Is magnet status hospitals shutting out all LVNs

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2012

It seems a good number of hospitals have cut out LPN positions. Some do still recognize the difference LPNs can make. Hospitals with Magnet status or trying to obtain that will never hire LPNs. It's a shame. We have a lot to offer.

ladymaam · Jun 23, 2012

The reason I am so bent out of shape is that one employer asked if I would be interested in a new position, where an LVN would cover breaks for the RNs. My initial thought is that this is a "glorified CNA" position. No way! I need more. I am ready to take on more responsibility, not go backwards. If it's CNAs they want, California should reconsider the scope of practice for their CNAs. Lots of hospitals in other states, allow their CNAs to do their Accuchecks. And the worst of it, if I cover breaks, I will have been responsible for approx. 30 patients in one work day. Would an RN do that...bet my last dollar, absolutely not.

sauconyrunner · Jun 23, 2012

I gotta admit, if I was offerred a position to cover lunches, I would have totally gone for that, and I am an RN. I would NEVER EVER in my life let a CNA cover for me while I ate lunch, but I would let another RN or a LPN. Huge difference between what a CNA can do and what an LPN can do. One of my favorite assignments in the ED was "Lunches" Lunches starts at about 11 and could last right up to 7 pm.

I'm not really sure what you were told in school, but I have been a traveller and worked all over the country, and pretty much anywhere I worked in the last 12 years, LPNS/LVNs were not in the mix at acute care hospitals. It really is not that common to find LPN positions in a Hospital setting. RNs dont hate LPNs, but I don't really see a lot of positions for LPNs. I am not saying it is right or wrong, because I frankly don't care one way or the other, but it does seem to be the way it is.

happyinillinois · Jun 23, 2012

Many people care for 30 patients in a day. What do you think the ER is like? As soon as someone leaves, someone is in the room. Patient's are pulled out into the hallway to make room for the next patient, and now you have 2, plus all your other rooms. What is important is how many at the same time. That said, LPN's are not hired in acute care in the Chicagoland area. Heck ADN's are having a hard time getting into acute care, everyone wants a BSN. If it is acute care you want, I'd jump all over that offer.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 23, 2012

I would have been honored if offered such a job and jumped at the chance to prove my skills and knowledge as a practical nurse, especially if this was a rare opportunity in acute care. To me that is not insulting offer but an indication of an open minded manager that wanted to show the importance and relevance of a skilled LPN in an acute care setting. If you worked ER, ambulatory care or clinic you would easily encounter 30 patients in a shift.

Edited to add: definitely NOT a glorified CNA position as RN cannot delegate responsibility for patient care (care tasks yes, but not responsibility for care, ongoing assessment, treatment & medication) to a CNA but they can to a qualified LPN.

Anne36, LPN · Jun 27, 2012

Where I live magnet status is pushing the ADNs out. When I was in school last year they told us that if we came back to complete our RN we should plan on going for our BSN because that is what the hospitals are expecting now. There has been a lot of talk in the last couple years in a couple of the hospitals about only hiring BSN.

cemisciagna1 · Jun 27, 2012

I work for a magnet hospital and I am an LPN. Many hospitals utilize LPN's in their medical practices. There are a few positions within the hospital as well. Our hospital is also very pro education so there are many incentives to returning to school. They also require ADN's to obtain a BSN within 6 years which is reasonable. The short of it is this. There are some positions out there, but I'd be prepared for some stiff competition. Good luck in your search.

Seas · Jun 27, 2012

You shouldn't take this personally and make a drama out of it. It is not hate/like/better/worse thing. It has to do with scope of practice and standards. A lot of hospitals are not hiring LPN's anymore. It is even becoming harder for ADN's too. BSN and more is preferred. If you want to do more, go for RN, BSN.

AZMOMO2 · Jun 27, 2012

Very few hospitals anywhere hire LPNs anymore because they still require RNs to cover all of those patients as well and turn into more of a financial burden then help in their opinions.

Heck very few hospitals want to hire ADN RNs right now either. Sign of the times? Who knows? I have to write a paper on changing trends in educational qualifications within the advanced degree nurses and even there, you see a huge push toward requiring higher and higher degrees for entry level.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2012

I have worked many hospitals in my career, usually full-time with a "prn" job on the side. I have only worked in one hospital that had LPN's. The rest of the hospitals I worked in were RN only staff. It simply has to do with scope of practise.

DogWmn · Jun 27, 2012

The hospital I work at (as a patient sitter) is trying for Magnet status, they still have a few LPN's on the floors and they still hire LPN's on occasion, usually in specialty areas like Dialysis, Home Health, Clinics and Urgent Care. In the state of GA we have a very vague scope of practice that basically sez if we've been trained to do it or what ever the facility policy is we can do it. The hospital is a semi-rural regional hospital in a college town and soon will be getting med-school start up in the fall.

There will always be room for LPN's, maybe not in accute care, with exception of the rural areas of the country where no one wants to live.