Are LPN's going to be phased back into the hospital settings?

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2014

Will LPNs come around in the hospital setting? I don't think they will in my area because we have a ton of nursing schools that pump out RNs each semester. While we have a lot of hospitals for a small city, there are still more RNs than necessary for the area. So no. I don't think we will. I hear things are cyclic but I think this is one thing that won't change in my area. The exception is in psych where they still hire LPNs.

We have LPNs in an ER across town but the other three chose to hire paramedics. Then at least two of the four competing hospitals hire paramedics for the ER too (unsure what the other two hire). Then further south (about 30-45 minutes) I know two out of the three hospitals hire paramedics and the other one just works with patient care techs. Oh, and the county hospital about 15 minutes out of town hires paramedics for their ER. The other three county hospitals about 30 minutes away I do not know what they hire or anything about them.

If 90% of the nursing schools shut down and quit pumping out RNs, then yes the LPNs would come back. However, supply and demand and here there are too many RNs willing to take pay cut or work part time than they need.

RedInScrubs, ASN, RN · Apr 28, 2014

Depends. There is a health care system (they oversee and manage about half the hospitals in the state) that doesn't hire LPNs at all, unless it's in a long-term setting. They only take RNs, and even then, if you have an ADN, they make you sign an agreement that you will go back within a certain period of time for your BSN. They are largely phasing out anything but a minimum of four-year degrees in that health system entirely.

The other larger hospital in my area takes ADNs just fine, and even takes some LPNs on the floor that are finishing their ADN. But that hospital isn't part of the same health care system, and they hire new grads quite a bit, whereas the other hospitals don't.

Currently, as an LPN, I haven't been able to get a job in a hospital setting, because most positions around here prefer RNs. You CAN get in as an LPN, but you usually have to know someone. I rather doubt that LPNs will be phased back into the hospital settings here, unless there was a real issue with staffing (like very rural areas), or hospitals starting cutting costs and started with salaries.

Mdavi · Jun 24, 2014

Thank You! My sentiments exactly!

LTCNS, LPN · Jun 24, 2014

To be honest, as a LPN, I have never had the desire to work in a hospital. A few hospitals here still hire them, but mostly in the capacity of medication reconciliation nurses, HH nurses, clinic nurses or for some type of office job such as a documentation specialist. One large hospital in my area uses LPNs in med-surg., and one rural hospital use LPNs in the ER.

I currently work in a clinic, but it is not part of a hospital.

xxMichelleJxx · Jun 25, 2014

I live in NYC, and don't think LPNs will be phased back into the hospital anytime soon. I know 2 LPNs that I work with - they are much older than me, and they still work at a hospital because I guess they were grand-fathered in.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jun 25, 2014

Here in Georgia, I couldn't get a part-time job when my hospital job began canceling shifts like crazy. That sent me back to school. Once I received my RN license (mind you, I still had my PRN hospital job), I tried to get part-time/PRN work elsewhere and was told that I was just an ASN; they wanted a BSN-prepared nurse. So now, I'm 7 weeks away from that. My old hospital and one of my current hospitals still have LPNs, but they are countable on one hand and once they resign or retire, that position will be eliminated. My second PRN job gave the LPNs here a time limit to complete an ASN program. To date, those who have not yet made it into a nursing program are being terminated since the specified deadline is January 1st, 2015. Those who are in a program have been removed from the system as nurses and classified as techs (with no change in pay, thank God). They had a total of 5 years to make the transition. All of these situations have transpired since the fall of 2009. It may have been occurring sooner, but this is when it began to affect me. Prior to this, I enjoyed 24 years as an LPN and raised 3 kids with it. As an LPN, I didn't realize that RNs were fighting battles of their own with the push for ASN-RNs to obtain BSNs. Some facilities won't even hire 'regular' RNs now unless they have a BSN. Times are changing and if you KNOW you won't be retired before the 'move' hits your area, consider going back to school before you develop that 'at-my-age' mentality.

