Impact of RN cuts at your workplace?

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As a 4th year registered nursing student, I am deeply concerned about the recent registered nurse (RN) position cuts in hospitals across Ontario. According to Ontario Nurses' Association, Ontario has cut more than 400 RN positions since January 2015. I understand that there is a budget constraints. However, fewer RNs means much higher expenses in the long run. The problem isn't only about government funding, it's also a misguided administrative strategy designed to deal with budget constraints. The decision of RN cuts are usually based on the misconception that registered nurses are too expensive, and using less prepared providers will lead to cost saving. A second misconception is that quality of care will not be jeopardized when RNs are replaced.

Has anyone experienced the impact of RN cuts or RN replacement in their workplaces?

I found as a student, it is a lot harder to get my first choice of placement for my pre-consolidation and consolidation.

Stop the current RN cuts crisis right now!

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Specializes in Public Health.
As a 4th year registered nursing student, I am deeply concerned about the recent registered nurse (RN) position cuts in hospitals across Ontario. According to Ontario Nurses' Association, Ontario has cut more than 400 RN positions since January 2015. I understand that there is a budget constraints. However, fewer RNs means much higher expenses in the long run. The problem isn't only about government funding, it's also a misguided administrative strategy designed to deal with budget constraints. The decision of RN cuts are usually based on the misconception that registered nurses are too expensive, and using less prepared providers will lead to cost saving. A second misconception is that quality of care will not be jeopardized when RNs are replaced.

Has anyone experienced the impact of RN cuts or RN replacement in their workplaces?

I found as a student, it is a lot harder to get my first choice of placement for my pre-consolidation and consolidation.

Stop the current RN cuts crisis right now! The video consists of powerful information about RN cuts, and the ways we can make changes! Please support!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir77IGfb8aM

You've posted this over and over again...

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That's cuz the policy wouldn't let me post 3 videos together in one post, they told me to post one video for each day, then they will approve it. I just want to post all of my videos on this forum...

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Uhm, no.

LPNs are qualified to work acute care floors. The days of entirely RN surgical and medical units are gone.

The theory is the more educated BScN RN was meant for administrative and research nursing, not bedside care.

The horse you are beating has fled the barn.

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Specializes in Public Health.
Uhm, no.

LPNs are qualified to work acute care floors. The days of entirely RN surgical and medical units are gone.

The theory is the more educated BScN RN was meant for administrative and research nursing, not bedside care.

The horse you are beating has fled the barn.

Amen. As someone with both practical nursing and BScN level education, I couldn't agree with this more. Once my degree is complete I will be moving away from the bedside which is what my university education will have prepared me for. No reason the well trained RPNs can't handle the floors, or majority of them. After all, we aren't questioning the competency levels of the diploma trained RNs who have the same amount of education.

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Specializes in NICU.

Agreed. I work on a surgical floor as an RPN and do everything. I am fully competent to handle even our more unstable patients. The only reason I am bridging to the BscN program right now is because my dream job is in the NICU.

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Why pay an RN $45-50 when you can pay an LPN for a fraction of the cost to do most of the same duties? Seems like a no brainer to me. RNs should start marketing themselves with a different skillset.

The video you posted is also borderline propaganda. Anyone can make medication errors, LPN or RN.

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Tell us OP, do you not consider LPNs nurses? Diploma prepared RNs are not nurses?

Scare tactics, pure and simple is what those video clips are.

Somehow, I don't think this thread is giving you the support you are searching for.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Since 2008, RN positions have dwindled and it is not going to improve. Everyone has been trying to balance their budgets for years. New patient care models have been introduced which mean fewer RNs and LPNs, more health care aides.

You will see higher RN ratios in critical care areas such as ICU and emergency, but LPNS also work emerg in many Provinces. As Fiona said, RNs are utilized in research, administration and educator roles now.

I just read a number of articles online the other day that report additional layoffs are in store for Ontario RNs. I am not surprised.

Our government is more interested in saving money, not quality care. That's why health care aides have replaced licensed LPNs in many areas.

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Anyone think it strange that the OP hasn't returned to her thread to discuss the issues we raised?

Oh, and she's a student who will graduate in December per her bio info. So there's a TOS violation right there she hasn't earnt her BSN yet.

Should we start a threat on wannabees?

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I respect LPN's and RN's equally, but I really hate how there is some kind of hierarchical drama between them.

I'm still a BScN student, but when I have clinical placements, I never associate their intelligence based on the initials after their names.

Why can't we all just get along? We are nurses, but we still fight each other...

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