LVN California HELP Job at risk!

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I have worked in Maternal Child Health for almost 30 years at the same hospital. I have been an LVN for over 35 years now. I've enjoyed my great job and have done all work as allowed under my LVN scope of practice. My new director is out to get the LVN's saying we do too much of what the RN does. She says we need an RN to co-sign assessments and our RN's are unwilling to do this. They don't want the responsibility and the director states it's the choice of the RN not to do it. I feel that they are trying to phase me out. I have the support of my board and now have had to get the union involved. I am one of two LVN's left in our acute care hospital. The others work in a different building which is a restorative care unit known as a skilled nursing facility.

I have long been considered one of the top nurses in my unit. I've never been written up and continually bring in patient compliments. They tell me I've been in the top five for many years. This is not a problem of being good at what I do. I've even been a mentor for their RN's and taught computer classes for those who can't catch on to the new computer charting. This all came about when I asked the Director if I could become an LVN 3. She said she thought I was and RN and didn't realize she had any LVN's in the unit. She has an attitude towards LVN's. It became apparent as soon as she knew I wasn't an RN. She should have known who worked in her department when she took the job. She is an interim person working for the corporate CHW. I really feel like she is trying to pull the rug out from under me for no good reason at all. I'm getting a slap in the face for a job well done.

The thought is that they want me to work at a unit secretary and "help" the RN's. In other words, they want a super gopher. I'm disgusted and hurt by this. The greatest support has come from the LVN board but a hospital can limit a scope of practice if they want.

If there is anyone out there who has had their employer try to change their job in this way, please give me some advice as to what I can do. I have loved my job and it sure doesn't seem fair to try and put me into a whole new job description after 30 years!!!!!

Please, please respond as soon as possible. Next meeting is Wednesday. I thought of posting here just in the hopes someone out there might be able to shed some light on this.

Thanks from this California LVN:bluecry1::bluecry1::angryfire:uhoh3::bugeyes:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

So sorry - I can only imagine how betrayed you must feel. I agree that is is pretty lame for a director to be unaware of exactly who she is supervising and claim she didn't know you were an LVN. But you can take that as a compliment too, although I am sure she didn't mean it that way.

The fact is that the whole healthcare environment has changed a lot since the time you (and I) began to practice nursing. OB is the most litiginous clinical area right now, and hospitals are trying to do everything they can to decrease their liabilities in this high-risk area. Hospital insurance carriers are also making demands - about what hospitals must do - or they won't insure them for clinical claims. There may be legitimate reasons that your hospital is moving toward an all-RN staff in OB that are totally unrelated to your competence or nursing ability.

You can't fight city hall - or changes in healthcare liability. But you certainly deserve better treatment.

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If you wanted to, would they support you while you bridged to RN? I realize it's probably hard to contemplate at this point in your career, but it seems to be the way CA hospitals are going.

I'm sorry this is happening to you & hope your situation improves. In any case, I would try to gather letters of support from RNs you've worked with over the years who support your current role in the unit. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, , Home health, Education.

I was an LPN for 15 years and our job descriptions seemed to change based on staffing needs. Sometimes we could do assessments, other times we couldn't. It was always such a grey area. After putting up with that for so long I decided "If you can't beat them, join them" so I went back to school. I will tell you that nursing school was much easier for me than most of my classmates because of my vast experience. I can relate to what you are going through. Best of luck to you.

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If it is not too late in your career I would consider bridging to RN. That would help you to retain your position. At this point I can understand that you don't want to change jobs. Either that or wait for retirement or resign. You know she wants you to resign so don't give her the satisfaction. Meanwhile try not to butt heads with her, maybe she will go away or this will all blow over. Congratulations on doing a good job for so long. Not many people can look over their career with so much pride.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

sorry sweetie. i do hope things get better for you real soon ! hugs to you ! :heartbeat

praiser

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

Well I think it SUCKS! Makes me want to puke :barf01:.My thoughts are with you. I hope that "director' ...............(fill in the blank). People like that are what ruins the profession. Best wishes and please keep us posted. Wish I had some constructive advice.......:hrnsmlys:

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Thank you for your continued replies and thoughts. I enjoyed the humor, Bedpan!! Our director will be leaving in about six weeks so that's a plus!! We had another meeting today. There are only three of us working in the acute care hospital and I would just like them to leave us alone. Why can't they do that? My next thought would be to see if I could get a petition signed by those I work with stating that they would like to see me continue in my position. A nurse on the unit suggested that. One of the main problems is that many key people are new to the administration. Once CHW moved in, corporate was intrtoduced. It's a difficult system to buck and it feels very impersonal. I don't know what is going to happen.

