LPN phase out d/t Medicare regulations???

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Today in a meeting, my nurse manager said that d/t medicare compensation changes, the private hospitals in our area (Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals) are laying off LPNs from the bedside, that all bedside nurses would be RNs. I'm an RN in the VA hospital, but my wife teaches an NCLEX review course for both LPNs and RNs and she would be interested in this information. She stated this, not in the context of the rumors we've been hearing forever, but stated it as a fact. Anybody else hear about this?

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Well I live in Panama City Florida and the 2 hospitals in my town don't hire LPNs anymore this just happened like 2 yrs ago we have a bunch of rehab places and nursing homes and clinics that hire LPNs tho

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Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

Most large hospitals have phased out LPNs but some smaller, rural hospitals still use us. You will find LPNs in hospitals as medication reconciliation nurses, as unit secretaries and in hospital based clinics.

LPNs, at least in my state, are widely used in Hospice, ALFs, Home Health, clinics, prisons, LTCs, in various office positions, medical records, utilization review, admissions coordinators, case management, staffing coordinators, MDS nurses...IOW, anywhere but major hospitals.

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

In my area LPN's are hired at the major hospitals. Also we have numerous job openings for all levels of healthcare. So while that may be the case at that specific area, it is most assuredly not true in all places.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Since Medicare is a federal program it seems unlikely that one state would have a regulation like that and another not, so it probably isn't true and there may be another reason behind your nurse manager's statement.

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I don't buy the managers explanation. So many things are being blamed on healthcare reform. It's the new scapegoat when your employer wants to screw you over. I've been hearing it for years now.

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Yes, LPNs have been phased out of the hospital setting in many, if not most, areas of the country. Fortunately (and contrary to popular belief) there are other places a nurse can work.

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In my area LPNs are being phased out. I am an LPN and when job searching I noticed a major decline in LPN jobs and had hardly any responses to my resume. I went to my local career center to get info and they confirmed that LPNs are being phased out. RNs are being used in most hospital jobs and lower paid positions like CNAs, Med techs, PCTs, and Medical assistants are being used instead of hiring LPNs. There are only a few LTC facilities hiring LPNs and the only place to work is Home health. Some doctors offices will hire an LPN but there is so much competition now with the changes that are happening and the pay is extremely low. The LPN phase-out started in my area 2 years ago and it is very hard trying to get an LPN job. I have a friend who is a 9 year LPN with excellent references who is also struggling to find employment. (Use to 9 years experience stood for something) After job searching for nearly 2 months she was offered a job at a doctors office for extremely low pay (which she had to turn down) my friend and I recently accepted a home health job (which is only PRN which means no set hours or schedule or benefits) That is what my 2 years experience and her 9 years experience got us. It definately true that LPNs are most definately being phased out. The areas that don't see a phase-out of LPNs will be seeing it in the near future. I didn't think it would happen in my area either Until it did.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

They may be phased out but it isn't because of any new Medicare regulation. The job market varies so the best thing to do is do your research on the area you plan to work in after graduation.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

What your boss meant to say is.....

We project we will be X.X dollars in the red and due to the anticipated losses produced by the projected "medicare cuts" and the new Obama healthcare plan....we must make cuts to maintain profit margins and the CEO salary and his yearly bonus, incentives, perks and retirement that we are trying to recruit......we must lay off the very staff that care for patients but bring in no revenue....Oh yes that's right...nurses.....but we have to leave the RN's legally so we will dump the LPN's.

Corporate greed....unbelievable....did you know that Metro health paid 10.2 million dollars to a consulting firm that used to be owned by their CEO, that he suddenly quit to go to MetroHealth... in 2009/2010? Only to announce a decision to leave in 2011???

Hummm...and the nurses cost them the most. disgusting.

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In Maine, many places are no longer hiring LPN's with the exception of companies that hire home visiting nurses. Most hospitals are not all together. I was told that they are being phased out, though the LPN school here is $39,000 and still full with students.

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The RNs have a very powerful political lobby. Here in California they have managed to get themselves legally required in certain areas at certain numbers, leaving hospitals little choice financially. They are cutting out the middle guy (us) since they have to hire the RNs and going with RN/CNA staffing.

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