Firing all RN's and replacing them with LPN's?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 6, 2004

Because an LPN cannot always do the same thing that RNs do. Pennsylvania LPNs were just now allowed to start taking telephone orders, for example.

And i'm sure there are a lot of RNs that wonder why LPNs aren't fired, since they can't do everything an RN can do.

You've mentioned that you've done little research. Do some more research and you will have your answer.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Apr 6, 2004

You've mentioned that you've done little research. Do some more research and you will have your answer.

Yep... my thoughts exactly. :)

nurseunderwater · Apr 6, 2004

Yep... my thoughts exactly. :)

yep.. :rolleyes:

purplemania, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2004

the reason you are going to RN school is so you will not have a glass ceiling over your salary. There are many more opportunities for salary increases, duty changes, etc. for RN's. Nursing is not all tasks. We have had so many RN's complain about having to "do half of the LVN's job" (LVN's here cannot push IV meds, hang blood, do assessments, initiate plan of care). We have not hired an LVN in >2 years. Depends on where you work, of course, but with sicker patients staying only a short while in the acute care setting it makes more sense to have RN's on staff.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Apr 6, 2004

... Why am I even attending RN school if an LPN can do the same thing?

Wrong premise here.

Good luck!

argos · Apr 6, 2004

I was hoping that someone could give me a little insight on where I could find the LPN scope of practice to find the info I need. I can't seem to find the info on the web. The GA BON web page has a bad link to the info I think that I need. Anyone got any advice? By the way I do enjoy nursing and want to be an RN just to clearify.:balloons:

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Apr 6, 2004

I was hoping that someone could give me a little insight on where I could find the LPN scope of practice to find the info I need. I can't seem to find the info on the web. The GA BON web page has a bad link to the info I think that I need. Anyone got any advice? By the way I do enjoy nursing and want to be an RN just to clearify.:balloons:

The LPN scope of practice varies widely from state to state.. bummer that the one you need has a bad link. You might try calling them and request a written version or another link?

At any rate, a nurse is a nurse, is a nurse. We're all one body and no part of the body is less important than the other. Welcome to nursing ! :)

angel337, MSN, RN · Apr 6, 2004

I was hoping that someone could give me a little insight on where I could find the LPN scope of practice to find the info I need. I can't seem to find the info on the web. The GA BON web page has a bad link to the info I think that I need. Anyone got any advice? By the way I do enjoy nursing and want to be an RN just to clearify.:balloons:

you did not mention how far along in nursing school you are, but i suggest you go and discuss the duties of an LPN with one of your instructors in the nursing program. i'm almost positive they will tell you that the scope of practice is very different. depending on what state you are in some LPN's have more or less responsibility, but overall the RN is TOTALLY responsible for

the patient's care. in illinois LPN's are pretty much staffed to nursing home facilities. there are some positions in hospitals, but if you want to have all the opportunities that the nursing profession can offer, you have to be a RN. good luck with your career!

PMHNP10 · Apr 6, 2004

you did not mention how far along in nursing school you are, but i suggest you go and discuss the duties of an LPN with one of your instructors in the nursing program.

This was my question. If the OP is in nursing school, they should have allready had at least one lecture on scope of practice. It will be on the board exam, and is possibly the single most important thing one needs to know before entering the profession.

To the OP...Here is possibly a reason to consider...LVNs can possilby have an assignment equally as difficult as an RN, except instead of being able to do their own IV pushes, for example, they have to get someone else to perform them, which in my book is an extra headache. And you get to do this all for a fraction of the pay, but as has been said by many, scopes vary from state to state, so my experience is based on TX laws.

argos · Apr 7, 2004

Thanx for all your advice. I have looked at the RN scope of practice for this state. We didn't study the LPN scope of practice. I am just finishing up my first year. I think that this assignment is just busy work. Maybe it's a tool to teach us the differences in liscensures. I did ask my instructors where I can get info on the GA LPN scope of practice and they wouldn't tell me. Hope ya'll have a happy Easter!!

Ohall · May 3, 2004

Nursing student here. I need to find out why a facility doesn't fire the RN's and replace them with LPN's. I can't find a scope of practice for an LPN and from little research I've done they have pretty much the same job. Why am I even attending RN school if an LPN can do the same thing?

Although it does not seem like it, there is a difference. I was an LPN before going back to school to become an RN, and I see that there are many similarities because LPN's and RN performs some same tasks, esp. duties such as giving meds, bathing patients, assisting with ADL's and according how much initiative or responsibility the LPN takes, they also draw blood, hang blood, start IV's, do patient teaching and some assessments., etc. But here in Augusta, Ga., that depends on the individual LPN knowing what duties can be performed and wantingto perform them. Mostly, however, it depends also on whether it is a federal hospital such as the VA or a private one. The RN ' position is more generalized. RN's perform the tasks from putting a patient on bedpan to being in charge of the entire floor where she has more responsibilities and complicated duties. and is in charge of of LPN whle they work as a team. I am sure there is some information on the internet to explain the difference between the LPN and RN.(you might only have to enter LPN and RN and duties).