If any of you can, start working towards your ASN while it is your choice, even if it is to take a CLEP exam here and there to begin knocking out those general education requirements. This can be done without being actually enrolled in any college since CLEP keeps a transcript of your progress with them. The transition will be far less stressful that way. Good luck to you all!!

HazelLPN, LPN · Feb 18, 2016

I was surprised to learn that the NICU at the hospital were I retired from is again hiring LPNs and shift away from using patient care assistant role where the RN takes an expanded assignment with a PCA. Now they are going back to LPNs taking their own assignment with the charge nurse covering what is outside of the scope. I didn't think it would happen anywhere, especially not in a critical care unit. Ironically, it is the only unit in the hospital that is hiring any LPN. There are several VERY strong LPNs still working in that unit, perhaps that is why. Sadly, its all about the money in most places. Cheaper to hire an PCA for less than an LPN and dump more work on the already overworked RN.

freesia29, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2016

Here in Bellingham WA there is only 1 hospital and they used to have LPN's but got rid of them a few years ago. Of course they are wanting BSN preferred and with experience. Something is going to have to change, there is a shortage of nurses, and they are burning out the ones they do have, they need to allow lesser educated nurses back into hospitals.....the BSN's can be in charge and be assigned to more complicated cases, but there is no reason an ADN or LPN cannot care for the rest.

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Feb 24, 2016

Here in Bellingham WA there is only 1 hospital and they used to have LPN's but got rid of them a few years ago. Of course they are wanting BSN preferred and with experience. Something is going to have to change, there is a shortage of nurses, and they are burning out the ones they do have, they need to allow lesser educated nurses back into hospitals.....the BSN's can be in charge and be assigned to more complicated cases, but there is no reason an ADN or LPN cannot care for the rest.

AGREED!

littlelimabean01, LPN · Feb 24, 2016

I think it all depends on the market you work in. Because there are places where you can't find a job and places you can get a job the first day you pass the boards. So specific to my area there seems to be a shortage of experienced nurses. And a lot of nurses specifically RNs that don't want to go to LTC facilities to get the experience to work in hospitals. Where as LPNs are a main component to LTC. And idk how it is where you live but LPNs and RN's make about the same at LTC facilities if not the exact same, so most new grads aren't willing to take a job making the sane as LPN's to get the experience that hospitals require. Every now and then my med surge floor will hire a new grad RN but it isn't often.

I work in LTC (LPN of course) and they pay 16.50 for LPNs and $25 for RNs. We used to have RN supervisors, they just eliminated the night RN supervisors. I was not too happy about that. It was of course a cost saving decision. I just re-entered nursing after being out for nearly 5 years and of course my skill set has become a little weakened. At night we run 4 LPN floor nurses and had a LPN supervisor. Well, it was kind of shaky considering all the others had 2 years of experience or less and myself having 5 years,and trying to re-gain my skill set. I think both nurses compliment each other and like having both around. Before I left nursing I had much more medication knowledge than a few RNs I knew.

All the hospitals in my area (a total of 5) hire LPNs except 1. I have always been intimidated by working in a hospital. I have zero desire to go back to school, but I always looked at it like this I am free to enhance my knowledge and just be an LPN who can run with the best.

ComeTogether, LPN · Feb 26, 2016

The hospitals here in SC are actually starting to only hire BSN's or those who will agree to obtain their BSN within 4 years. All but one have stopped hiring LPNs completely, and the one that still does only hires for the ER.

I'm in an LPN program now, about to start my final semester. The magnitude of information we've learned in the last 11 months is absolutely enormous. We started with 40 students and out of those 40 we have 9 left. (Others have joined from previous attempts and several from the RN program)

The only areas we've not covered are trauma and critical care and for those of us who bridge, we'll skip the first half of the ADN program and have our RN in one year.

I have now completely forgotten what point I was trying to make! Oh my.....time for bed I think.

LPN0430 · Mar 2, 2016

Hi,

I am also an LPN, working on my ADN. I live in Asheboro, and can't seem to find a hospital that will hire LPNs.. Do you mind me asking which one? Thanks:)