LPN's Aren't Allowed to Work in NJ?

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So.... just got out of A & P today and I'm kinda distressed. I was told that LPNs aren't not allowed to work in hospitals in NJ so I would have to go work in Penn if I wanted a hospital experience. I understand that since a LPNs scope of practice is less than that of a RN that it takes time away from RNs to supervise us... but so what? Out of all the problems that are in the American health care system, you're going to disallow a LPNn to get the experience they desire? You would think, if anything, LPNs HELP RNs handle their time better because we can do tasks that require a lesser degree of training.

I find it kind of insulting really and perpetuates the idea that LPNs aren't "real" nurses.

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You know it's actually funny. I'm from South Jersey and know all those hospitals very well. I knew I had to be misunderstanding something. This girl was trying to make it sound like it was ILLEGAL!

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MQ Edna said:
You know it's actually funny. I'm from South Jersey and know all those hospitals very well. I knew I had to be misunderstanding something. This girl was trying to make it sound like it was ILLEGAL!

LOL! If it's illegal for LPNs to work in hospitals then call the cops, I need to be placed under arrest.

It's not that LPNs are not allowed to work in hospitals. Hospitals just don't hire many LPNs.

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Okay... I'm going to go back to class on Monday and request that my peer be given a drug test. (jk, if it's one thing I've learned so far since starting school is that it's NOT a competition and if one of us fail, it's because we didn't work hard enough as a team)

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Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

There are tons of long term care and doctor office positions. There are some "grandfathered" LPNs at my facility...but they do not hire new. Part of this has to do with magetization and public opinion. Education=safe care-and everybody is looking for the BSN nurse.

Personally, I think a new nurse is a new nurse. I have an ASN and am currently pursuing my MSN, but truthfully new grads regardless of level are all on the same playing field. I really think age, and background should be taken into account when looking at the potential employee package. I've met great LPNs and crappy BSNs. The problem is not going to go away, if you are able you should pursue higher education....it's going to get harder to get hired and your scope of care and options will be limited.

Maisy

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Well I'm def. going for my higher education, its just right now I wanted to make a little more money to be able to afford going to school for my RN. My dream is to someday be a NP

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Specializes in Sub-Acute.

UMDNJ actually hires LPN's to work in their ER! Go Figure!

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UMDNJ actually hires LPN's to work in their ER! Go Figure!

Good to know!

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Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

ER! Really?

Can't imagine.....discharge planning-initial teaching-lpn can't do. Tons of assessment-lpn can't do. Tons of iv push medications-lpn can't do. What actions do they perform? NJ scope of practice is pretty narrow. I'd be interested to know.

Thanks

Maisy

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Specializes in Sub-Acute.

Would not hurt to call UMDNJ's HR department and find out?

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

When I worked at RWJ, they hired LPN's but I hear they're phasing them out. I don't know any Virtua hospitals that hire LPN's but that's not to say that the doctor's offices/LTC facillity doesn't. Most hospitals are phasing them out because it takes away from an RN's job. I worked with an LPN and she couldn't take any verbal orders, couldn't do any IV push meds and we had to do her chart checks and do verbal consent on her pts. It was like having twice the workload, personally.

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