Amanda is a 49-year-old LPN. She works on the Tele floor of a medium sized hospital-but as a patient care technician (PCT), not as an LPN. A few years ago, her hospital announced it would no longer be employing LPNs and she could either go back to school and get her RN or work as a PCT.
As head of her family and with 3 children, Amanda did not want to go back to school and went from being a nurse to no longer being a nurse. If an IV pump alarms, Amanda doesn't touch it but instead goes to find the RN. The transition was hard, but she figures she still has a job.
Nicole is graduating high school and wants to be a nurse, but the list of pre-requisites for the registered nursing program would take at least one to two years. After that, there's no guarantee she'd even be accepted into the nursing program. Her local college is using a lottery system to choose qualified applicants. Nicole wants to start her career, working as a nurse, more than anything. She's thinking of enrolling in the LPN program. She could be finished in a little over a year, and the cost is low.
The past few years, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) as they're called in California, have been ushered out of acute care settings and many feel that the LPNs/LVNs are on their way out altogether.
Is the role still relevant today?
Respect
There is a lot of love for LPNs/LVNs by RNs. As a long-time RN, many of us worked alongside LPNs/LVNs in ICU, ED, and the floors. There was very little distinction between what they did and what an RN did, except for giving IV medications.
LPNs/LVNs inserted nasogastric tubes, foley catheters, administered blood transfusions, performed wound care, and started IVs. We were a team and respected each other. Many RNs will say they were trained by LPNs/LVNs when they started.
Education
LPN/LVN is considered vocational training and as such does not require a college degree or result in a college degree. However, training is required from an accredited school resulting in a postsecondary non-degree award. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits LPN/LVN programs. Be sure your school is accredited.
LPN/LVN coursework is not easy.
For example, Pharmacology can be a very challenging class if it's your first exposure to college classes and/or the medical world, or if you've been out of school for a while. Learning brand new information such as medical terminology, with no previous like information to anchor it to in your brain takes a lot of studying, motivation and smarts.
The advantage of becoming an LPN/LVN is a faster track to employment. Some LPN/LVN programs take a year to complete whereas an associate degree (ADN) RN program will take 2 years, plus pre-requisites.
After completing the program, and just like RNs, LPNs/LVNs take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), versioned for LPNs/LVNs.
Pay
According to The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (2016-17), the median annual salary for an LPN/LVN is $42,490. The median annual salary for an RN is $66, 640.
Actual salaries for all nurses vary greatly and are primarily based on based on location, but the pay difference between LPNs/LVNs and RNs is large. See Allnurses 2015 Salary Survey Results .
Projected Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected growth for LPNs by 2024 is 15%.
This author's opinion is that overall, the employment job outlook for RNs is stronger than the outlook for LPNs/LVNs. LPNs/LVNs have fewer settings to choose from, and in some areas, long-term care (LTC) facilities are reported to be hiring ADN RN graduates over LPNs/LVNs.
At the same time, just like baby-boomer RNs, LPNs/LVNs will be retiring soon, and jobs will open up.
Career Options
RNs have far more options for professional development and career options, especially away from the bedside. This is a consideration when looking ahead thirty years or so down the road when the physical demands of bedside nursing can be tough on older bodies. LPNs/LVNs are trained to provide patient care and non-patient care roles are harder to find. Some settings for LPNs/LVNs include:
- Nursing care facilities
- Home health care services
- Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for elderly
- Clinic offices
- Physician offices
Conclusion
In the end, you have to weigh your situation and your goals and determine what's best for you. Some people become an LPN/LVN to get started in the field and then bridge into an RN program when they're able (I did).
Others have a passion for patient care and know without a doubt being an LPN/LVN is a calling tailor-made for them.
Best wishes and hope this helps in your decision. Nurse Beth
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016-17 Occupational Outlook Handbook
