Doing away with LPNs

markjrn · Mar 23, 2005

I am with a hospital in Idaho right now which has LPNs and RNs working together in pods. They just called a meeting saying they are going to try and do away with LPNs hospital wide because there charting is not being covered by the RNs and there is too much grey area in there scope of practice. I think this is a huge mistake and the hosptial is going to lose a lot of great nurses. Has anyone experienced this or have feelings on it?

I did a travel contract in ID that were phasing out LPN's. I don't know what all happened, but when I was there, LPN's were actively working on their RN.

I know in Idaho Falls, I didn't work with any LPN's, that I'm aware of. I didn't in Boise, either, that I can remember. Did see some in small towns, though.

markjrn · Mar 23, 2005

LPNs are nurses with a different scope of practice than the RNs. We are NOT ancillary help! Just as there are things Docs do that RNs can not do, there are things RNs can do that LPNs can not. LOL, that does not make us ancillary HELP.
Good grief, and you even mentioned you had never worked with LPNs. How could you say something like that not even knowing what you are talking aboue.
I found your statement terribly insulting!

I'm not looking to get into the middle of any war here, but I have heard CNA's and LPN's in different hospitals referred to as "ancillary staff". So, maybe it depends on where you live? I don't know. Just an FYI.

no er holds · Mar 23, 2005

From California...

I work in a medium-sized trauma center as an LVN/LPN and am plenty busy! I am grateful to the ER staff that helped train me. I've seen how LVN/LPNs are treated on Med/Surg floors and it makes me furious...Administration doesn't take it well when their LVN/LPNs threaten to leave. Let's just say wings have been closed (on some nights) due to lack of LVN/LPNs on those floors. It isn't good for business or morale to layoff or phase out LVN/LPNs.

Jenny99 · Mar 23, 2005

From California

Tell me what sense it makes to lay off LVN's and pay the RN's double time pay for double shifts - at least $90.00 per hour for 16 hours.....when the LVN makes $27.00 - $32.00 per hour on a straight 8 hour shift. The hospitals and / or other medical facilities complain they have no money....wonder why that is...??...and that they can't find any staff to work. So, they have no choice but to work the RN's double time for double shifts. Some of them choose not to hire LVN's. They would solve their staffing problem and their money concerns if they utilized both the RN and LVN's in their staffing matrix, but they don't see it that way right now and that is because of the position statement put out by the California Nurses Association on the staffing ratio issue. It is very damaging to the LVN's.

(I am one of the lucky ones...I guess one could say...who knows what's really going on in the politics of things in California due to the position I hold)

jenny99 :) :) :) :) :)

SFP33 · Mar 25, 2005

Hello, I am in Texas and recently graduated from LVN school in December. I applied for several jobs and had three offers in about two weeks. I chose to work at our County hospital and am working in Neurology. Our school graduated 77 students, and only 25 have found positions. I am very fortunate, becuase our county hospital is not your average hospital. It is a teaching hospital and takes it very seriously. There are many LVN positions here, but why they are not filled, I don't know. They do state that applications are down. We have a new nursing practice act which is wonderful here in Texas. LVNs will always be members of our team.

I'm currently attenting college in GA for LPN but my huband and I have friends in Texas and have thought of moving there when I finish college. Does it pay well? Do they also have a RN teaching in the hospital?

SFP33

qje999 · Mar 25, 2005

I am with a hospital in Idaho right now which has LPNs and RNs working together in pods. They just called a meeting saying they are going to try and do away with LPNs hospital wide because there charting is not being covered by the RNs and there is too much grey area in there scope of practice. I think this is a huge mistake and the hosptial is going to lose a lot of great nurses. Has anyone experienced this or have feelings on it?

I think it is horrible with them trying to do away with lpn's. aren't many nursing asst's, and who is going to do the patient care and med's, etc. the rn's have paper work to do. You are right, nursing shortage will be even worse then it is right now.

pediatriclpn · Mar 26, 2005

There has been talk about wanting to do away with LPN's for years. Hospitals have tried over and over. In PA some hospitals and doctors have hired people with nothing more than a high school diploma, put them thru their own program, call them med techs. They do CNA work,without the time or certification, and can do blood draws,etc. They can pay them less than they would pay an LPN. LPN and LVN are not different. Some states are Licensed Practical Nurse, and some say Licensed Vocational Nurse. And not to start any RN/LPN war, but there are some RN groups that are lobbying, and have been lobbying to do away with LPNs. Some want us to have the ability to be grandfathered in, and others want us to be demoted to CNAs. Not that there is anything wrong with being a CNA

qje999 · Mar 26, 2005

There has been talk about wanting to do away with LPN's for years. Hospitals have tried over and over. In PA some hospitals and doctors have hired people with nothing more than a high school diploma, put them thru their own program, call them med techs. They do CNA work,without the time or certification, and can do blood draws,etc. They can pay them less than they would pay an LPN. LPN and LVN are not different. Some states are Licensed Practical Nurse, and some say Licensed Vocational Nurse. And not to start any RN/LPN war, but there are some RN groups that are lobbying, and have been lobbying to do away with LPNs. Some want us to have the ability to be grandfathered in, and others want us to be demoted to CNAs. Not that there is anything wrong with being a CNA
you are right many rn's look down on lpn's, till they want you to do something they know you can do. I also feel we should all get along, but i think some rn's resent lpn's, being able to do alot of things and didn't have to go to school as long as they did. Many times i wish i had went for rn instead. but I was young, and didn't really know what i wanted and decided to try nursing and went into the lpn program.We are here cause like you said we want to take care of the patients, of course there are some who are in it for the money and will tell it, though it isn't much. there is so much derogatory statements about nursing, people don't want to become a nurse.It has good and bad, you really have to want this.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 26, 2005

I've worked in 7 hospitals in my career, in 6 different states, and I have never worked w/LPNs, since the first year out of school back in the early 80's. Part of this may be b/c I have worked specialized areas, but in all honesty, I didn't know there were any LPN programs left in the country and I had no idea hospitals still hired LPNs. We would love to have them, as well as CNAs but for some reason admin. seems to think they're saving $$ to have an all-RN staff- w/all the jobs they have us doing (including housekeeping when short-staffed) we have begged for any kind of ancillary help, but it's not happening!

The "ancillary help" remark WAS pretty insulting.

qje999 · Mar 26, 2005

The "ancillary help" remark WAS pretty insulting.

I was not trying to insult anyone and if i did I apoligize. I just said how i felt. I have been a nurse for over 30 years and have seen alot.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 26, 2005

I was not trying to insult anyone and if i did I apoligize. I just said how i felt. I have been a nurse for over 30 years and have seen alot.

Wasn't referring to what you'd said, it was someone else who'd said it, but i'm having problems quoting people, something with this computer. :specs:

qje999 · Mar 26, 2005

LPNs are nurses with a different scope of practice than the RNs. We are NOT ancillary help! Just as there are things Docs do that RNs can not do, there are things RNs can do that LPNs can not. LOL, that does not make us ancillary HELP.
Good grief, and you even mentioned you had never worked with LPNs. How could you say something like that not even knowing what you are talking aboue.
I found your statement terribly insulting![/quote I thought marie meant me, that i made this statement, but it wasn't me. i never said anything about ancillary help.