not sure I believe the nursing shortage...

Jules A, MSN · Jun 8, 2008

I guess I was lucky in that almost all my pre-reqs were needed for the LPN program and the few others I did while I was getting my LPN. After that it was only an 8 week bridge class and 2 semesters total cost under $3,000. Have you checked into CLEPs? I love them to save time and $$. Hang in there, Jules

kstec, LPN · Jun 9, 2008

Well first of all be fortunate you're even allowed to work in a hospital, much less an ER. Here in Illinois, LPN's aren't qualified to work in hospitals due to the nurse practice act, which keeps limiting and limiting us more and more. They just changed it so that LPN's cannot do anything with IV's, even it IV certified. Our scope is real narrow. I really don't think there is this big nursing shortage, it's an RN shortage. LPN's are just here to fill the gaps where alot of RN's don't want to work. Primo example is LTC. Not all RN's dislike LTC, but can go anywhere else here in Illinois, where LPN's are restricted to LTC and clinics only. I think about bridging over but I wouldn't work in a facility that didn't except me as a LPN. I have a lot of resentment, because I worked at a hospital for 16 years, 2 of those years as a CNA and 12 as a pharmacy technician. When I entered the LPN program I asked if I could work on the floor after fundamentals as a CNA. I was told that after graduating from the LPN program, I would be terminated due to the fact the I would be overqualifed as a CNA and underqualified as a nurse. Hospitals have left a bad taste in my mouth. Yes, I agree they should make it easier for very experienced LPN's to get their RN, but for some reason society disagrees. I love it when I see an ad in the newspaper for a LPN with hospital experience to work at so and so, I guess most people don't realize that most LPN's don't have hospital experience and will never get it around here. Sorry for my vent, but the whole LPN, RN thing kind of gets me going. I wish you the best in whatever is in your future.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2008

Here I go again . . .there is no real nursing shortage, since this is evidenced by 500,000 actively licensed nurses who are doing things other than working in the field of nursing. There's only a shortage of nurses who are willing to work under abusive conditions for so very little respect and compensation.

jelorde37 · Jun 9, 2008

well, if there aint a shortage right now, then there will be considering that the average age of a nurse is over 50 years old. pretty soon they will retire and academia salary isnt competitive enough to draw in more nurse educators. i remember reading somewhere that by 2015 or so, the US nursing schools will have to graduate/supply 90% more nurses in order to keep up with demand. lets say that they do somehow supply 90% more nurses, how many of those new grad nurses are willing to work sucky jobs in which the nursing shortage are prevalent in? i dont know whats going to happen to the future of nursing, atleast working environment is concerned, but im want to change that and promote the success of nursing.

by the way, these numbers arent the actually numbers, but these are what i remember from the article i read not too long ago.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 10, 2008

I have been fortunate enough to be employed at a hospital clinic. My area has not been heavily affected just yet with hospital displaced LPNs, but I do wonder what direction this will go with more hospitals trying to obtain Magnet Status. My hospital recently failed in their attempt to obtain Magnet, but, the freaking fools might try again. This doesn't sit well with me. I work for a city hospital where we have unions. It would take a great deal of negotiation to decide to do away with a title, especially since city hospital salaries are not competitive in comparision to private. The majority of the time, when they have diminshed a title, the employee is placed somewhere else in the hospital due to seniority. But, the issue is for me is that I AM a NURSE. For personal reasons, I decided that I will not become an RN and I am VERY comfortable with that position. What I don't like, though, is many of the RNs (especially the administrators) have been trying, lately to convince me to continue. I suspect that this is because they feel they can get even more from me as an RN. My feeling is that I will not go to school under duress because it would not be successful. Also, I do not support the Magnet process/accreditation because they do not support ALL nurses. RNs are not the only licensed nurses around and if Magnet is not ALL inclusive, then, I cannot advocate or place energy into this.