I will keep you informed and continue to check for any advice. Starting school again is almost unthinkable to me...I'm 57 and really didn't think it would REALLY come to this ...but it has.

Question is, can I really think and remember well enough to tackle school? We'll see.

Hugs from this California LVN

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error...see below...

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:o

hello everyone...:redpinkhe

i thought it only fair that i make contact with all of you again. you were so supportive and kind to reply to my past posts...thank you again.:loveya:

my job went the way of the dinosaur. i can no longer work in acute care..........but because of my work record and all those rn's who stuck by me, i was offered another position in the pediatric clinic. it's not my passion...not by a long shot....but at least i still have my job, my pay and my benefits. so much to be thankful for. the more i hear, the more i realize this. i have to look back and relfect upon a career well loved. i recently had a previous patient contact me to tell me she was going to be a patient again. she wanted me to be her nurse. i told her, very briefly that they would no longer let lvn's work in that area and she went to the top. it was nice but the times, they are a changin' as they say. i work 8:30 to 5 four days one week, three the next and have every friday, saturday and sunday off as well as every other tuesday. i worked pm's for 36 years so this time change was big for me. i left the acute care area last march. i started this job the next month.

i have to think about all the years i was doing what i loved....i have to leave that behind as though i retired and do what i can now. i'll be 58 soon. i think it's too late for that rn. excelsior didn't work for me...i just wasn't that driven to do that method. i would have liked a bridge program but to do that, i would have to take pre reqs to get into the pre reqs! time is not on my side....i did not get my rn when i should have so i'll have to live with that. i get paid half of what the rn's do. all i can do is encourage anyone thinking of getting their lvn to stick it out and wait to get their rn...take all the prereqs and wait. the lvn is not highly thought of at all. i've slumped into quite a depression over this. it was like a big slap in the face for a job well done. i don't say it to brag...but i tell you, i was an excellent nurse with compliments from patients that put me at the top.....not appreciated by some rn's but that's how it was. oh well, i have to eat humble pie. nothing can take away what my patients compliments gave me. i love and miss patient care....i have to let it go.

i would appreciate any replies/support. this has been a life changing event. so unfair. and besides all that, i work in a different building, not even in a hospital anymore. gone are all dear people i saw every time i worked.....gone, i felt banished.

anyway, not to sound dramatic....but it's been cruel and really made me sad. now i'm a secretary/biller at best. once in a while i give vaccines (hate to scare children) or help the unit secretary. but it is a job....i'm lucky to have one, i know.

californialvn ....older but wiser. too late for that rn ....but not too late to remember and appreciate all i've experienced. i so loved being a nurse in acute care...............best wishes to all of you.......and when the going gets rough, remember, you make the difference!!!!

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aw =) *hugs** i'm sure you're an awesome nurse. you can still go back to bedside care one day!

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It is only too late for the RN if you convince yourself of that. There are people older than you that complete RN programs because they make up their minds that they are going to do it. You are very lucky to have a job and your retirement intact. You say you miss patient care. Guess what I suggest? Go to a home health agency and ask to work one shift each week or two weeks or one shift a month with an easy client (or a difficult client that you have had years of experience with their care needs). My daughter works with an LVN in a hospital who does admin work. She works, I believe, one or maybe two shifts per month, with a home health client, to keep up her clinical skills and she is happy with that arrangement. You can be too. You can also get it together and start toward an RN license. It is up to you. Get your chin up lady! Glad to hear they did not terminate you. Best wishes.

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