Phasing out LPN's.

Published

:angryfire I have been an LPN for 36 years. For the last 20 I have heard talk

of phasing out LPN's. When I read the local paper all I see is CNA, and

CMA ads. For all my years I have been a charge nurse or in charge.

just exactly what does the medical community think these largely untrained persons will take the place of LPN's and they won't have to pay them.

Well, I hope and pray that this does not happen. Anyone out there agree.

Or do you think LPN's should be phased out and there just be Rn's and

cna's.

Specializes in Med-surg > LTC > HH >.
It's always about the money, and it always will be. I don't agree with it, nor do I really except it. I wanted to be a chef and could've made more money doing that, but I chose nursing because I want to help people not just make them fat LOL. But I'm so frusrtated already and I only started school in Sept. The things I've seen CNA, LPN and RN's do shock me. And they know I'm a student and they look at me and tell me "This is what you shouldn't do." What kind of message are they sending to us students?!?! It makes me so mad and I have to place to say anything either.The people are getting paid to take care of these people, not "forget" them.
Unfortunately the message they are sending you is that they are living in the real world and sometimes that is how things have to be done. It is one thing to be a student and quiet another to be working as a nurse. That is pretty standard though in most careers. You learn to do things one way in school and another in the real world. I'm also a hairdresser and if I cut your hair the way I was taught in cosmetology school,you wouldn't leave the house for a month:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: . Nursing school is more accurate in it's teachings than that, but you'll definantly have to pick up quiet a few shortcuts when you have as much responsibility as you will have once you graduate. And as far as the phasing out of LPN's, I don't see where they can afford to phase out any of us :rolleyes: with the nsg. shortage.

How does a person become a Med Tech? Thanks.

Hope its okay to post this link here :uhoh21: its another discussion by CNAs that relates to this one.

http://www.nursingassistants.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=115

I hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the butt...

I live in Maryland, and am a CNA (working on nursing prereqs.). My training was 60 hours theory, and 40 hours clinical. At the end of my hours there wasn't a "board," or test to take. I sent in $20 for my certification, along with a letter of recommendation from my school: I'm a CNA!

I don't think CNAs should be allowed to become a CMA. We are trained to wipe butt, bathe, and take vitals; hence, have no clue about body functions, and response to meds.

I believe CMAs are dangerous! :o

I hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the butt...

I live in Maryland, and am a CNA (working on nursing prereqs.). My training was 60 hours theory, and 40 hours clinical. At the end of my hours there wasn't a "board," or test to take. I sent in $20 for my certification, along with a letter of recommendation from my school: I'm a CNA!

I don't think CNAs should be allowed to become a CMA. We are trained to wipe butt, bathe, and take vitals; hence, have no clue about body functions, and response to meds.

I believe CMAs are dangerous! :o

Wow. In Virginia to become a CNA you have to take a multiple choice exam with about 75 questions and perform 5 skills for I guess its an RN instructor type person (I forgot the word they use for them). Plus the cost of the test is about 80 dollars.

Wow. In Virginia to become a CNA you have to take a multiple choice exam with about 75 questions and perform 5 skills for I guess its an RN instructor type person (I forgot the word they use for them). Plus the cost of the test is about 80 dollars.

I forgot to add that being a CNA in Maryland, I cannot work in a long-term care facility, and I believe that my CNA is not valid in any other state. You must be a GNA in the state of MD to be recognized elsewhere, and in order to obtain that certification you must use take a multi.choice test, and demonstart ADL skills to the examiner. I THINK our GNA test was around $80, as well.

DONT MOVE TO MARYLAND! LOL :chuckle

Wow......CNAs, CMAs, CMTs, PCTs.........they sure vary alot in their requirements for education and qualifications, don't they?

In one state they just have to take 2 to 4 hours of training and can pass meds, another state requires up to 100 hours and only take care of the basics.

Seems like a WIDE range of education and qualifications.

In the state operated facility I work in we have LSTs......"Life Skills Trainers". They are just like CNAs, however at my facility these aides won't even empty a catheter bag or take V/S. They take care of bathing, feeding, transferring, lifting, dressing, mouth care, MINOR treatments, such as applying ointments IF the ointment can be bought OTC, then our aides can apply it. If it's RX only, the nurses have to do it. Our dividing line between aides and nurses at my facility is much clearer.