I agree with TheCommuter in that there are more licensed nurses than we know of but they are not availing themselves to the abuse. I do feel though, that while it is obvious that the LPN and RN roles are not interchangable, we can certainly contribute to the need in an effective, positive manner, but the ANA seems to be such tight twards in maintaining their position by diminishing our scopes of practice in certain areas, they are shorting themselves in the long run.

softstorms · Jun 11, 2008

Nursing, we are short of nurses....define nurses? The hype will tell you it is R.N.'s and teachers of nursing. The news will tell you that it is a loss of people who care. Most of us still in the ranks will tell you it is not nurses who are steping back, it is the for profit hosptials that are making a choice for us. CNA's. LPN's, RN's, BSN's, we are still here doing all we can. softstorms

gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN · Jun 11, 2008

Nursing, we are short of nurses....define nurses? The hype will tell you it is R.N.'s and teachers of nursing. The news will tell you that it is a loss of people who care. Most of us still in the ranks will tell you it is not nurses who are steping back, it is the for profit hosptials that are making a choice for us. CNA's. LPN's, RN's, BSN's, we are still here doing all we can. softstorms

Excelent point SoftStorms, Here in Massachusetts the difference between a LPN and an RN is down to 3 things: 1 - LPN's can't hang blood, 2 - LPN's can't push meds thru an IV & # - LPN's can't pronounce someone dead.

Yet we are not allowed to work in hospital settings. As a TA (CNA with extra training) I could go to the lab and sign out the blood, matching names & numbers to pt & bag. I could monitor IV's & pt reactions. And if a pt passed on I could tell the RN they were dead. As an LPN, I can do the same, I just can't document the death. Go figure... Someday they will realize that I am a NURSE, and will allow me to work at my chosen profession in any setting I can qualify for. Of course by then I shall be retired and some other poor NURSE will be taking care of me!!

jansailsea · Jun 17, 2008

I work Med/Surg nights in an acute care HCA Florida hospital.

I hang blood with an RN, as we're required to have a witness/second party to do the checks & balances of hanging blood.

I can't give Vasotec or Demerol IV & a few other meds are prohibited, like cardiac drips, etc.

I can't declare a person dead.

Pretty much, I can do most of the routine procedures required of an RN throughout the night.

I do foleys, NG tubes, ostomy care, chest tube care, LOADS of IVs, you name it!

Some RNs treat us like crap & feel we are taking "their" jobs away from them.

But, the majority I have been fortunate to work with just wish the road to transitioning from LPN to RN was quicker, as it would help take some of the load/responsibility off of them.

Many of the most helpful nurses I've worked with started out as LPNs:D

jansailsea, LPN-WCC

PrettyPillz · Jun 18, 2008

Duh, LVN's know when a person is dead. It is amazing here in North Texas the yelp is "we are desperate for nurses", yet none of the advertised hospitals in the papers are listing open LVN positions. To add to the insult, there have been a rare time or two I have actually seen LVN's listed under "Ancillary Support" along with housekeepers and kitchen staff. And then when you do attempt to go back to further your education, they won't work with your schedule, and don't offer any scholarships. Even odder, is they will allow agency LVN's to work in the hospital , but not as a staff member. You can even do your LVN clinicals in a hospital, but you can't work there after graduation. But they want to push the LVN's all to nursing homes, hospice, home health and clinics. Just because you are an RN, no "magic" happens that makes you all of a sudden good enough to function in a hospital setting. I'll never forget the time I heard a doctor come out of patients' room stating "Who is this patients' nurse or LVN!" The shortage is horsepucky!!! :nono:

softstorms · Jun 19, 2008

I am still waiting for all the "dead declared by Dr" to raise up and live again in OHIO! LOL. Nope, that was not the way I wrote the order. :)

treezuh_lvn · Jun 22, 2008

:yeah: :yeah: :yeah:

I totally agree! I would much rather take the tests necessary to prove I'm competent in each subject rather than have to take the classes filled with information I will probably not use. The government really should make it easier for QUALIFIED LVN's to get their RN's much faster!