Hospital demotes LPN's to CNA's

Juryizout · Mar 31, 2011

Where do you live, Hun?

caliotter3 · Mar 31, 2011

The LPNs have always had the option to get an RN license. They chose not to do so. This scenario happens elsewhere, although in most places, the LPNs are given a deadline to obtain an RN license prior to demotion or termination of employment.

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2011

I suspect they were given plenty of notice, but I just want to make a distinction. If you are an LPN with a current license you are an LPN. So they restrict people with a license, (however lowly in some people's eyes) to tasks you don't need a license to do, which sounds really dumb if they are still being paid LPN wages. I suppose they cut their pay, too.

anjule18 · Mar 31, 2011

I live in Northeast Pa and I am not sure about their pay status. I think its a shame.Many of the LPNs clincal skills eceeded some RNs. I rem some RNs getting LPNs for IV help because they couldn't get a stick. If you were a comptenent LPN in that hospital for many years, its a slap in the face. Some of these LPNs were there for 20 plus yrs and functioned as an LPN. So sad.

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2011

I know. . . I've read several accounts of LPNs working for years and years and then demoted or fired from hospitals. It's much different now than when I started. But now it is even hard for RNs to get jobs! Hope it gets better for everybody in this economy!

catlvr · Apr 1, 2011

It is true that LPNs can continue their education and become an RN (I'm trying to do that myself). My cynical self thinks that the hospital chose to demote the LPNs to CNAs to avoid laying them off and having to pay unemployment. I feel badly for them, as I know some LPNs who are fantastic nurses and I would trust them with my life.

Celestina · Apr 1, 2011

can you get a job using a city and guilds practical nursing diploma in orlando??

caliotter3 · Apr 1, 2011

Throughout the US one must have an LPN license issued by the state where they intend to work, in order to work in that capacity.

MrsMig, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2011

Same happened here in MA years ago. It was (no longer) a non-profit Catholic runned hospital. They offered the LPN's to get their RN at their cost or, keep the same pay and have an CNA status.

I understand that these LPN's have the 'choice' to continue their education but the LPN's I knew had been practicing for 30+ years!! They were older and felt at this point in their life it wasn't feasible or possible. Remember, it's harder to go to school the older we get - lol - and if you haven't been in a class room for 30+ years, it's very intimidating!!

Anyhow, these LPN's are still there to this day and they are better than the RN's on that floor! They've opted to stay on for retirement purposes and they have confided that they make just a few $$ shy of the RN's :)

Oh and a funny ending - the Hospital has is no longer a non profit hospital as they were just bought out less than a year ago and they are slowly but surely hiring LPN's .... bottom line ..... cost effective!

wildblueeyez · Apr 4, 2011

You certainly could check with your state's unemployment office. If you are no longer doing the job description you were hired to do (LPN), you may be eligible for unemployment.

Several years ago, I was hired as an LPN at a local hospital that closed 3 months later (yes, I went there knowing they were closing but I wanted the hospital experience). As the hospital closed, all employees were offered positions at the other local hospital.

The problem was that they didn't use LPNs on the floors so they hired us as License Care Techs and we worked with the Respiratory team performing lung assessments and breathing treatments on the floors OR we were scheduled to work in the ER - drawing all the blood, giving breathing treatments, and performing EKGs.

I did consult with our local unemployment office and even though I was offered a job, it wasn't the same job description as I was leaving. I would have been eligible for unemployment. I took the job and although it gave me new skills, I should have taken the unemployment and went back to school for my RN.

mystory, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2011

I can relate. My psych facility just announced that they are going to lay off all the LPN's, who are med nurses. The RNs will now do the meds. I am an RN BSN, but my heart aches for the stellar LPN's that have been committed to this place for decades, my own preceptor is one and she was looking forward to retiring at the end of the year. :cry: