Prefering RNs to LPNs

Published

I was told that the hospitals are perfering RN's to LPN's and I would be better off taking the RN route for the long run. Is this true?

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

i think rn's are preferred to lpn's in the hospital setting. but lpn's are preferred to rn's in other areas such as ltc, doctor's office.

where i work they do not hire lpn's anymore but those we have are not let go. the lpn's have the same job description other than they cannot spike blood, give certain iv meds like lopressor or do charge. they are every bit as much a valuable team member as the rn's.

i have been both an lpn and now an rn. i would advise anyone to get their rn from the git-go. besides the higher rate of pay having your rn opens many more doors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In the Rochester area I see it sway back and forth. The hospitals want LPNs, they don't want them. Right now LPNs are being hired in the ER at one the magnet hospitals. I really think it depends on the hospital, the shortage in the area and scope of practice as definined by the state.

As someone else stated, they are just as many lazy RNs as there are LPNs. It has nothing to do with title and all to do with the person.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Author/Business Coach.
LPNs are going to go the way of the dodo in a hospital environment anyway.They belong in a SNU or nursing home,not a fast paced hospital. Between having to do all of their IV meds,do their charting,do their consents,do their discharges,asses their patients as well as yours,they are just more of a liability than they are helpful. Unless you totally trust your LPN to do the assessment well,you have to do it yourself.Then if anything happens to this patient down the road and the LPN didnt see it or didnt tell the RN,the RN covering the LPN is the one who gets popped. I would much rather have 7 patients on my own than have 5 and cover 2 LPN patients.

They just don't belong in a hospital where things need to get done now and fast that an RN has to do for them.I hate to say all this,but it's the truth.

Spend the extra year in school,become an RN,you will make twice as much and be much happier for it. LPNs dont make much more here than a patient care assistant/nurse aide, but you have 1000x the responsibility.Frankly most of the LPNs we have are lazy,they wanted a fast way out of school to make more than they could at wal mart.Again,sad but true.There are some dedicated LPNs,but at my hospital at least,1 of 5 is actually worth having there.

lol~! I was a LPN for 4.5 years. I still feel like that aspect of my life should have been skipped for my RN degree. I have never charged over a LPN ( I work ICU, where I have yet to see a LPN) I never felt respected as a LPN and got stuck with alot of the same duties as a RN but with a whole heck of a lot less pay. It has taken me so long to pursue higher education because I took the long route from CNA, Med Aide, LPN, RN-ADN, now still in school for BSN. I never got to work in a "Big Hospital" as a LPN because they wanted RN's. My skills were limited to the Nursing home and LTAC centers....:cry: I don't completly agree with the lazy thing though. I was completly determined to pursue higher education and wanted to learn as much as possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

well isn't this something. you know after all these years being a lvn i have not once needed a rn to do anything you have listed here. baloney!!! however, i have started several iv's for rn's that just could not get the stick right. another thing if you think that your 7 hospital patients are fast (give me a break) ...come with me on the skilled floor when i have 20 patients multiple piccs , iv's , iv meds , g- tube meds , medicare charting on all (do you know what medicare charting is) ,stage 4 decubs and wound vacs. throw in several dying hospice patients needing pain management and we have a full day...

one more thing ..i have to take a pay cut when i graduate and become a rn...

lpns are going to go the way of the dodo in a hospital environment anyway.they belong in a snu or nursing home,not a fast paced hospital. between having to do all of their iv meds,do their charting,do their consents,do their discharges,asses their patients as well as yours,they are just more of a liability than they are helpful. unless you totally trust your lpn to do the assessment well,you have to do it yourself.then if anything happens to this patient down the road and the lpn didnt see it or didnt tell the rn,the rn covering the lpn is the one who gets popped. i would much rather have 7 patients on my own than have 5 and cover 2 lpn patients.

they just don't belong in a hospital where things need to get done now and fast that an rn has to do for them.i hate to say all this,but it's the truth.

spend the extra year in school,become an rn,you will make twice as much and be much happier for it. lpns dont make much more here than a patient care assistant/nurse aide, but you have 1000x the responsibility.frankly most of the lpns we have are lazy,they wanted a fast way out of school to make more than they could at wal mart.again,sad but true.there are some dedicated lpns,but at my hospital at least,1 of 5 is actually worth having there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.
however, i have started several iv's for rn's that just could not get the stick right.

i am glad to see that you are a team player.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

Maybe we could find a map of areas that are actively recruiting LPNs. I know that new LPNs are scared about job security. I can only say how it is in my area. No hospital jobs, no psych jobs, etc... But trends are different in different areas.

You know this anomosity between RN and LPNs really I think is the fault of the BON. Talk about reading laws and stuff that is constantly in a world of grays. The BON should be taking an active role to get these 2 types of nursing roles to communicate and to write laws that are black and white and enforceable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Between having to do all of their IV meds,do their charting,do their consents,do their discharges,asses their patients as well as yours,they are just more of a liability than they are helpful. Unless you totally trust your LPN to do the assessment well,you have to do it yourself.

This doesn't make much sense- if you are doing everything you listed for the LPN, what are they doing? Initial hospital assessment to be done by RN- some IV pushes, blood products, but that doesn't amount to a whole shift.

Frankly most of the LPNs we have are lazy,they wanted a fast way out of school to make more than they could at wal mart.

Most of them? wow.

This doesn't make much sense- if you are doing everything you listed for the LPN, what are they doing? Initial hospital assessment to be done by RN- some IV pushes, blood products, but that doesn't amount to a whole shift of work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

keyboard problems. sorry

Up Vote Up Vote ×
LPNs are going to go the way of the dodo in a hospital environment anyway.They belong in a SNU or nursing home,not a fast paced hospital. Between having to do all of their IV meds,do their charting,do their consents,do their discharges,asses their patients as well as yours,they are just more of a liability than they are helpful. Unless you totally trust your LPN to do the assessment well,you have to do it yourself.Then if anything happens to this patient down the road and the LPN didnt see it or didnt tell the RN,the RN covering the LPN is the one who gets popped. I would much rather have 7 patients on my own than have 5 and cover 2 LPN patients.

They just don't belong in a hospital where things need to get done now and fast that an RN has to do for them.I hate to say all this,but it's the tru

Spend the extra year in school,become an RN,you will make twice as much and be much happier for it. LPNs dont make much more here than a patient care assistant/nurse aide, but you have 1000x the responsibility.Frankly most of the LPNs we have are lazy,they wanted a fast way out of school to make more than they could at wal mart.Again,sad but true.There are some dedicated LPNs,but at my hospital at least,1 of 5 is actually worth having there.

ALL I CAN SAY IS "WOW"!!!!!!!!!:nono:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.
Ehh, that's been said for years. I doubt it will ever happen. It will probably happen the day that ADN nurses are eliminated...

Out of the three major hospitals in my area, 2 have eliminated all LPN positions within the last 5 years. Just sayin.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'll echo what other people say....go the RN route for better pay and job opportunities.

Around here LPNs enjoy many job opportunities and good pay in Long Term Care facilities, rehabs and nursing homes, but due to the Joint Commission mandate that all hospitalized patients receive an "RN level of care" (whatever that is) hospitals are sticking to RNs.

Believe me if they could get away with the pay they pay LPNs there would be more of them in hospitals around here. Because like others have posted they do much of what a floor RN does except for a few things, but make on average $8.00 less. The hospital I work in hires LPNs few and far between because they need RN coverage for their assignment anyway. No new grad LPNs have been hired in several years.

Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

CNA's, LPNs and RNs all play a vital role in the health and well being of the people. There's room for us all and role to play.

Thread closed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion