Future of LPN?

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Hi all,

I am currently enrolled in a course to complete my cna. I will work as a cna for a few years while saving up to get my lpn. I don't plan on getting my rn. Will I be okay in the future? There's so much talk of lpn's being phased out. Right now, I am tired of school. I have a bachelor's degree in a subject that hasn't helped me secure a job. I just want to work at something interesting, make a liveable salary, and relax. Lpn with no intention of getting rn. I may change my mind later but right now this is what I want to do.

Also, I will need to work once I have enough money to pay for my lpn program. Can you work part time as a cna while attending school. How many hours do they offer part time cnas usually.

Thanks to everyone in advance.

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Specializes in nursing home.

it is a great idea to work as a cna before going on to lpn or even rn.

you get to see what the job entails, and usually as a cna you can determine your paycheck, if your facility you work at offers overtime on a regular basis , mine does.

you can work only weekends or whatever works for you.

and many places have tuition assistance, and possibly you could have a position at the facility when you get ur nursing license.

as far as lpn's being phased out, imo it will never happen.

i hear that's been said for years now.

it's okay to be content with being an lpn, were nurses too.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

The discussions about phasing out LPNs were started in 1965 by the ANA (American Nurses Association) when they made the proposal that the LPN role be eliminated, the associates-degree RN be made into the "technical nurse," and the BSN be regarded as the minimum degree needed for entry into professional nursing.

Forty-five years have elapsed since the first proposals about phasing out LPNs surfaced. While this pervasive rumor recirculates every few years, the reality is that the American healthcare system has been unable, and will continue to be unable, to ever phase out the LPN.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

No, LPNs are not being phased out. All I can say about that is that in my area, acute care and specialty areas have drastically curtailed hiring LPNs, LVNs. So if you have a very specific niche in mind, you might find your choices narrowing.

I have to emphasize again, keep an eye on the jobs available in your area.

Best wishes to you. :)

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I had a classmate voice the same concern in Lab the other night. He said he heard that LPN were being phased out. I dont see any way this will happen. How would that be an advantage? LPN can be payed was less to do most of the same work as an RN. The cost of providing healthcare would go up if they had to pay all RN.

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Specializes in Coronary Rehab Unit.
The cost of providing healthcare would go up if they had to pay all RN.
Indeed....although perhaps that's where Mediacl Assistants come in ??? I have no idea - don't really even know what being a MA entails .... should Google it, I guess...
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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Indeed....although perhaps that's where Mediacl Assistants come in ??? I have no idea - don't really even know what being a MA entails .... should Google it, I guess...
Medical assistants are not trained to provide bedside care.

The training that a medical assistant receives will prepare him/her for employment in doctors' offices, clinics, urgent care centers, and medical groups. Their training is geared toward a medical office setting with some "back office" skills thrown into the mix such as specimen collection, vital signs, weighing patients, obtaining EKGs, blood withdrawal, injections, etc.

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A little off topic here, but why don't you just do an accelerated BSN program? You should be able to get your BSN in roughly the same amount of time you will be getting your LPN. Probably a little bit longer, but not much. Seems like it would be worth it in terms of pay increase and options. Plus you wouldn't have to worry about any future of phasing out LPNs.

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A little off topic here, but why don't you just do an accelerated BSN program? You should be able to get your BSN in roughly the same amount of time you will be getting your LPN. Probably a little bit longer, but not much. Seems like it would be worth it in terms of pay increase and options. Plus you wouldn't have to worry about any future of phasing out LPNs.

Where do people get this info?

We've discussed the phasing out propoganda for decades and it hasn't happened.

Not everyone can afford Uni, so that is often a factor in becoming a PN

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this nonsense has been around every since ww2 and is continually instigated by the ana.

i have been a lpn for 27 yrs and have heard this "phase-out" throughout my career. don't worry; lpn's are here to stay. this issue is rooted in the "ivory tower" thinking of the "american nurses association (ana)" which began in the early 1900's and was composed only of graduates of baccalaureate training in nursing. at that time no associate degree (ad) or lpn programs formally existed. however, the ana recognized existing 3 yr hospital programs (mostly nuns or poor) that lived and worked at hospitals in exchange for room, board, and nursing training. after 3 yrs, became rn's and eventually allowed to join the ana, as second rate nurses.

as time continued the need for nurses increased greatly. some states began licensing nurses with 2 yr ad and 1 yr lpn. with much resistance within the ana it finally recognized ad rn's, but no way in hell could tolerate lpn's. like many political groups the ana need a convenient political boogey-man or scab. the lpn became the convenient scab for the ana made claims that lpn's were sub-quality threats to patient care. however, by the mid 1960's the value of lpn's was greatly recognized within the health industry and by all 50 state boards of nursing. lpn vocational schools arose quickly throughout the nation. yet, the ana, still dismissed the existence or contributions of lpn's.

the ana knuckled a few state boards to "phase-out" lpns. however, federal labor laws and lawsuits over-ruled theses actions. the ana failed to prove the lpn practice was dangerous or a threat to the public at large. today, the ana continues to deny that lpn's are "nurses", and continually attempts to sabotage the lpn trade as often they can.

but, again, do not worry. the ana is only a club and cannot make law. lpn's are in all 50 states and are "nurses". federal law and cases prohibit "phasing out" lpn's. please enjoy career in whatever field of nursing you choose!

s.w. lpn, bs, mba

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Specializes in nurses assistant way back when....

those same clubs can influence law with money, though.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Apparently the ANA is very powerful. I hadn't heard they had set their gunsights on LPNs/LVNs so directly, though. Mostly I feel it's sort of a "sniff" action and they tolerate our existence. I graduated in 1975.

We were having a discussion in another thread about calling patients "clients" or "patients". I was told that the terms used in the textbooks are chosen by the ANA. Now their purpose is to have the BSN be "the minimum entry point" and cite studies they sponsor in a backhanded way to support the idea that studies prove patient .outcomes are much better when no ADNs or LPNs take care of them.

Furthering one's education is always a good thing, but it doesn't mean an ADN, LPN or diploma nurse is inferior based on that one particular difference.

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