eliminating the LPN role ?

[Annaleemabey]

In the last few years LPNs are being phased out of acute setting. Most doctors offices are hiring RN. LPN programs are becoming few in colleges and universities. Is the possibly of eliminating the LPN role all together in the near future? Many students use LPN programs as a step to becoming an RN, if this is the case why not just eliminate the LPN programs in the schools.

[NotAllThoseWhoWander]

The demand for LPNs comes and goes. Two large hospitals in my area gave preference to RNs for years, until they found themselves in a situation where they were understaffed. Needless to say, they've gone back to hiring LPNs. It's for this reason that I think it would be silly to completely eliminate LPN programs. LPNs fill in the cracks, so to speak.

Many of those LPN-RN bridge programs allow students to decide whether or not they actually enjoy nursing. I'm in that boat right now. Would you rather have a small group of LPNs (who have figured out they really want to be RNs) work their way up the ladder - and stay there - or a large group of ASN/BSN students who will only end up switching majors/leaving the profession, because they made a more daunting commitment?

Just my two cents! RN is certainly more desirable, but LPNs have a place as well.

[RainMom]

Yep, we were told about 3 yrs ago that LPNs would no longer be hired at our hospital. But now over the past several months I've seen LPN job listings for the floors, ER, home health, & our cardiac center.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Discussions of eliminating the LPN role in the US have been taking place since 1965. In a nutshell, it has not happened and probably won't during my lifetime.

Just because LPNs are being phased out of many acute care hospitals in the US doesn't mean they aren't working elsewhere. LPNs are a force to be reckoned in home health, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, private duty, jails, prisons, group homes, and other settings outside the hospital.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Yes! To what Commuter wrote. In my region, there are plenty LVN jobs in non acute settings.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I graduated in 1979. At that time, LPNs were being phased out of hospitals, and could basically only find work in Nursing Homes.

Now, RNs are running screaming from bedside Nursing. All LPN programs have to do is provide training in critical thinking, and you will have the next generation of hospital floor Nurses.

And that wouldn't be a bad thing. I would rather be cared for by someone who isn't just marking time on the floor until they can bolt to the greener NP pastures.

[Fiona59]

I guess Canadian and American PN education really differs.

We are expected as graduate nurses to be able to analyze, plan, and implement for any events in our patient care.

[nursel56]

My comment would be that I've heard people asking the question for as long as I've been around nursing. The central issue from my standpoint is that there is no "they" who are doing anything in a coordinated manner, such as a phasing out. Nursing employment markets change for sure, though so your best bet is to do research into your desired location and type of facility you would like to work in.

From a standpoint of being pragmatic and maximizing your chances of being hired, the end of the nursing shortage has definitely put the squeeze on LVNs/LPNs just as it has for new RNs, especially those who don't yet have a BSN. I generally advise people who don't know whether pursuing the LPN/LVN or RN is the better choice, all else being equal it's better to get your RN, and BSN as soon as you can.

[smartnurse1982]

I think that in many non acute care settings,lpn's are preferred over Adn nurses because they cost less but have a similar knowledge base.

What I see happening to nursing in the future?

Lpn's working in non acute care settings.

Bsn working in acute care settings.

These days,its the ADN who has to worry.

The ADN does not have the Bsn hospitals want,but is not as "cheap" to insurance companies when they could hire an lpn to do the same thing the Rn does for less.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Clinics around here don't even hire rns. They get mas

[payitforward]

"RN is certainly more desirable, but LPNs have a place as well"? Really? See comments like that are the reason why there will always be a gap between the two. Good lord, why can't we all just be nurses????

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Because not all nurses are created equal. That's a fact that all of the kumbyah singing in the world won't chang

"RN is certainly more desirable, but LPNs have a place as well"? Really? See comments like that are the reason why there will always be a gap between the two. Good lord, why can't we all just be nurses????