Are LPN's being phased out?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I know people have been saying for years that everyone would need a BSN and LPN's would be a thing of the past, etc. Well, so far, where I work (a large, magnet hospital) there are still many, many nurses without a BSN -but there are veeery few LPN's. I attended a meeting last week where my supervisor was lecturing RNs about signing off on LPN's charts and she mentioned that there are very few LPN's and even mentioned that some of those LPN's are about to graduate to be RN's. I overheard other RNs in the cafeteria complaining about LPN's basically saying, "what's the point when we have to go behind them."

They are definitely being phased out where I work. They aren't hiring LPN's anymore although the ones who are there aren't getting fired or anything. What is it like where you work? Do you think LPN's have a future?

LPN in the UH Hospital system in Ohio and yes, they are phasing us out. Even though they are not letting go LPNs, they are encouraging them to go get their RN by tution assistance. Im PRN so I get nothing. I havent had an assignment on Med/Surg for the last 3 months even though they do put me in the ICU to act as Aide/ward clerk. They do use some LPNs as office nurses and homehealth but that is about it.

Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.
LPN in the UH Hospital system in Ohio and yes, they are phasing us out. Even though they are not letting go LPNs, they are encouraging them to go get their RN by tution assistance. Im PRN so I get nothing. I havent had an assignment on Med/Surg for the last 3 months even though they do put me in the ICU to act as Aide/ward clerk. They do use some LPNs as office nurses and homehealth but that is about it.

As a recently retired LPN who took her own patient assignment in the ICU for over 40 years, it is an insult to make you work as a unit clerk or CNA.... unless you are getting LPN pay! I know Ohio is more restrictive for LPNs than where I practiced, but you're still a nurse. When we would get a float nurse from the floor in the ICU, she/he would rarely take her own assignment, but instead take an expanded assignment with an experienced ICU nurse....such as three patients on 1:2 care or simply serve as an extra pair of hands without an assignment but still use her skills as an RN or an LPN. The floor nurse couldn't give any critical care drugs or touch the drips, but could give the PO meds, do some treatments, help chart the assessment, etc. I would hope they would do the same for you.

If an LPNs are no longer useful in the acute care settings, then they need to close down the LPN programs and grandfather the remaining experienced LPN with full scope of practice so they can finish their careers with dignity and not be a burden on the RN.

as a recently retired lpn who took her own patient assignment in the icu for over 40 years, it is an insult to make you work as a unit clerk or cna.... unless you are getting lpn pay! i know ohio is more restrictive for lpns than where i practiced, but you're still a nurse. when we would get a float nurse from the floor in the icu, she/he would rarely take her own assignment, but instead take an expanded assignment with an experienced icu nurse....such as three patients on 1:2 care or simply serve as an extra pair of hands without an assignment but still use her skills as an rn or an lpn. the floor nurse couldn't give any critical care drugs or touch the drips, but could give the po meds, do some treatments, help chart the assessment, etc. i would hope they would do the same for you.

yes, i do get lpn pay. otherwise i wouldnt do it. and yes when they say they have me as an aide, i say "no, you have me as a nurse, but i will help you out as an aide." i can do things under my scope of nursing. sometimes they act like they are afraid to bother me with doing stuff like giving meds or insulin shots. i can also do peripheral ivs. i always volunteer my help, cuz otherwise, im usually just sitting there waiting to answer the phone.

if an lpns are no longer useful in the acute care settings, then they need to close down the lpn programs and grandfather the remaining experienced lpn with full scope of practice so they can finish their careers with dignity and not be a burden on the rn.

i do find it sad that we are a burden on the rns these days. and im always made to feel that way with some of the nurses working on med/surg. the icu nurses think they are burden on me. lol i just love the experience of it all because my full time job is in home health and i get no experience there.

