Doing away with LPNs

Nurses LPN/LVN

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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?

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:

no problem marie. just wanted people to know i didn;t say this as i dont feel that way. :)

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Indeed LPN's seem to be used much less in acute care these days and more in home care and LTC. The large hospital system I will be starting at refers to LPN's as nursing support staff and they really only use them in their outpatient clinics. I have been interviewing at several hospitals these past few months and heres a few things I encountered.

--at one large children's hospital the nurse manager stated they had no LPN's employed in peds. He said the trend nation wide is a shift to only RN's in pediatric acute care.

--the hospital I accepted a job at has no LPN's on the unit I will be working (PCU).

--another area hospital heavily utilizes LPN's because they have trouble retaining RN's. I job shadowed there. The unit had 5 LPN's and 2 RN's. The RN's took their own team of 6 patients and then covered for the LPN's teams (each had about 6 patients). The RN was run ragged doing her team and then co-signing for about 9 other patients. She also had to do the LPN's IVP meds and spike blood for them. I did not like this set up! The ratio was way off.

I think with the level of acuity rising the bar has been set higher. I am thankful that I had 9+ great years as an LPN and had the opportunity to move up. I think LPN's are great having been one for so long!!! I can see both sides of the issues here. Some hospitals like all RN units because the RN isn't as restricted--and from the experienced LPN point of view having gained on the job knowledge and experience that should allow them to function in a similar role. Unfortunately, the board doesn't recognize on-the-job knowledge and experience to be equal to the RN degree...and to a great extent it shouldn't be. My advice to all those that are concerned about this issue is to seek out your options for furthering your education. There are so many options out there--one just needs to find them and act on it.

Karen

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
The large hospital system I will be starting at refers to LPN's as nursing support staff and they really only use them in their outpatient clinics.

Jeez, there's a real confidence booster.

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Specializes in LTC, sub-acute, urology, gastro.

Several hospitals in my area still hire LPN's but I'll tell you, I have NO desire to work where I'm not appreciated :o so until I get my RN I won't work in the hospitals. This message board has pretty much affirmed my belief on how most RN's feel about LPN's...not all but most. I do agree that on some units it would be difficult for LPN's because of the limits on our scope of practice but I don't understand not utilizing them at all, & to actually phase out seasoned LPN's - it's such a waste.

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........ Some hospitals like all RN units because the RN isn't as restricted--and from the experienced LPN point of view having gained on the job knowledge and experience that should allow them to function in a similar role. Unfortunately, the board doesn't recognize on-the-job knowledge and experience to be equal to the RN degree...and to a great extent it shouldn't be. My advice to all those that are concerned about this issue is to seek out your options for furthering your education. There are so many options out there--one just needs to find them and act on it.

Karen

I did not mean that experience alone should allow a greater scope of practice but that the BON should institute a ladder that would allow LPNs to test and gain a rung on the ladder if passed. This would not make them RNs. They would still be LPNs with a broader scope of practice in that area.

A system such as this would provide the health care system with nurses with the proven knowledge required, even though not achieved through acedamia, while allowing LPNs with many years of experience some mobility in their carreers.

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Every once and awhile, over the years since the 80s, one hears about doing away with the LPNs and staying with RNs only. Already licensed LPNs would be "grandfathered" into RNs. That's fine with me as long as I don't lose pay and benes, though I sincerely think it would never come to be. Otherwise, keeping experienced LPNs is a must for many places. I remember taking all the courses, years ago, to become an RN; only to find out that I would lose pay because I would be "classed" as a new RN, rather than an experienced LPN, which I never understood. The pay drop was quite a bit at the place I was working. As I explained to my military father, I'd rather be a first or master sargeant, than a new 2nd lieutenant. :) More pay...less responsibility. Let others fuss over management, I'll stick with the patients....where I belong.

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Every once and awhile, over the years since the 80s, one hears about doing away with the LPNs and staying with RNs only. Already licensed LPNs would be "grandfathered" into RNs. That's fine with me as long as I don't lose pay and benes, though I sincerely think it would never come to be. Otherwise, keeping experienced LPNs is a must for many places. I remember taking all the courses, years ago, to become an RN; only to find out that I would lose pay because I would be "classed" as a new RN, rather than an experienced LPN, which I never understood. The pay drop was quite a bit at the place I was working. As I explained to my military father, I'd rather be a first or master sargeant, than a new 2nd lieutenant. :) More pay...less responsibility. Let others fuss over management, I'll stick with the patients....where I belong.

I've been hearing the same thing since the 70s! I understand NY has taken steps to do just that; however, I don't see the final date for "convertion" ever being met. As always, that date will keep getting set back.

Even Kentucky, at one time, had said it was going to require all LPNs to get credits towards their RN as continueing education requirements. If that were the case, none of the LPNs I've been knowing for 20 years or more could possibly be practicing as LPNs now....surely, even just a class of two a year would have produced a degree by now!

Many states have tried it and they all have found that LPNs are valuable nurses, LPNs are cost effective nurses, LPNs can never be replaced.

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