Are RN's going to be a thing of the past?

[Emma_H]

Just wanted to know your thoughts on the shift from using more LPN's on units instead of RN's as they are cost saving for health authorities. We are beginning to see this in my health authority gradually. Any thoughts?

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

Haven't seen that around here, many LPN's in my area are pushed out of hospital nursing altogether unless they are enrolled in a LPN to RN program. My last facility didn't hire LPN's at all.

[SillyStudent, ASN, RN]

There are very few LPN's in Hospital nursing where I am. Most work in LTC.

[chrisrn24]

My work no longer hires LPNs..RNs only. LTC

[loriangel14, RN]

That is the shift in my hospital. The scope of practice is constantly expanding and more RNs are being replaced with PNs. I am in Canada and the minimum education available for RNs is BSN.

[delilas]

Our hospital is moving in the opposite direction. LPN's are no longer being hired at all, and those that are remaining are expected to have their RN within three years. The other two major hospital systems in a nearby city don't use LPNs within the system at all.

Even our prisons have a direct lineation for them. RN's do patient care, LPN's pass meds. I'm not seeing increased LPN usage anywhere near me.

[AJJKRN]

I would keep my eyes more on the expanding roles of medical assistants that are doing tasks such as administering injections with less education and for less pay...but mainly less education

Not trying to knock anybody but this expanding role does not seem to increase patient safety or better patient care, but cuts costs...

[Mewsin]

I'd never say RNs are going to be a thing of the past, I think everyone has their place in our healthcare system. I know it is difficult to get an answer to this question because of the differences in the LPN scope of practice comparing Canada and the US.

So in Canada there are more LPNs being hired in hospitals because they do cost the healthcare system a lot less money but they also have the scope of practice to be able to give the care that the RNs could provide previously. The LPN scope of practice just keeps increasing.

I think that the RN scope of practice may also increase so we'll just have to see how it goes.

[CCRNCMC11]

Yes Lpn's are a thing of the past

[Fiona59]

Yes Lpn's are a thing of the past

Well, they say ignorance is bliss.

The OP is Canadian. Comparing Canadian and American nursing is like comparing apples to oranges. They are both fruit but that's about it.

Perhaps this thread should be moved to the Canadian forum to have a more intelligent conversation?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Not in this neck of the woods. When I worked in the hospital (400 beds, several hundred clinics, several thousand nursing FTEs), there were ZERO LPNs employed in any capacity.

[MendedHeart]

no LPNs in my hospital either