Fading out lvn/lpn

caliotter3 · Oct 29, 2009

Yes, it is true. But on the other hand, hospitals that have rid themselves of LPN/LVNs have also gone back to hiring them when they found they could not sustain an RN-only workforce. Depends on the facility and area.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Oct 29, 2009

Yeah its true. I still see some lpns in hospitals but most are faded out in hospitals.

pumpkinutter · Oct 29, 2009

its mostly true in Oregon... the VA is about the only hospital that will use LPNs but as ambulatory nurses psych nurses and clinic nurses... not for medsurg or cardiac or ortho floors... Group Health in WA did and I believe still does use LPns but they are paired with an RN who does the paperwork and the LPN the bedside care.. I am glad I got my 1 year of cardio-medsurg in when I did at the Remond Group Health campus..I learned so much there!

I don't think I could do it now... heres my question to you would you go on to RN?

BlondieNH · Oct 29, 2009

The LPN dilemma will always be. They love us, they hate us, they really don't know what to do with us. They train us with more and more skills and procedures and pay us and disrespect so much less. I've been doing this for almost 18 years and I know that a well-established, competent, experienced LPN can work circles around most RN's. As RN's do mostly paperwork, cause' they don't want to get their hands dirty.

sasha2lady · Oct 31, 2009

Here in my area of NC, my town hasnt hired any new LPNs at the hospital or at the home health place thats tied in with it...BUT....our local hospital has laid off nearly 100 employees..permanently in various depts ranging from housekeeping, transport, psych, dietary and in nurse management . My sis in law is an RN in upper mgmt at this same hospital....and come december 5 she along with the other 3 RNs in her dept...are out of a job simply because of cutbacks and unpaid hospital debts. I think its widespread.....might not be too long before they want LPNS to come work there...so they can train them to do more and pay less. Who knows.

dark40 · Oct 31, 2009

yes, i would go on to rn:up:

andreasmom02 · Oct 31, 2009

Yep, it's true. I graduated LPN school in 2007, & was told that I would get a hospital job quickly out of school. Well, that wasn't true. I've interviewd w/ a couple of hospitals, and put applications in everywhere. The only LPN's getting hired in my area are ones with one to two years or more experience. Most of the good jobs are for RN's. I want to get my RN as well, and am trying to figure out how. I have kids, and can't go back full time. I took an associates degree course towards my RN, but had to graduate early as an LPN because of the kids. My advice is go on for the RN if possible.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2009

I live in an area where LPNs/LVNs can still get hired into some major hospital systems due to the wide open, far-reaching scope of practice of this particular state (Texas).

For now, I voluntarily choose to work in the nursing home setting because of the significant difference in pay. Since I am also a full-time student, I need the highest income possible in the shortest amount of time. The nursing homes around here pay $5 to $8 more hourly than the hospitals.

Fiona59 · Nov 1, 2009

Well, the debate up here in Alberta is will the LPN replace the RN as nurse of choice in the acute care setting?

Our Minister of Health in his latest round of proclamations has decided that LPNs are underutilized in the acute setting and that the ratio of nurses is top heavy on the RN side.

Right now, it's the RNs and their union that is having this fear, needlessly put into them.

Duckyaryj · Nov 23, 2009

I spoke with my grandmother and great aunts about this same subject when I graduated nursing school 2 years ago. All three of them have been nurses for over 20 years, along with my great grandmother being a nurse for gawd who knows how long. They say that this situation has happened many times through out their careers. Facilities will think that LPN/LVS are unnecessary and stop hiring/laying them off, in a few years they will realize that it is a stupid mistake and hire them once again when the work gets "too tough" on the RN's. I know with the economy its just putting salt on the wound right now, but just ride it out, and soon things will pick up soon.

belgarion · Nov 23, 2009

I agree with The Commuter. It really all depends on what part of the country you are in. I work in a small, rural Texas hospital. A lot of our facility is certified for swingbeds so sometimes it feels like LTC. We actually have about an equal number of LVNs and RNs.

Like Comuter said, the LVN scope of practice in Texas is pretty much what each facility decides it is. Where I am we start IVs, push IV meds, do wound care (no sharp debridement), respiratory treatments, get certified in ACLS and PALS, and a number of other things that LVNs in some larger facilities never get to do. The RNs do CL care, admission assesments, care plans, and other RNly type duties. The system works well for us and no one here is talking about getting rid of LVNs. Sometimes the big city isn't the best place to be.