State lpn programs to be closed...... Please protest

jewelgirls · Nov 27, 2009

I am on this site right now to do the same thing you are doing. It is devastating. What about the classes still in session? Will they be able to finish? Thanks for posting and I will do the same!

HartfordSPN, LPN, LVN · Nov 27, 2009

jewelgirls i honestly dont know. I am a current student at prince tech and i honestly dont know. i just got this email from the director of our nursing program. I am truly heart broken. What about the students that recently applied?

Thanks for joining this cause i truly appreciate any help we can get not only for me but for all the prospective students.

-Nina

jewelgirls · Nov 27, 2009

unfortunately, the entire lpn faculty of the connecticut technical school system received some distressing news on wednesday around 12n.

governor rell released her budget mitigation plan to reduce the deficit. in this plan, item # 25 of program reductions within gubernatorial authority is the suspension of the lpn adult education program in the technical high school system.

if this is allowed to occur, the class of 2008 - 2010 will be the last lpn class to graduate from the technical high school system. there will be no future lpn classes.

i believe that the lpn program has benefited many individuals over the years and i am asking for the help of you, your current classmates and anyone you may be in contact with from years past. forward this e-mail to all who would be willing to help.

i am asking that you send e-mails and make phone calls to the governor, stressing the importance of the lpn program to you, the well being of your family and the contributions that will be made as employed people working in the state of connecticut.

this needs to be done immediately!!!

thank you everyone.

note: please do not include email addresses or telephone numbers in any posts per the terms of service.

CTPCTstudent · Dec 3, 2009

I am so upset about this. I have been working the last two years to be able to attend this program; now all my work is in vain!

Thornbird · Dec 12, 2009

I recall in the news a couple months ago that CT received federal stimulus money to support nursing education. I suspected then it would probably not go to supporting education for those who are really the backbone of nursing - LPN's and ADN's. I have very mixed feelings about LPN practice in this state, it is unfair to begin with that programs are longer than most and the scope pf practice among the most restricted (if not THE most restrictive). The only reason LPN's have difficulty finding jobs in this state is the scope of practice making them unappealing job candidates. I attended a state LPN program in the early 1980's and the tuition was completely free then due to the nursing shortage. I really believe that I received an education comparable to ADN programs in some areas less the Liberal Arts requirements. These programs have provided LPN's with top notch training for deacades. Jobs may be harder to find now because so many nurses are coming back into the full-time workforce who worked part time or not as nurses at all.

Nevertheless, once the economy is better, there will again be a HUGE number of jobs available for LPN's and nobody to fill them. I can't believe the shortsightedness of this measure. I have read that the instructors for LPN programs have a conract that won't allow layoffs, I hope this means that all who are currently attending will at least be allowed to finish.

Again, let's ask the Governor WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THIS STATE RECEIVED TO SUPPORT NURSING EDUCATION!!!!

elkpark · Dec 12, 2009

The US economy is in the toilet -- many states are facing huge deficits, if not outright bankruptcy, in their state budgets and having to make difficult, painful choices about how to appropriate limited state funds among too many popular programs. Perhaps this will just be a temporary step until the state is on sounder financial footing.

Thornbird · Dec 15, 2009

I doubt this is in any way temporary. The state has made life more & more difficult for LPN's over the years. Since the state currently has an overabundance of RN's, it is a step to jb security for THEM. It wouldn't be AS bad if they were just putting more resources into making ADN programs more accessible, but they aren't. Many people simply can't afford, either financially or due to personal reasons, to attend college. The state LPN programs were a godsend for them. As one recent grad I know put it, it's a life-changing experience.

There are sites with up to date news and links to state officials. Try searching this topic on the WEB and I'm sure you will find more resources to fight this. I tried to post a link but found out this violates TOS. The info is out there if you look for it. This little band here is not alone!

This has been poorly publicized and last minute, with little good info available. I think our state government, not just the GOV., is pulling a sneaky fast one. Nurses, student nurses and future nurses need to fight this quickly. I don't think there will be any reversal if it happens.

P.S. In the long run this is bad for all CT nurses, RN's and LPN's. There are jobs and tasks well suited to LPN training that most RN's simply don't want to do. We will be looking at a workforce that is made up of RN's and "unlicensed assistive personnel". I truly believe that patients and the nursing profession will suffer for this.

elkpark · Dec 15, 2009

I doubt this is in any way temporary. The state has made life more & more difficult for LPN's over the years. Since the state currently has an overabundance of RN's, it is a step to jb security for THEM. It wouldn't be AS bad if they were just putting more resources into making ADN programs more accessible, but they aren't. Many people simply can't afford, either financially or due to personal reasons, to attend college. The state LPN programs were a godsend for them. As one recent grad I know put it, it's a life-changing experience.
There are sites with up to date news and links to state officials. Try searching this topic on the WEB and I'm sure you will find more resources to fight this. I tried to post a link but found out this violates TOS. The info is out there if you look for it. This little band here is not alone!
This has been poorly publicized and last minute, with little good info available. I think our state government, not just the GOV., is pulling a sneaky fast one. Nurses, student nurses and future nurses need to fight this quickly. I don't think there will be any reversal if it happens.
P.S. In the long run this is bad for all CT nurses, RN's and LPN's. There are jobs and tasks well suited to LPN training that most RN's simply don't want to do. We will be looking at a workforce that is made up of RN's and "unlicensed assistive personnel". I truly believe that patients and the nursing profession will suffer for this.

Well, if the state has an "overabundance of RNs," you can certainly understand the state government not spending state money to produce more. Most state governments are having to make tough, painful financial decisions these days.

Thornbird · Dec 15, 2009

The state of CT only has to make "painful budget decisions" because it refuses to institute tax reforms that would have the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. CT is the richest state in the nation. It laso has the largest gap between rich and poor, ie, no middle class.

Most towns in CT have no local police departments and volunteer fire and ambulance services. A way too large proportion of public schools are "failing". Prisoners are given early release due to overcrowding and housed in other states but more prisons are closing. The "painful decsions" cause pain only on those who work in or rely upon healthcare, education, public safety, farming or other low or non-profit service industries. The state RECEIVED FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY TO FUND NURSING EDUCATION. WHAT DID THEY DO WITH IT? THEY CLAIMED A NURSING SHORTAGE TO GET IT BUT ARE NOW CLOSING SCHOOLS!!!

The current overabundance of nurses in the workforce is due to the fact that there hasn't been a shortage of licensed nurses for many years, there has been a shortage of WORKING nurses. For a variety of reasons, number one being nursing burnout, many nurses do not stay in the full time workforce. Since CT requires no continuing education whatsoever, all one has to is send money every year to stay licensed, no matter how much a person wants out of nursing, bills to pay and no other way to pay them puts these people back in nursing. When the economy recovers, many will go back to being stay at home moms or working in other fields (there are a lot of RN's selling real estate), the shortage will be there again.

Not funding nursing education is an incredibly shortsighted fix. It takes 16 months to train an LPN in CT, more than 2 for an ADN due to pre-req's. This state will be in a bind with nowhere to turn but back to the Phillipines where huge numbers of RN's were being brought from just a few years ago.

I personally think turning violent criminals loose with inadequate supervision is a bad idea too along with having illiterate high school grads. The wealthy can hire private security and pay for private schools but they'll be out of luck when they go to the hospital and get lesser care due to the infamous "shortstaffing". And of course if any of those rich kids has an altruistic streak and wants to become a nurse, they can afford Yale and no worries that there are no state programs.

sunny1962 · Jan 25, 2010

I don't get it. There is a shortage of nursing jobs NOT nurses right now. If the state continues to churn out LPN's with the promise of jobs and prosperity where will it get any of us? There are RN's that can't find work! So where are LPN's supposed to fit in the puzzle. It's pretty simple at this point and it works in the favor of the CURRENT licensed nurses that are unemployed right now. Does it stink for anyone wishing to get into a less expensive nursing program? YES, but what is the alternative? Let things get back on track then add more to the flock, please.