Are LPN/LVNs a dying breed?

[Trophywife81]

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.

[Fiona59]

You've just described how PNs work at my hospital here in Canada. We work under our own license and insurance. The only difference between the RN and myself on my floor is the blood hanging and due to facility policy only RNs can start and hang IV medications. Oh and $12/hr.

[dschueler]

You've just described how PNs work at my hospital here in Canada. We work under our own license and insurance. The only difference between the RN and myself on my floor is the blood hanging and due to facility policy only RNs can start and hang IV medications. Oh and $12/hr.

Will that even buy a tank of gas?? Not here!! Is it worth even getting up to go to work for? In and Out Burger here starts at $10.25/hr...no experience!!

WOW!

[Fiona59]

Nah, the difference in pay rates is $12/hr. New grad PN starts at $17+change. Thats for unionized hospital/facility nurses. It's lower for both RNs and PNs in the private sector (mainly Dr. offices and medicentres)

[nursingstudent30]

I am in LPN school. Here in Louisiana...the demand for LPN's has gotten really big since hurricane Katrina. In certain areas like ER, ICU....they are the unit secretaries...so they can take orders...they dont use them on the floor. We can do most things...except hang blood and IV pushes. My instructor has been teaching for almost 30 years...and she says the same thing...they have been trying to get LPN's out for years....and she doesnt think it will happen anytime soon. Though in the House of Representative RIGHT NOW....is a new bill to allow CNA's to take a course to be able to administer meds. They say its the lobbyist with the LTC facilities that are pushing it because of cheaper pay!! The sad part is that the LPN/RN is still going to be responsible....because the CNA wont be licensed!! I am not sure I want to be responsible for something as important as medication administration that another person has done!!! Who knows what will be waiting when I graduate next May!!!

Cathy

[dschueler]

I am in LPN school. Here in Louisiana...the demand for LPN's has gotten really big since hurricane Katrina. In certain areas like ER, ICU....they are the unit secretaries...so they can take orders...they dont use them on the floor. We can do most things...except hang blood and IV pushes. My instructor has been teaching for almost 30 years...and she says the same thing...they have been trying to get LPN's out for years....and she doesnt think it will happen anytime soon. Though in the House of Representative RIGHT NOW....is a new bill to allow CNA's to take a course to be able to administer meds. They say its the lobbyist with the LTC facilities that are pushing it because of cheaper pay!! The sad part is that the LPN/RN is still going to be responsible....because the CNA wont be licensed!! I am not sure I want to be responsible for something as important as medication administration that another person has done!!! Who knows what will be waiting when I graduate next May!!!

Cathy

Are you kidding me??? That is so insane!!! Secretary? Bite my bigg ole' butt!!! Also, the CNA's can pass meds???? Why not let the janitor do it too?? ANYONE can pass meds, but why even have LPNs at all?? They are called nurses for a reason....why not use them as a nurse?? I think the whole reason we go to school for a year or longer is so RNs can depend on us as nurses on their license and a doctor too.....but a CNA, not my license!! Who will allow that?? Not me!! Remind me if I don't get my RN to not move to LA!!

Thanks, and I am sooo sorry, they are cutting their arm's off in spite of themselves, and tying the other one behind their back to boot!! Its awful!

They need nurses down there more than ever, and they can hire an anyone to be a secretary, so why an LPN?? Why go through the training if they aren't going to use you??

I suppose I am going to get my RN asap!!

Take care, I am boiling, can ya tell???:angryfire

[BigB]

If CNA's get to pass meds then LVN's are a dead classification. From a financial stand-point facilities would save a lot of money but this move would destroy the livelyhood of LVN's. I do think we will see something like CNA's passing meds and med techs in the future with all the baby boomers reaching retirement at a record pace. There is not enough staff to handle to load in LTC now in northern California, I am scared to think what it will look like in 4 - 5 years.

[dschueler]

If CNA's get to pass meds then LVN's are a dead classification. From a financial stand-point facilities would save a lot of money but this move would destroy the livelyhood of LVN's. I do think we will see something like NA passing meds and med tehs in the future with all the baby boomers reaching retirement at a record pace. There is not enough staff to handle to load in LTC now in northern California, I am scared to think what it will look like in 4 - 5 years.

