Other Options For LPN's

[pat8585]

Hello

I am not a nurse..but would like to be one day. I read and hear that Lpn's are getting phased out..that they are limited.

THen I read and hear that Lpn's are doing almost everything Rn's do.

I guess my question is...are lpn's needed in places beside LTC facilities?

PS God bless all LPN's! (and RN's)

[eligrace]

I have been considering something similar, would you please let me know how to start.

Thanks,

Elisha

[eligrace]

I work as an Independent Contractor doing home care / private duty. I on contract with a couple of state agencies, make good money, do my own schedule and am my own boss. I LOVE IT. I use to do the same work/same patients through a home health agency but have found that I can do as an independent.

I am thinking of a similar road. How did you get started?

[annah2000]

I work in an OR, PRN pre-op and PRN ER.

did you do some kind of fast track program with the r.n program your doing now?

[mariahsmom]

I Agreee The Pace In Lts Is Horrific. I Work It And It's Getting The Best Of Me. I Have Beem An Lpn For 9 Years And Ltc X1 Year Now. 30 Plus Pts On The Skilled Nursing Hall. And Any Callins In The Building I Have To Fine Replacements. Someone Falls- A 4 Pager To Do. Sometimes 2-3 Admits On 1 Day In Addition To My Meds, Treatments, Etc. I Am Stressed, Cry Every Day I Have To Go. I Need Suggestions- Thanks.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

July 13th will be a year that I have worked as an LPN and while the work is hard, I have received wonderful opportunities.

Well, happy anniversary! :smiley_aa

[hikernurse]

They've been saying that LPNs are being phased out for many, many years. To a certain extent it's true, but I worked on a med/surg floor as an LPN while earning my RN degree and there are several floors on the hospital that also hire LPNs. Most of the nurses in the doc's offices around are also LPN's--the exception is OB offices; they predominantly hire experienced RN's.

I don't regret having been an LPN at all :).

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Well, happy anniversary! :smiley_aa

Thanks, Commuter! I already feel like an old soul that has already acquired heel spurs as evidence of my active nursing career!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I have seen the see-saw tilt from LPN to RN several times as working as a CNA. At one time, they laid off many RNs from the clinics and even some of the floors; having one or two RNs and more LPNs. Now, with pushing RNs towards professionalism, it is tilted again towards RNs. However, there is a grave shortage of both. My hospital is applying for magnet status, so, it is pro-RN for sure.

What makes some of the RNs in my hospital uncomfortable is that while our facility is applying for magnet, they are really not supportive of their nurses. They are not as autonomous as they advertise nursing to be. More emphasis is placed on the RN where I work without the proper orientation and they are still working in unsafe nurse-patient ratios. Actually, hate to say it, but I hope that they do not receive magnet, because if they do, then this means that all systems will still go the way they are presently being run because it would mean that they can just bull-crap their way to anything they want while sacrificing nurses all the way.