Just last week an Akron, Ohio area hospital eliminated 70 LPN positions immediately. Some of the LPN's had worked there over 20 years. The hospital claims they won't see a deficit in the quality of client care by this decision. Really??? So those 70 nurses were standing around and not contributing anything to the workload? That's almost laughable.

Just last week an Akron, Ohio area hospital eliminated 70 LPN positions immediately. Some of the LPN's had worked there over 20 years. The hospital claims they won't see a deficit in the quality of client care by this decision. Really??? So those 70 nurses were standing around and not contributing anything to the workload? That's almost laughable.

And is there a union involved in any of this?

I don't know about a union. All I can say is that I received great care from the LPN's at this facility, and at times they were more caring than the RN's.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I do not think this should be turned into a "LPN vs RN" thing. What I think, and I could be wrong- is that in urban areas, yes. Lpn's are being phased out. In rural areas- no they are not. I live in a small town rural area way up north in WI and there are alot of offers for LPN's. Yes, most are in LTC, but as a LPN, did any of us really think we would be in ICU or ER as an LPN in a rural area? I dont think so. Like I said, I could be wrong.....

Is'nt this a recurring question that keeps coming up every few years? I recently had an interview at a clinic and she said all they are looking for are LPN's right now and they don't even care if you go for your RN as its not needed there. Of course it does seem like they are phasing us out in hospitals more and more, esp. in the bigger cities.

And is there a union involved in any of this?

Just learned,according to some comments on the article, that the RNs are unionized but the LPNs are not.

I don't know about a union. All I can say is that I received great care from the LPN's at this facility, and at times they were more caring than the RN's.

And how many tasks did you require done? Remember, any critical thinking requires a different set of initials:confused:

Maybe there was a grievance filed re: non-bargaining unit employees doing bargaining unit work.

Been workin since the 80's. During times of too many nurses for the jobs available. I've seen LPN's pushed out of Hospital Nursing. Then the pendulum swings back...when there aren't enough nurses. I've also seen it happen to midwives and NP's when MD's were in short supply esp in rural areas. I hope LPN's are always part of any Hospital I work in. I owe them so much. When I was a new RN/BSN. I knew theory, they knew application. They didn't judge me just caught me up to where I should be in skills. They kept the unit running when I had no clue how to schedule, manage time, pass meds, do charge,

transfer a phone call...you name it. Today where I work, LPN's are unit managers. They work and work and then some. I can't see the Hospitals or Nursing Homes eliminating someone who works for less but can perform most of the same practical skills I do. (Some are saying but Critical Thinking!)

When you're around long enough, you know what the MD's usually do, order and

can anticipate goes a long, long way...and Critical thinking is not a skill reserved for higher education. I've seen CNA's with more sense than some MD's

ok hoppin off the soapbox now and going to get some rest...work tomorrow, with the awsome LPN's who kick butt where I work!

Been workin since the 80's. During times of too many nurses for the jobs available. I've seen LPN's pushed out of Hospital Nursing. Then the pendulum swings back...when there aren't enough nurses. I've also seen it happen to midwives and NP's when MD's were in short supply esp in rural areas. I hope LPN's are always part of any Hospital I work in. I owe them so much. When I was a new RN/BSN. I knew theory, they knew application. They didn't judge me just caught me up to where I should be in skills. They kept the unit running when I had no clue how to schedule, manage time, pass meds, do charge,

transfer a phone call...you name it. Today where I work, LPN's are unit managers. They work and work and then some. I can't see the Hospitals or Nursing Homes eliminating someone who works for less but can perform most of the same practical skills I do. (Some are saying but Critical Thinking!)

When you're around long enough, you know what the MD's usually do, order and

can anticipate goes a long, long way...and Critical thinking is not a skill reserved for higher education. I've seen CNA's with more sense than some MD's

ok hoppin off the soapbox now and going to get some rest...work tomorrow, with the awsome LPN's who kick butt where I work!

While some representatives are touting trumphed-up 'studies' LPNs are working!

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