I am not scared for our livelihood, but I am quite certain LPNs won't be as useable as they should be. We can do IVs and are trained to perform highly technical procedures, but for some reason, RNs see us a threat to their jobs as perhaps CNAs might be to ours?? I don't think. I think there is enough sick people to go all around, and with all the people living longer and more of us every year....then all the hospitals that have to close down wards due to under staffing ought to get their heads out of their a$$'s and realize they are throwing money out the door by the patients they cannot accomodate due to the nurses who are qualified to take care of them, but won't hire them.

I feel so discriminated against, and I haven't even started or graduated school yet!!!

Oh well, Cie La Vie!!

RN School I suppose to save my job!!

[BigB]

Yes there will be jobs out there for LVN's but it seems that our options keep shrinking every year. I hear "don't worry you (LVN's) will always have LTC." Well, I for one don't want to work in LTC ever again. At least not in its current state. California seems to be one of the most limiting areas for LVN's where we have been kicked out of the hospitals and dr. offices (Med.Assistants rule them). My instructor in LVN school kepts telling us to get our RN..."don't settle as an LVN or you will be stuck working in a nursing home the rest of your lives." Sure enough what did I see in the nursing homes while I worked there as a CNA??...LVN's who talked about how they wished they would of got their RN licenses years ago. Some complained that they were too old to go back to school. Some of the long term LVN's were trying to get there pre-reqs done to get into an RN program.

While California is generally a bad place to work for an LVN, it also has a LVN job that is an absolute GOLD MINE..if you happen to live near one of two deptarment of mental health (DMH) facilities. DMH pays there MTA/LVN up to $36 an hour with amazing health benfits and the best retirment in the nation! This is much better then what RN's get around the country. The problem is of course the position is limited to people in the area. I would like to see LVN's getting paid better across the country and respected more.

[dschueler]

yeah, i have read about the center jobs, but i have no desire to do that at all!! i don't know about northern ca, but socal has lots of jobs for lvns, and i am not going to freak over it. i am going to be a marketable nurse, and i will either find a job or not, and if someone doesn't want to hire me, oh well....next!

i am not giving in, and here are some jobs i saw on craig's list:

ply to: [email protected]

date: 2007-06-05, 4:00pm pdt

hi,

my name is glenn miller and i am a recruiter for mga healthcare. i am in need of specialty nurses in the areas of labor and delivery, med/surge, icu, and er. if you are looking for a travel assignment in the orange county area or just looking for per diem work please email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 714-647-0300. thanks.

rns/lvns/psych techs/rpts - $500-$1,000 completion bonus!!!

medical staffing agency has immediate openings for rns,lvns,psych techs,rpts, licensed in the state of ca, or/license reimbursement.

assignments are with ca department of corrections, upcoming assignments in psych and other areas.

we offer:

•private housing or stipend

•travel expenses of arrangements, rental car

•optional health insurance

considering relocation? this could be the ideal time to make that change you've been seeking!

professional care health services is 'the approachable company', and we're here to assist you in every way that we can, to make your career everything that you want it to be!

mona - senior recruiter

professional care health services

~ phone calls welcomed ~

office: [phone]

posting id: 314944604

• compensation: $35-45-nurses-$21-25-psych techs-other disciplines tba
  
• principals only. recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
  
• please, no phone calls about this job!
  
• please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

i am a recruiter for mga healthcare and we are in desperate need for all nurses. we are looking for hard working nurses who are willing to work at different facilities throughout orange county, both part-time and full-time. mga healthcare has contracts with nearly 30 different facilities through the orange county area and we are consistently adding facilities on a yearly basis. if you are interested in picking up money and extra shifts please contact john at 714-647-0300. some of the benefits of working with mga healthcare are:

• set your own schedule

* gain experience at numerous facilities

* high pay

* all shifts available

* 12 hours/ 8 hour shifts

* 1 day a month or 7 days a week

* sign-on bonuses

* referral bonuses

* travel assignments

* master bookings

* next day pay without having to pick up your check

* direct deposit

we are looking for certified and licensed individuals that are ready to work now, and accepting applications for future employment.

