LPNs in Children's Hospitals?

[Kidsrablast]

Can anyone tell me if they work in a children's hosptal that employs LPNs? I'm seriously considering going to back to nursing school. The problem is I had a hell of time with some of my pre-clinical classes. That is why I'm asking about LPNs because I feel I could never handle the studying involved in becoming an RN.

[pedsRN1268]

I'd say stick to the South, in non-Magnet nursing-certified hospitals. I'm from the North where almost no LPNs are still hired, and have been working in the South, where on many non-ICU floors, LPNs are still utilized. The problem you'd run into is with a Magnet hospital, regardless of where you live. Magnet hospitals require a certain (high) percentage of staff to have at least a Bachelor's degree, and I know that in my hospital, the policy was that if you didn't have your Bachelor's when you were hired, they expected you to be in school to get it and obtain your degree within a certain amount of time. So I'd say it's possible for you to be hired, especially if you have experience, but you'd probably have an easier time getting hired and keeping your position if you intended to go back to school.

[HazelLPN, LPN]

How is this an insult to her education? She is making the choice to work at an organization that does not utilize LPNs in a primary role. This is not uncommon. In fact, I have known LPNs who choose to work in acute care in a support staff role because they are paid better and have better benefits than primary nursing jobs they can get in the area in non-acute care. I am not saying there are not LPN jobs out there in acute care, but they are not abundant in most areas.

How it is in an insult to her education?

I don't even know where to start.....so I won't.