BCNU looking to welcome LPNs - thoughts?

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Hi Everyone,

Right now the British Columbia Nurses Union (BCNU) is currently driving to have LPNs become members of the union in addition to RNs.

How do other BC nurses view this move? It seems to be met with some reluctance to other staff I have spoken to. I don't know if I am informed enough to have a say either way (still a nursing student), but I do feel like LPNs are a valuable part of the nursing team and are currently getting the shaft from their union (so I hear).

What would be the pros and cons of having the LPNs join the BCNU?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.

I'm an LPN and have joined the BCNU as an associate member. The surgical ward I work on is very much RN-LPN team oriented and a lot of the RN's and LPN's are wearing the "LPN + RN" pins that the BCNU has put out. Our RN's back us 100% in our quest to join the BCNU and be treated like professional nurses in a NURSES union. Love them :redbeathe :nurse:

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Thanks for your response Ogopogo.

After continuing to ask around, apparently the fear (or reality) is RNs are being laid off and replaced with LPNs. I am not really sure how this could take place, as our scope of practice is similar, but also different. Its probably all just rumor mill fluff...

Could you shed some light on the issues the LPNs are having with the HEU?

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So it turns out the rumor mill was true:

The medical unit I completed my preceptorship on this past winter has told all their RNs to find new jobs. The unit will be now staffed by LPNs and care aides only. Another friend of mine also stated similar "restructuring" is now taking place in her hospital. These cuts are taking place in the Fraser Health Authority only as far as I can tell. Apparently the goal is to cut 200 RN jobs and re-staff with LPNs.

Has anyone in BC heard anything else about this or has been on a unit that has been affected?

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I work in a nursing home where they replaced alot of the RN's with LPN's in the last few years. I realize this is because of funding, but my question is: if we combine unions, will LPN's still get fair treatment, or will RN's want to reclaim all their former positions? Also, in our present unions, we've fought for fair wages, etc...so will we have to re-negotiate everything once we join RN's?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

LPNs have been represented by the Manitoba Nurses Union equally and equitably for more than 35 years. If it were possible for BC's RNs to reclaim their former positions through union action on the part of BCNU, don't you think that would have already happened? As for your contracts, there will be some tweaking, mainly of language. The basis for it will remain unchanged. When it expires your union will come to the membership and ask for guidance as to what needs to be changed and only through negotiations at that time will your contract see any significant change.

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