Licensed Practical Nurses across the country are commemorated during the month of October. If you work with an LPN, make sure to recognize them with a banner, food and gifts during the week of October 7 to 13th. Let them know how much we appreciate them and all the hard work that they do.
LPNs supervise unlicensed assistant personnel, provide direct patient care, and education. Working under the supervision of a doctor or RN, LPNs can also insert catheters and IVs. Over the years, LPNs have been able to work in a variety of settings. They work in doctors offices, hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities (National LPN/LVN, 2015). We celebrate their dedication and hard work over the weekends, holidays and nights.
Americans are living longer which increases the need for long-term care. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics tell us that the need for LPNs will expand by 25% during the years of 2012 and 2022 (National LPN/LVN, 2015). The evolution of the LPN is an interesting story and often unacknowledged.
Originally, the nurses would work in family homes taking care of sick people and also doing housework and watching children. That was in the 1800s, and in 1897, in New York City, a school named Ballard School began giving classes to these healthcare workers (History of LPN, 2014). Disease was widespread in the city, so the practical nurses went into the slums to educate and treat the people hands on. This is the essence of community health care. They realized that better sanitation was the key to improving New York's life from the inside out according to the article, History of LPN Field (2014). Eventually, in 1914, Mississippi was the only state that passed laws regarding LPNs.
Then in 1917, the National League of Nursing Education started the process of establishing standards for the practical nurse. When World War I rocked the United States, nurses were needed, however, after the war, many didn't return to the field due to the trauma that they had endured during the war. This added to the nursing shortage throughout the United States (History of LPN, 2014). History of LPN Field (2014) tells us that during the period of 1920 to 1940, most LPNs were found in the public health field. But then World War II came and once again the number of LPNs grew tremendously. At this point, they worked mostly in the hospital. By 1952, the nursing field was 60% LPNs, and licensure became required.
During the 1980s, the different levels of the nurse role went through professional scrutiny and as a result, many LPN roles transitioned from the hospital back into the community. Presently, LPNs practice in all roles across the healthcare spectrum (History of LPN, 2014). LPNs have had a varied past of experience and service. This week is your opportunity to be acknowledged for all of the hard work that you do.
My husband is an LPN and has been one for many years, so I realize what you go through. Long-term caretakers have a special heart that endures long shifts with aching backs. The care you give makes the patient's life better, and we thank you for that. Healthcare wouldn't be the same without you!
Are you an LPN? Tell us about your journey, where you work and what you value. Also, celebrate each other as we recognize you!
