Hi! I just joined this site today and can't wait to spend more time hanging out and communicating with all of you. Right now, I'm working on a debate that I have to participate in at school. I am to argue FOR mixed staffing. Meaning not all RNs. Staffing that includes RNs, LPNs, PCTs/CNAs. I can't find a lot of information that supports this. Can you help me find information? Also, how do you experienced nurses feel about this topic?
Well where I live, LPN's are made to be more of a burden on the RN than an asset. I live in Illinois and the city I live in has 3 large hospitals and none hire LPN's. Between the state of Illinois' restrictions and the individual hospitals restrictions about the only thing a LPN can do is wipe a butt. It's kind of ironic though because when I look up each hospital individually at there job openings, I don't see how they can operate with all the RN openings. One had 60+ openings at one time just for RN's. I'm guessing the patients are getting real quality care, NOT! I remember when I started my prereqs for LPN school the hospital that I worked at as a pharmacy tech. had LPN's allover the place, and the closer I got to getting into the program the less and less I saw LPN's, until there were almost none. The one's that are left are treated like crap or made to get their RN or leave. I actually wanted to work med/surg originally after I started school, but as time went on and I saw how the LPN's were thought of around here, you couldn't pay me enough to work in a hospital. If they ever decide to hire LPN's again, I still wouldn't apply. If I'm not good enough now, then they can you know what. I'll just continue to work LTC and at my family practice clinic where we are clinic nurses and LTC nurses not a hierachy of nurses. Honestly, I don't think there should be mixed staffing in my state right now because the animosity (sp) between RN's and LPN's is high, which is to bad, but that is just the way it is.
Specializes in Nurse Manager, Med-Surg, Instructor.
I'm an RN and worked all RN staffing, mostly in ICU and with mixed staffing in other areas. I like the mixed staffing best. While doing your research look for "Practice Partnerships" in the literature, regarding a team of an RN and an LPN that takes a group of patients together. When I was a nurse manager, I changed the healthcare delivery system on my 23-bed telemetry unit from "Primary Care" to Practice Partnerships and the nursing care improved considerably, doctors were happy and they filled my unit, patients asked to be on my unit, and the turnover rate decreased. Hope this helps.
If you are prearing for a debate, don't forget to think about what arguments your opponents will make.
In Med Surg I prefer mixed staffing, with aides assigned to RN and not to patient or geopraphical areas. In ICU's et all all RN staff is my preference.
I work in an all-RN ICU and we are having a mass exodus of staff right now due largely to the fact that we don't have techs.
It will be my main reason for leaving after my year is up, as well. FWIW I will never again work on a unit (critical care or otherwise) that does not have techs. Even our PACU has techs!
:DI am about to graduate in May and I have to present this topic with a group to our entire class and I am having trouble looking for "research" or even a little information on supposedly this new conversion of all RN staffing. I don't think it would be a very wise decision having to do with shortage first of all, then whose to say RNs give better care than LVNs. And what about errors done, who are having the most errors, RN or LVN. Then my topic is off of, if you have an RN new graduate and an LVN with 5+ years experience, who are you going to hire? Replies are great, but if anyone could let me know on where I could get some info, let me know. It would be deeply appreciated!!!
in the Uk its called skills mix so try using that term also
i'm still a student but i'd perfer to work where everyone did their jobs either all rn, or a skills mixed ward, we had a locum nurse who wasn't able to do meds
as had worked on a dialylsis so havinga fellwo rn may be hindrace
kstec, LPN
483 Posts
Well where I live, LPN's are made to be more of a burden on the RN than an asset. I live in Illinois and the city I live in has 3 large hospitals and none hire LPN's. Between the state of Illinois' restrictions and the individual hospitals restrictions about the only thing a LPN can do is wipe a butt. It's kind of ironic though because when I look up each hospital individually at there job openings, I don't see how they can operate with all the RN openings. One had 60+ openings at one time just for RN's. I'm guessing the patients are getting real quality care, NOT! I remember when I started my prereqs for LPN school the hospital that I worked at as a pharmacy tech. had LPN's allover the place, and the closer I got to getting into the program the less and less I saw LPN's, until there were almost none. The one's that are left are treated like crap or made to get their RN or leave. I actually wanted to work med/surg originally after I started school, but as time went on and I saw how the LPN's were thought of around here, you couldn't pay me enough to work in a hospital. If they ever decide to hire LPN's again, I still wouldn't apply. If I'm not good enough now, then they can you know what. I'll just continue to work LTC and at my family practice clinic where we are clinic nurses and LTC nurses not a hierachy of nurses. Honestly, I don't think there should be mixed staffing in my state right now because the animosity (sp) between RN's and LPN's is high, which is to bad, but that is just the way it is.