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

Published

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?

Specializes in NICU.

In my workplace in Ontario, the hospital has moved to a model of care based around RNs, and we RPNs are being laid off. By the end of the cuts 66 RPNs will be laid off. We are considered "support staff" and have had many skills taken from us. We have been told that we are no longer appropriate for medical and surgical units.

Interesting...I have found the opposite to be true in my area...also in ON.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Addictions, Geriatrics.

In my workplace in Ontario, the hospital has moved to a model of care based around RNs, and we RPNs are being laid off. By the end of the cuts 66 RPNs will be laid off. We are considered "support staff" and have had many skills taken from us. We have been told that we are no longer appropriate for medical and surgical units.

That's really unfortunate! I'm in Ontario also, and the hospital I am at has been steadily increasing the areas where RPNs may work for some time, as well as our scope. Really, the only place RPNs aren't working in are the ICU and the Cath lab.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think she should name and shame this facility, which appears to be going against the national trend!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
In my workplace in Ontario, the hospital has moved to a model of care based around RNs, and we RPNs are being laid off. By the end of the cuts 66 RPNs will be laid off. We are considered "support staff" and have had many skills taken from us. We have been told that we are no longer appropriate for medical and surgical units.

What part of ON are you in? I'm in SW. I have heard of RNs being laid off and replaced with RPNs at some of the surrounding hospitals, but not the other way around.

Like other posters have said it is very difficult to tell the who is an RN and who is an RPN on the floors. I was talking with a pts daughter who I got to know quite well. We are talking and I said that I was an RPN, she was speechless and finally said ''oh, well you handle yourself like and RN. I had no idea." ......Thanks?......

I take a full pt load and provide total care, with the exception of IV push, TPN and the fact that when hanging blood one of the two nurses has to be RN, I, as an RPN can can provide competent safe care to my pts with ranging acuity level.

The other thing I have noticed, and this is not a sweeping statement, but that many NG RNs are not really interested in bedside nursing. They have no concept of what a bedside nurse dose (as evident by the 'RNs dont have to deal with poop' postings). I hear all the time that they will work for a year delivering babies before becoming a nurse practitioner, or manager or ...gag....marry a doctor. After the retirement exodus, and the NG RNs wanting to work in management the only ones left to work the floors will be the PNs.

Again, I know that is not true for everyone (most of our new RNs are awesome) I also know that many PNs feels that way, but I have heard it enough lately that it is a little scary.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Oh and where I work we don't have to have an RN present to hang blood.They looked at me strangely when I had blood to go up and was hunting for an RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I get to IV push out here in Alberta. I doubt I'll ever do it on the unit I work but what they hey, I'm certified.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have heard the RPN, is going to become a 3yr program in the future. I could be misinformed, but that is what the rumour is. I imagine the RN role will also expand.

I've heard our program is expanding starting the next intake of our program. Well I heard from our instructors so I'm thinking that's a good source.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think she should name and shame this facility which appears to be going against the national trend![/quote']

Agreed

Call em out!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I also work in ON (hospital) and RPN's here work to the full scope of practice. We hang IV meds, start IVs, work with PICCS, Heparin drip (monitor), hang blood; I've worked with trachs (stable, long term), TPN. The only thing we are not SUPPOSED to do is take a transfer out of ICU patient, a patient who is on insulin drip, or don't administer Chemo. I am working towards my RN (almost done), and we're ALWAYS going to require RN's based on the fact that right now RPN's aren't working with the acuity of pateints. I heard (rumor) that the RN role will one day be you'll have to get your Masters just like how RN was once a diploma program. And besides, once all the senior nurses retire (RN) those positions will need to be filled. In short, we are always going to need both RPN and RN positions because the communities are just going to get bigger and bigger. Hospitals in my area are contantly being built and they are HUGE!

Nursing is not the type of job that can simply be phased out, we will just evolve and grow more specialized. Continue with this profession (if you like it). I'm quite enjoying it!

R

Up Vote Up Vote ×

On our surgical wards patients are assigned to the vacant bed not the nurse. They don't re arrange your census as the day goes on.

Our hospital insulin protocol is very simple to follow and the patient goes to which ever bed is available.

Same goes for ICU discharges. Over the years, I've had to fight to get my patient into ICU.

RNs do the cyto-toxic IVs but they are few and far between. Orals everyone gives.

The old "LPNs care only for stable patients" line? I wish it was true. I've had unit managers say they'd rather the best nurse available care for the patients and many times out of the staff available, it's been an LPN.

I've read the 2020 plan put out by CNA and their dreamworld/ivory tower forecast is the LPN will become the bedside nurse with very few RNs on the floor. The RN will drift into specialized roles in homecare, administration and wherever. The next 30 years should ve very interesting as the old hospital educated nurses finally are retired (and these are the nurses who are the least PN friendly, although several new grad RNs seem to think the same way).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

I was working with an RN the other day (not a new grad) who needed rationale for why we should hold insulin for a blood sugar of 4 when they are not having a meal. Really?

When I need to explain to a nurse training for charge duties that kind of basic nursing....scary.

My point? Having a title shouldn't automatically command respect.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

BS of 4 joanna ?? Holy cow !!! Oh and the rest of the story shocking smh

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion