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?

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Yes Lpn's are a thing of the past

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

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

Agreed, Fiona.

Discussion has been moved to the Canadian Nursing forum to provide more accurate feedback for the OP because he/she is located in Canada.

[Emma_H]

Thanks for sharing all of your personal experiences within your health authority. I appreciate your experiences. Just getting a little worried about what the changes will be looking like this coming January as things are changing within our health authority. No one is apparently displaced from their job but we will have to re-apply to lines as they are going to be shifting the way care is given to utilize the healthcare team in bit of a different way.... i.e. more of a team nursing approach and approaches to saving money.... possibly hiring more care aides and LPN's.

[dayshiftnurse]

My work no longer hires LPNs..RNs only.

im a bit suprised by that. LTC tends to utilize rpn's alot in the gta and to me it is a good fit, i often a bit jealous how hard it is for rn's to compete for those positions, as its great work...that is where i got my start in nursing and i learned a lot prior to moving onto hospital work

[ltothew]

it seems like less LPN's in the hospital right now here in BC, usually there are 1-2 on the floor, with 7-8 Rn's. I do not think either are going to be a "thing of the past"

[Fiona59]

Try and remember that some of the ditzy answers here were from American posters.

[loriangel14, RN]

it seems like less LPN's in the hospital right now here in BC, usually there are 1-2 on the floor, with 7-8 Rn's. I do not think either are going to be a "thing of the past"

We are going the opposite way where I work. 2 RNs and about 4 PNs and 2 PSWs.

[CCRNCMC11]

In America, in acute care medical centers throughout the country Lpn's are non existent. Especially in ICUs. No place for an lpn. In my hospital Lpn's were forced to retire, go back to school, or be demoted to techs.

[Emma_H]

Interesting. I can see high intensity areas always sticking with RN's but I have heard that they are going to be gradually increasing LPN's scope by increasing their length of program and further educating current LPN's. This may mean we will have more LPN's on medical/surgical units. Currently, generally there are around 7-8 RN's on a unit and maybe 2-3 LPN's here on Vancouver Island, BC. I know in some provinces such as Alberta, LPN's can give IV medications, access PICC lines etc... this has yet to come yet in BC.

[loriangel14, RN]

Interesting. I can see high intensity areas always sticking with RN's but I have heard that they are going to be gradually increasing LPN's scope by increasing their length of program and further educating current LPN's. This may mean we will have more LPN's on medical/surgical units. Currently, generally there are around 7-8 RN's on a unit and maybe 2-3 LPN's here on Vancouver Island, BC. I know in some provinces such as Alberta, LPN's can give IV medications, access PICC lines etc... this has yet to come yet in BC.

Yes our scope is increasing rapidly in Ontario. We can hang blood and access PICC lines. We have been able to give IV meds for years.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

in Ontario RPNs (LPNs) are breaking into more and more areas, and RNs in some areas are taking on more of a leadership role. However that does not mean RNs are going to be a thing of that past, they are just being utilized in a different way.

[chihuahuaman]

My unit has an LPN on per shift, but the acuity of the floor keeps rising so there might be fewer appropriate patients for them to care for.