feel free to contact me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. we at mga are extremely dedicated to finding you work not only at a facility of your choosing but also at an agreeable rate. we believe in the “performance based” pay scale, so give me a call, and ask me whatever questions you wish.

thank you,

john goreil

mga healthcare

1820 e. first st.

suite #104

santa ana, ca 92705

http://www.mgahealthcare.com

reply to: [email protected]

date: 2007-06-05, 4:10am pdt

[color=#333399]we are a world renown surgical center and our surgeon won the top surgeon award for 2004-2005 in curing excessive sweating. [color=#cc9900]we are currently seeking lvn's for pacu. if you are an lvn with some background in this area, or are a fast learner, we would like to talk to you.

we have additional surgical services that we render at this clinic for which we are also world renown, so this would be a great place to gain experience as well. send your resume to us for further consideration & to list your salary requirements.

our world famous outpatient surgery is looking for lvn's for pre-op. our patients fly from all over the world to our surgical center in santa ana. if you are an lvn & would like to grow with our company, then send your resume to the attention of paul for further consideration.

reply to: [email protected]

date: 2007-06-04, 4:47pm pdt

lvn needed for 12 hour shifts 4-5 days/wk in fullerton.

great benefits including ot, sameday pay, and full medical/dental/vision/401k.

call to set up an interview or fax your resume.

this position is open immediately.

licensed required: lvn

experience required: 1 year +

call charles @ [phone]

fax: [phone]

maxim has immediate openings for part-time and full-time lvns and rns in the oc area. working for maxim will give you the opportunity to be apart of one of the fastest growing healthcare companies in the nation and the experience of providing skilled nursing to patients in their homes. we offer flexible hours, a comprehensive benefit package for our full-time employees, and referral compensation to our nurses who refer a friend.

new medical spa opening in orange county. we need full time rn's and lvn's to help us with the procedures. email resume and i will contact for an interview.

just a sample of jobs i found, and there are tons more listings....for lvns/lpns

[BigB]

From MGA here :

ATTENTION RN’s – LVN’s Long-Term Care Openings

LVNs up to 27/hr

RN up to 40/hr

Lots of shifts available in skilled facilites. We pay more and are more focused on customer service to our nurses. Call us right away 916-646-3100 for an immediate interview. If you have all your shot records you can start immediately. Background and drug screen clearance happens within 48 hours of your interview. We pay on an optional instant pay debit card (or choose checks or direct deposit). Take your money out of any ATM after each shift.

MGA Healthcare is seeking qualified candidates in the Sacramento Area for openings in area nursing homes/ long-term care facilities

We offer Full-Time and Part-Time work with competitive pay rates.

Flexible schedules available, work one day a month or 5 days a week. Write your own schedule. Did you just find out that you're available for an extra shift this week? Give us a call anytime 24/7 and let us schedule you with one of our facilities. Sigining up with us will only take an hour or two of your time, won't cost you a dime, and will only mean more great work options for you!

Most of these agencies do not offer health benefits and the ones that do have horrendous "benefits.". There offer no retirement and a wage of $27/ hr is very low by agency standards, especially since these companies generally don't take out taxes.

I would avoid maxim like the plague having known many nurses that worked with them that had bad experiences. Agency work for a new grad is generally a bad idea imo.

[dschueler]

The one I really liked was the PACU or pre op job for the plastic surgeon. I wonder what they would pay? I used to work PACU as a volunteer at the base hospital, and loved it. I also love plastic surgery, and would do a day surgery center job as well.

:)

Anything except home health and LTC

[BigB]

The one I really liked was the PACU or pre op job for the plastic surgeon. I wonder what they would pay? I used to work PACU as a volunteer at the base hospital, and loved it. I also love plastic surgery, and would do a day surgery center job as well.

:)

Anything except home health and LTC

I think you would do great there especially with your experience in that field. Patients could benefit from someone who has actually had work done caring for them. It gives a different, much needed perspective.