Are LPN's being Phased Out?

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I have had other people tell me that going to school to become an lpn would be a waste of time because they are being phased out by CNAs. Is this true?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, Neurology, Rehab.
Actually, that is incorrect. The NYS BON has declared that LPNs in LTC cannot touch a PICC line, period. That means that we must have an RN on all shifts if we have anyone running an IV since we only rarely admit people with peripheral lines. Even in LTC, once the domain of LPNs, the BON is limiting their practice.

That said, we are still hiring LPNs, and a good thing, too, but your opportunities as an LPN are limited in NYS.

This question is for you, are you currently in nursing infomatics?, because I want to get into a program for that. I live here in Northern California and just don't want to go to school for 1-2 years for this MSN degree. I have my BSN. Thank you for your info on this/:nurse:

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Seriously? You have to leave a resident on the floor until they can be assessed by an RN? Wow.

The results of politicking at its finest.

Yup. And I have LPNs who have, oh, 30 years of experience on me and can run rings around me cinically. No matter. I usually just stand there and ask if they want to send them out.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

LPN's are not being phased out. I'm anew LPN that transition from a PCT tech to an LPN at my hospital..But I do have to say where I work they give you tuition assistance so I will be bridge to Rn just because I want to become a forensic nurse..So if they were phasing them out they would of hired me with some type of contract that I will become a RN in some time period or be enrolled in RN school before they promoted me... It's all up to you on where you want to start..if you feel you want to get your LPN first because it's quicker and get paid for learning on the job and then bridge for RN BSN and take your time while in school then do that...It's all about doing what works best for the individual.......;)

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This question is for you, are you currently in nursing infomatics?, because I want to get into a program for that. I live here in Northern California and just don't want to go to school for 1-2 years for this MSN degree. I have my BSN. Thank you for your info on this/:nurse:

I was. Have you experience as a floor nurse? Because that will matter more than a program. Get allied with your IT group, become a person they can trust to understand what they are trying to do (and they can be major orificees. ani?) Anyway. Become a superuser. Then and only then do the MSN and do it online. It is NOT hopping right now. SYstems positions get cut before floor nurses.

:)

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where I did my and got hired (riverside community hospital in socal) they are phasing out lvns but for rns. They are not hiring any lvns and current ones are expected to get their rn or become unemployed. The hospital is also contracted with csusb and are only hiring bsns from there. From what I hear their going for magnet status.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Before phasing anyone out. We already know when the baby boomers retire RN and LPN we will be in a crutch for nurses. The government, state, and the local people know this is going to happen sooner or later. They need to prepare for this happening. We are living longer and most LPN work in LTC, assisted living, and rehab facilities. Some good nurses are LPN's. I dont know what else to say. Just things are going to get worst before getting better.

This could happen, but more likely it will fall into the same category as other past prophecies, of which "LPNs are being phased out" is also one. I would just caution people against assuming it will happen. The birth years of baby boomers are from 1946 to 1964, almost a 20 year span not likely to produce a peak exodus time period. Retirement ages are far more flexible and varied. Opportunites for distance learning make training in new or related fields easier and cheaper. The steep downturn has changed the plans of many who may have retired, but delayed their plans to beef up their retirement accounts.

When California instituted mandatory ratios the demand for nurses was supposed to skyrocket, but this is actually one of the worst hit job markets in the country for new grads. Healthcare reform was supposed to create a whole bunch of demand also-- but like the retirement timetable the phase in will be gradual, and employers will seek ways to eek out as much work from their current workforce as they can before hiring and training new nurses.

I don't want to discourage anyone!! But making career choices based on "common knowledge" without thorough research first can be disastrous!

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.
This could happen, but more likely it will fall into the same category as other past prophecies, of which "LPNs are being phased out" is also one. I would just caution people against assuming it will happen. The birth years of baby boomers are from 1946 to 1964, almost a 20 year span not likely to produce a peak exodus time period. Retirement ages are far more flexible and varied. Opportunites for distance learning make training in new or related fields easier and cheaper. The steep downturn has changed the plans of many who may have retired, but delayed their plans to beef up their retirement accounts.

When California instituted mandatory ratios the demand for nurses was supposed to skyrocket, but this is actually one of the worst hit job markets in the country for new grads. Healthcare reform was supposed to create a whole bunch of demand also-- but like the retirement timetable the phase in will be gradual, and employers will seek ways to eek out as much work from their current workforce as they can before hiring and training new nurses.

I don't want to discourage anyone!! But making career choices based on "common knowledge" without thorough research first can be disastrous!

You have a good point. Im not just thinking about clinical nurses how about nurse educators. I know some good nurses educators now can retire if they like. If we cant hire good nurses it would be a freeze on nurses schools also due to no nurse educators. That is why there suppose to be a waiting list due to educator shortages. I am planning on returning to school for my MSN in education. I would like to be an educator. When I earned my BSN most of the professors appear to be the age of retirement. So we may be doomed all the way around. The younger educators most of them only teaching part-time due to continuing to work as a floor nurse because there is more money as a staff nurse. We can add burnout to some of the problem too. dont know what we are going to do but someone have to come up with some answers with solutions.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

It's good to hear someone say they want to be an educator! I hadn't really thought about the bottleneck being due to a lack of qualified educators entering the field. It's too bad the pay is so low when compared to staff nursing.

I really hope the schools are being forthright with the students now about the amount of demand dropping off so steeply. I didn't mention this in my previous post, but even though LPNs aren't going to be phased out, I am certain that I would not be hired today at either of the places I worked as a new LVN, Children's Hospital and UCLA. In the mid 80s there was one distance learining program. One. It was based in New York and you took a bunch of equivalence tests at sites around the state, then a 5 day clinical proficiency test.

If I had to do it again, I would have gone straight for the RN. If you look at the ratio of extra time spent to get the RN vs the opportunities to specialize and go into advanced practice the RN gets you, it is worth it, I think. Also, it is difficult once you are working to get back in the swing of things. It takes discipline to keep yourself motivated and on track. I really admire all those who have done it!

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

Nursel56: You have a good point/ I am planning on starting MSN program in January. Working the as a staff nurse on the floor is hard work. When I get about 50. It would be time to make some changes. At that age it would be time to slow down just a little or maybe a lot. I love floor nursing dont get me wrong. It just get to the point with me wanting to do something different every three to five years such changing specialties or facilities.

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Like many others I've heard the "phasing out" rumor since LPN graduation 30+ years ago. Is it a rumor now? No, it's a reality. Local hospitals began their LPN shift to less specialized areas about 10 years ago. TMAs came on the scene which added to fewer LPN available positions. Area hospitals usually employ LPNs to work as glorified aides. Dr. offices seem to prefer CMAs as they can do xrays and labs. I've worked 10 years for one of the largest nursing home chains. When I started there were 12 LPNs, now there are 3.

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In a facility here in Las Vegas (Spring Mtn TC) they actually gave all the LPN's a proverbial pink slip.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

In my area LTCs are one type of facility that hires mostly LVNs. At the Care Center my mother was for a short while the Charge Nurse was an LVN. Private duty nursing is another where 95% of the nurses are LVNs here. I would say there are shifts in work areas, and at that depends highly on your city or region or even facilities in the same city.

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