LPN Jobs on the increase here?

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

I was so shocked to see a ad in the paper for LPN's at a facility in Huntington. There have been a few others I have noticed lately. Do any of you think the "shortage" of RN's has started the hospitals to look again at LPN's or is it the cheaper labor? Come on, give me some input.

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

I think it has more to do with the shortage. When I was pondering nursing school, my NM advised me against going for an LPN for starters and said I should just go for the RN. At around the same time, a friend who had gone from aide to LPN was having a little trouble getting an LPN job. On my unit, we have a couple of sub-units which can only be staffed by RNs, and it's policy that every pt has to be assessed by an RN in every 24hrs, so scheduling LPNs gets a little tricky--but we've still hired several LPNs, recently.

It does seem like staffing with more LPNs would reduce the payroll. I suspect that's a lot of the rationale at places with "team nursing." But, at least on my unit, management seems very happy to see LPNs doing bridging to RN.

[Noryn]

Are you talking about St. Mary's? I think that is the first time I have saw a hospital job for lpns advertised in a long time. I am a bit surprised at the shortage in the Huntington area as they typically pay well compared to other parts of the state. I have a friend though who works in Huntington and she told me several nurses were leaving for King's Daughters.

To the best of my knowledge, the accrediting agencies and professional organizations have not changed their views on LPNs so a shortage is about the only explanation.

I still do not like the long term prospects for LPNs, about the only guaranteed workplace are nursing homes, and perhaps a few home care/health type jobs.

My opinion is that every pt (not in the unit) should have a RN, LPN and aide. When hospitals started eliminating lpns, care really took a hit.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Noryn,

I agree the care of patients took a real dive when units changed their make-up and mostly did away with LPN's and reduced the CNA's to one per side in most places. I know the big thing is primary care, but so many of the younger nurses do not do the care needed, either they do not know how and are too afraid to ask for assistance, or they refuse to do certain aspects of patient care. I was told by a new nurse once she refused to clean poop, well, being as I was going to be in charge for the next week, I made certain she had her share of that duty. I told the CNA's they were to assist but she was to be there helping, not talking at the desk, well....she hated me for awhile, then she came to me later and told me she still hated to clean a patient who was covered with feces but she realized she signed on for the whole role of nurse. She got to be a pretty good nurse, now she only works part time, she has 3 kids all very young, but she tackles the rough stuff now, not just the easy patients.

I actually had a doctor tell me yesterday he missed the old way of nursing and he is pretty young. Now, he did not mean the give up your seat for the doctor, he meant the nurse knowing a little about what was really going on with the patients, having labs ready for him if there was a potential problem, actually knowing if the meds for pain were working, if the patients was ambulating if able, and a thousand other little things he likes to hear. He loves it when I go in with the hubby, he says I give him a concise, current, and complete picture of hubby. I told him after 37 years I hope I know him a little. LOL.

Well, got to go. No Christmas for me this year but I still have a million things to do until January.

Have a blessed day.