Are LVNs being hired in your hospital or only RNs hired?

[Bala Shark]

I am a new grad, LVN..I heard that many hospitals are only hiring RNs...Is that the case in your hospital?

[shodobe]

We basically eliminated the LVN positions in our hospital about 6-8 years ago, can't remember when. They were given the option of leaving or going to work on the new NeuroCare unit that was started. These patients are very long term patients that have been there for many years so this is, in essence, a LTC unit that is associated with the hospital. No LVNs are currently being hired on any floor except, this is wierd, the ED where they have one very experienced LVN who has been there for many years. The hospital actively pursues RN, which IMHO is a wrong practice since there are very many well qualified LVNs that can be very helpful to the "nursing" shortage. New, untested LVNs will have a much harder time in getting positions at acute hospitasl. Good luck

[PANurseRN1]

The hospitals in my area are phasing out LPNs. New LPNs aren't being hired, and those who leave are replaced with RNs (if the position isn't eliminated).

Sorry I can't be more encouraging.

[PANurseRN1]

Oops...sorry, I didn't realize this was a thread r/t nursing in CA.

[Sheri257]

No LVN's at my hospital.

:typing

[Hockeytown]

There are LVNs where I work, medical/surgical unit.

[pickledpepperRN]

We have LVNs who work med/surg and telemetry. The work in the unit with highest acuity because the minimum ratio is met with RNs.

Thank heaven for our LVNs. They are all fine nurses. Our patients need them.

[IwillGetThere]

I wonder why they do that? I know they have to pay the RN's more and with these hospitals out here where I live they need all the help they can get. This is why iam really considering being an R.N now or go another route in nursing.

[Sheri257]

I wonder why they do that? I know they have to pay the RN's more and with these hospitals out here where I live they need all the help they can get.

At the last hospital I worked at they couldn't keep RN's because they had the LVN system, so they were phasing LVN's out. The reason the RN's didn't like it was because in California you can have either five patients without an LVN or 10 patients with an LVN.

Even though most of the LVN's were very good, a lot of RN's don't like the responsiblity of having the extra five patients and the LVN. And, if the LVN did something wrong, they were held responsible for it. So RN's were leaving for other hospitals where they'd just have to take care of the five patients.

:typing

[soliant12]

RN's are NOT responsible for the actions of the LVN

[psyrn]

The Dept. of Correction is in the process of hiring a lot of LVN's. It is a very good state job.

[Sheri257]

RN's are NOT responsible for the actions of the LVN

From what I understand it varies by state and, I've been told by several RN's in California that they are responsible for LVN's but ... even if that's not the case, I personally know of an RN who was written up for a medication error that was made by the LVN. I was there the day it happened. Whether it was justified or not ... it was one of the reasons RN's were leaving this particular hospital.

:typing