring LPNs to do the work!! Ridiculous!!! But, I always told my hubby when he was in the Air Force, that if a woman ran things, we would be a richer country and have far less waste!!

:)

Oh, well, I suppose if I want to work somewhere other than Med/Surg or LTC, I will have to get my RN??

Thanks for the info

Deb

The idea is to eliminate LVN's from the hospitals, pay RN's more, and hire a CNA to do the "dirty work" for the RN.

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Agreed!!!!!

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

well she is doing quite good cause ive been trying to get in rn school since 1994 and then after becoming a lvn in 1999, i tried the transition programs...

long time and only have my lvn license and a aas in liberal arts to show for it...

upgrading to rn from lvn ismvery difficult in northern california. the waiting time is anywhere from 3 - 4 years. yes a girl has waited this long after doing 2 years of prerequsites.

we need more nursing instructors and schools that focus on lvn - rn if they want lvn's out of nursing then give us more options to get that god almight rn.

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Have you all noticed that "they" have been "phasing out" LPN/LVNs since the 1960's? If "they" are gonna do it, "they" are sure taking their sweet time bout it. :trout:

Mike

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.
Have you all noticed that "they" have been "phasing out" LPN/LVNs since the 1960's? If "they" are gonna do it, "they" are sure taking their sweet time bout it. :trout:

Mike

Well a search of Kaiser, Sutter, and UC Davis, the main hospitals in your area...will show you that the phase out is in full effect.

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