Are LPN's being phased out in hospital setting??

[fozziebear]

I have read several articles where the inference was that LPN's are being phased out and replaced with R.N's in the hospital setting. Is this happening? Reason being - the RN needs to leave her own duties to assist the LPN in a clinical skill that LPN's are not trained in. It was suggested that in years to come that L.P.N's would most likely be predominately in the LTC setting. Any thoughts? Is this happening in some states?

[porridge]

I would say that, rather than being phased out, LPNs are being squeezed into increasingly restricted areas of practice, i.e. LTC and jails. Of course, each state is different, but in northern Virginia hospitals are no longer hiring LPNs, and physician's offices are increasingly hiring MA's, becaues they're cheaper than LPNs. I have spoken to many LPNs in the area, and have found they are all seeing this happening too. I know of one LPN who has worked in dialysis for years, and has recently been told to become an RN or lose her job in the near future.

[PALPN4018]

PA hospitals are no longer hiring LPN's on the floors, only in clinic type settings. My first job as anLPN was on a hospital med surge floor. I was trained to do phlebotomy, start IV's and monitor the telemetry unit in addition to administering medications, admitting new patients, etc .

LPN's are being treated with disrespect. In a day and age when there's a nursing shortage LPN's should be a valuable asset to any hospital. LPN's are now being replaced by CNA's and MA's in the office setting.

Very depressing................

[msfuturern]

If there is a "shortage" then how will they be able to phase out LPN's. One would think the powers that be would be happy to have competent nurses be it practical nurses or registered IMHO.

[DManAZRN]

Yep they're gone here. Can't cover 16 patients IV's, pain shots, central lines, documentation, or liability. Can hardly keep up with 8! Apparently the worse the staffing the quicker they lose the RN's, and they need to keep those apparently.

[tamlp]

I REALLY think it depends on your state...LPNs in Tn have their IV certification and are considered very valuable in our hospitals...

[DManAZRN]

Of course they are valuable. I am not implying anything like that. The RN just cannot take on two high ratio assignments worth of pain shots (IVP), central lines, all other IVP meds, "oversee" the LPN (most LPN's don't need much oversight) and still not burn out when people are constantly complaining they aren't getting their IV heroin to management because it's 5 minutes late.

Those RN's will burn out and leave.

This hurts the hospital more (financially) then just dumping the LPN's and hiring a few new grad RN's and then cutting back the CNA ratio as well.

Wow they just saved allot of money!

Money that won't be put back into the staffing, the unit, or even the hospital! It goes in managerial bonuses to Administartion!

Wow, some "non-profit" I'm workin for huh?

PS THERE IS NO SHORTAGE! duh. That is a media/hospital scam to get more nurses graduated in order to begin wage fixing and dropping all wages down to 1980's levels again. Wake up and smell the ...oh forget it.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

my hospital no longer hires LPN's, the LPN's that were employed were replaced by new grad RN's. there are so many new grad RN's out there looking for jobs , and cannot find a hospital job . the hospital i work for fired the LPN's we had (there were only 3 left) and hired new grad RN's. the new grad RN's hire in at a wage that is low $26.00 and are happy to have a job.

i was very angry that the LPN's were fired , they came in and were fired before the shift started. those LPN's were working at the hospital for 5 or more years, it was the bum's rush ! a hospital in our our hospital system fired 20 LPN's 6 mos ago and so i think the LPN's were expecting it.

there are so many new grad RN's looking for jobs, the hospitals can have their pick of who they want hired .. or fired.. in a "right to work state" employees have no rights... it's a shame..

[Nacki, MSN, NP]

That's horrible to come into your job and be fired before the shift started, basically blindsighted without notice or anything. I would be upset too.

[nursedenetra]

in louisiana.. they are not phasing us out.. and we have a wide scope of practice.. in my hospital setting, the only thing i can not do, iv pushes, draw from central/picc line , blood or tpn. other than that i do all nursing care.. s o nope dont see it in my area