Specializes in floor to ICU.
In the hospital I work in, they recently increased the level of responsibility for LPNs. They can now flush central lines and give IV meds in the form of parfills premixed by the pharmacy. They can also do central line dressing changes. The hospital does require that LPNs take a class and demonstrate competancy before they can work with central lines.

Shoot, I guess I'm ignorant to the differences between LPN and LVN. (or state to state scopes of practice) In Texas, we have always been able to do these things without any extra training. That is partly my motivation for going back to school because there are very few differences between what I do and what the RN's do.

I have found that most, if not all, of the LPNs I have worked with are very professional and good at their job. There have been several that I feel were much better nurses than some of the RNs I've worked with. I wouldn't want to work at the hospital on the floor again without having one on my team.

I was always very pleased if the charge nurse let me have one of the LPNs on my team. The pts get much better care, and I can actually have some time to spend teaching pts, not just running my behind off all night long.

Unfortunately the message they are sending you is that they are living in the real world and sometimes that is how things have to be done. It is one thing to be a student and quiet another to be working as a nurse. That is pretty standard though in most careers. You learn to do things one way in school and another in the real world. I'm also a hairdresser and if I cut your hair the way I was taught in cosmetology school,you wouldn't leave the house for a month:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: . Nursing school is more accurate in it's teachings than that, but you'll definantly have to pick up quiet a few shortcuts when you have as much responsibility as you will have once you graduate. And as far as the phasing out of LPN's, I don't see where they can afford to phase out any of us :rolleyes: with the nsg. shortage.

You are speaking the truth. I do remember being in nursing school many years ago and the instructors taught us the "right way" and told us never to detour from it. But, like you said, "the real world". In the real world we don't like being short handed and having to rush up jobs that should not be rushed. In the real world we don't like not having time to do things the "right way'. We got angry when we were newbies and saw a nurse taking a shortcut, but we were not in her shoes! We didn't see the doctor waiting on her to make rounds, the family waiting for her to get their family member admitted, the patient she was trying to give blood to, nor the patient who needs blood drawn for a stat level. No, we don't see all the "now" stuff she has to do until we enter: "the real world"! LOL. Then is when the eyes pop open...and pop open, they do! Anyway, I don't see a loss of LPN's just yet either. Thank God! They have said this for years. But, we are needing nurses more than ever. It would be stupid to cut the Lpn's. But then, some people think they are smart and wooohoooo! Take care and Merry Christmas! God bless you!:)

Specializes in Operating Room.

My grandmother was a LVN. I'm going for RN. (useless info...lol)

I really think that one should have extensive training to pass meds, especially after reading an English paper a med aide wrote. I didn't realize exactly what all these people do.....with such little training.

I believe, if phased out, LVN/LPN's should be given the opportunity to take a state paid for test, and get their RN status. Is there much difference between a LVN/LPN and an RN anyway? I'm not sure; Maybe one of you can answer that one for me.

What are they going to do next, pull someone off the street to do a brain surgery?

My grandmother was a LVN. I'm going for RN. (useless info...lol)

I really think that one should have extensive training to pass meds, especially after reading an English paper a med aide wrote. I didn't realize exactly what all these people do.....with such little training.

I believe, if phased out, LVN/LPN's should be given the opportunity to take a state paid for test, and get their RN status. Is there much difference between a LVN/LPN and an RN anyway? I'm not sure; Maybe one of you can answer that one for me.

What are they going to do next, pull someone off the street to do a brain surgery?

:) Yes, actually there is more to Rn than Lpn, it is education-wise. Do not get me wrong, Lpn's or Lvn's are very smart and good nurses, but the difference is more education. More courses. Also RN's get taught IV skills and a few other things in clinicals. More indepth on why diseases affect people the way they do. More on Care planning. More on management skills, etc. Just like there are more courses to get a BSN opposed to an ADN or more for a Masters or Doctorate degree. So, yes, it is all more education. You will see what I mean when you get started in your RN courses. We all make choices, some want the Lpn, some want the RN. I chose RN because I know there is a pay difference. Honestly. If you are a young person, I suggest you either go all the way for a BSN or Masters or Doctorate or for becoming a doctor. After all, the time has to go somewhere, may as well go in your pocket toward a great degree! I am only an ADN RN, but wish I had went on for at least the BSN. God bless you in your studies.

+ Join the Discussion