Jobs for LPN's

Published

I will be graduating from my schools LPN program in august and transitioning over to the RN program in the spring. The thing is, they want the transitioning students to have experience as an LPN before coming into the RN program. My question is, working in a hospital what kind of floor am I allowed to work on? I've noticed that a lot of places are ruling out hiring LPN's so I'm kind of worried I wont find a job. I liked observing in the OR and I know the scrub nurses are allowed to be LPN's but where else am I allowed to go? It seems as if I have just a handful of options....:o

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

So you don't want to gain any experience in long-term care? There are many LPN jobs in rehabilitation, geriatrics, home health, assisted living, and sub-acute.

If you're still set on landing a hospital job, look at psych nursing, sub-acute, day surgery, med-surg, postpartum, rehab, or oncology.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd like to get a job in the hospital for the experience. I've heard the money for LPN's is in the nursing homes. I figured if I start in a hospital I can move up to a better job after I graduate with my RN. I was just trying to look at my options. I guess I just need to start looking around to see who will hire me as an LPN. Thanks for your help!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Best option would be long term care. You can get skilled nursing experience as well as geriatric care and management skills. (As a charge nurse, usually on 3 - 11 or 11- 7 you would gain the management skills).

Hospital work is great but more than likely you will be placed in med-surg, rehab or a snf unit. Plus, the duties of an LVN in the hospital are limited. You will have more opportunity in long term care. Just my 2 cents. :) Good luck~!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

All I know is my province here in Canada. LPN's are utilized to full scope of practice. We work LTC, acute care, rehab, psychiatric hospitals, public health, dialysis and in diagnostic imaging.

Luckily I work in one of the most LPN friendly health authorities in the province. There have been shift I've worked where the LPN/RN ratio is 6/2. Healthcare is coming down to cost and we are considered cost effective.

Up here to enter a bridge programme there is a minimum number of hours of LPN practice before acceptance (between 1700 and 2000) and letters of referral from employers required. It is interesting that our bridge only became available at the same time that it was announced that by 2009 the BScN will be the entry point required. But still there are vacant seats in the bridge classes. The following reasons have been mentioned, we get very little credit for our experience and still take nearly two years to complete a diploma RN, the programme is unorganized, and cost (it will cost roughly $30K). Younger LPN's are willing to do it but the majority of working LPN's in my area are in their mid40s. Do the math. Full time school for two plus years, lost income, lost pension plan payments, etc.

I'd rather invest in my children's future eduation than rack up a $30K student loan, $65K in lost wages, and two plus years missing pension payments. I'd have to work full time for at least 5 years to pay the loans and pension points. I can retire with my LPN pension in 8 years...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

I agree that most LPNs end up on a med-surg floor although I'm sure there are hospitals that hire LPNs in other areas, just seems the need for them is in med-surg. There are always LPN jobs in LTC as well as rehab and psych. Check it out, but make sure you go somewhere that you want to, not someplace you feel you HAVE to go, otherwise you won't enjoy your job!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work in Med-Surg and really like it. The pace is brutal, and so is the patient load: 8 acute pt's all in varying states of recovery but it is alway challenging. The money is bad $ 16.91/hr but if you want to learn this is the place to be......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Some hospitals will hire LPNs for their float pool. Float pool will give you a variety of experience on different floors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am not in a float pool I have my own assignment every night and work out to the limit of my practice. Its a great job...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I was replying to the OP only.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Endocrinology.

There's alway an office job. I work for a specialist and the hours are great. Family practices use LPN's to assist the docs in procedures and draw blood. We don't do any procedures. The most invasive thing I've done there is remove stitches and give injections.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:twocents::nurse:I work in a hospital as a float Lpn for the following departments. Med-Surg, Cardiac, Peds, & Rehab. The hospital where I work requires you to work at least one year in LTC before they will even think of hiring a LPN and then you must work one year in the Med-Surg. unit before you can bid if and when there are any openings. In my opinion every nurse that works in the hospital should have to work in the Med-Surg. unit for at least one year, before you can work in any other department in the hospital.

The reason that I feel that way is about working in the Med-Surg unit is, you learn really quickly how to organize, prioritize, and work with a variety of patients from fresh post-op hip fractures to trach patients. Once you learn to work in the fast pace Med-Surg. unit, then you can learn do anything or work anywhere except ER and that is another story.

Best of Luck,

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion