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?

Well, I have to say I've seen us being phased out first hand! I know there are tons of LPN jobs out there, but it seems that MA's are starting to replace us in clinic settings. I actually just gave my two weeks notice and resigned from my current LPN job due to this trend. I have nothing against MA's. I think they are a great part of the medical community, and have met some very smart ones. I have even been taught some things by them. But I have just had a bad experience recently with this trend.

I thought my current job would be a dream job, but it turned out to be a nightmare! I have only been an LPN a few years, and haven't worked much, to be home with my kids. I was excited to go back to work & when I got hired for this job. I work in a clinic setting. I have only been there a few months. When I started the job, I worked with another LPN. We were the only two LPN's working there with two other doctors. That LPN was a wonderful nurse, very smart, & helped train me. That LPN retired, and a MA was hired in their place.

This was the new MA's first MA job, & they obviously didn't have much hands on training. One day after the MA was hired, a doctor gave the MA an order to draw up a medication. The MA didn't even know how to draw it up, & asked me how. This concerned me, considering we give a lot of injections at our clinic. About a month after the MA was hired, the doctors hired on two more LPN's. These were two excellent LPNs with 15 years LPN experience each. The MA is a quick learner. However, the MA is young, and doesn't have much experience, other than what they've learned in our clinic. This MA is very manipulative & always makes themself out to be a victim in front of the doctors. They are always making themself out to be so innocent & helpful. Whenever the doctors aren't around the MA tries to give us LPNs orders, and is always causing strife amongst us. I have watched the doctors treat this MA like a nurse practitioner, and us LPNs like maids. I feel like all of us LPNs have been treated unfairly. We have worked our butts off there, done everything the doctors have told us, and have been talked down to on a regular basis.

I was getting sick of our treatment, so I decided to give notice recently. I decided to leave the job, & take some time off with my family through the summer. After I gave my notice, the other LPNs were called in to one of the doctor's private office and told that the MA would "lead the clinic team." They were shocked! This MA only has about 2 1/2 mos. experience from our clinic. These LPNs have 15 years experience each! They were told the MA was very smart, & a quick learner. Therefore, the MA should lead the team. If they had any concerns about something in the clinic, they would need to go to the MA and the message would be relayed to the doctors. We all thought this was insane, considering this young MA has basically no experience. Both LPNs have years of experience, and have worked in many different nursing settings. One of the LPNs just quit yesterday after such treatment. The other LPN that is left has decided to leave soon as well. I guess this is one example of why I feel we are being phased out. It's like many places don't even see the word "nurse" in practical nurse anymore...

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I have been am LPN for 22 years and have served in the US Army as a nurse. I was training our new RN's that outranked me. I became an instructor for the Army. There were combat medics that ran circles around all of us. I am back in school to obtain my RN as my dream has always been FNP. I just still get a little hot under the collar at the implication that because we are LPN's we do not know healthcare. I can understand the resentment but, trust me, none of us want to have you run behind us, either. We still deserve respect.

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LPNs aren't being phased out exactly, but we are being "pushed" out of some fields. As someone mentioned clinics and doctors offices are hiring more and more MAs at joke wages. LPNs can still find jobs there, but we make MA wages now, so what's the point? The flood of MAs are pushing wages down.

And even in LTC, we are facing competition. New grad RNs are breeding like rabbits. There aren't enough hospital jobs for all of them and there's a surplus. They're taking any job they can get. That includes pushing a med cart, the traditional stronghold of the LPN. People on these boards have said more RNs are working the floor of LTC because the acuity is higher and the facility "needs" RNs. Horsepucky! They are hiring RNs because in this economy they can pay them LPN wages to do LPN level work. I think the biggest threat in coming years to the LPN will be desperate RN grads who are willing to work below their license and below their pay grade.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

I run into the odd new grad RN working the LVN role and I have to say it becomes problematic especially as they want to let me know their title and then try and complicate the job by trying to bring it up to what they perceive to be their level. My job isn't that technical uses just a handful of formulary meds but its very hands on pratical nursing, you need a lot of empathy, good people skills and good family teaching and support. They want to focus on the skills and meds only. All that "extra" knowledge doesn't equal a higher level of care especially if the role was designed to be a practical nurse role.

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Exactly. I have nothing against RNs taking practical nurse level jobs. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to pay the bills. But let's be honest about what it is. It's all about the economy and about employers being only to happy to hire a RN at LPN pay rate. I mean, are we *really* supposed to believe that being a floor nurse in LTC or being a med nurse in a methadone clinic is suddenly too "high acuity" for a LPN?

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Yup and a desperate RN who needs some experience to grow into her role is more exploitable than a more experienced practical nurse. The line "well your a RN I thought you could handle XYZ" can be used in so many situations. To quote a George Lopez skit "Your the team leader your supposed to know!"

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

:redlight: Was looking for a dead horse smiley, but I didn't find one.:redlight:

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
:redlight: Was looking for a dead horse smiley, but I didn't find one.:redlight:

I first heard the phase-out talk in 1976. Enough time for our deceased equine friends to be abused post-mortemally roughly 6546 billion times. I think the smiley was removed to head off any offense-taking by members who feel the symbolism encourages people to abuse animals.

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Because they can pay a LPN less.

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Just because something hasn't happened, doesn't mean it won't. With the ever expanding group of unemployed or underemployed RNs on the bread line you can expect the last bastions of LPNs you mentioned to be employing RNs. I work in one of the aforementioned places as a new grad BSN...one of the hiring managers told me point blank "why hire an LPN when I can hire an RN"

Because they can pay a LPN less.

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Because they can pay a LPN less.
But many employers are taking advantage of desperate new RNs to pay them LPN wages to do LPN level work.
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But many employers are taking advantage of desperate new RNs to pay them LPN wages to do LPN level work.

Do you mean they won't be allowed to push a cardiac med. or do an initial assessment?

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