Now since hospitals are no longer hiring LPN's I think CNAs could possibly have more job requirements later in the future. CNA's already do EKG's and blood draws at some hospitals with further training.
In the LPN course at my college they do not teach IV's, they are told they wont do anything invovling IVs but yet when hired they prepare them! The only thing they cant do is push meds.
Somebody will have to pick up the duties right, or you think Im wrong here?
Now since hospitals are no longer hiring LPN's I think CNAs could possibly have more job requirements later in the future. CNA's already do EKG's and blood draws at some hospitals with further training.
In the LPN course at my college they do not teach IV's, they are told they wont do anything invovling IVs but yet when hired they prepare them! The only thing they cant do is push meds.
Somebody will have to pick up the duties right, or you think Im wrong here?
oh yes,,,"patient care techs", I feel, will perform the majority of duties once the responsibility of LVN's, LPN'S-with much less training. (But a substantial financial saving to facilities) Sure does not make one feel real comfortable about the level of care-and this is by no means a slight to these hard working , dedicated people
In South Eastern PA, many hospitals have stopped hiring LPN's. This started about 5 years ago. As the LPN's were being fazed out, some hospital chains paid for their LPN's to become RN's. This does not mean LPN's are no longer being hired in hospitals, it's just not as popular in certain areas. It's decrease in popularity is a known fact in my area. Many LPN's are going back to school because of it. Many are restricted to LTC's. I have learned that many places in the North East Regions have started what is called Medication Tech/Aide courses.
I am not sure of the exact role, but the Certified Medication Technician passes out medication and does general nursing duties such as patient care & some dressing changes. My Cousin has been one for over 3 years. She currently makes $18 an hour.....a few bucks less than the LPN's at her job. They are becoming increasingly popular especially in Assisted Living & Mental Health facilities. This combined with decreased hospital jobs could spell trouble for some LPN's in the future. The Med Techs do become licensed and state certified as they are trained. They DO NOT replace the nurses, they work under the Nurse's supervision but they do pick up many nursing duties. It is all about big businesses trying to save a buck.
I have read several articles that mentioned the CNA's of the future will have more responsibility, this would also mean more training. This does not mean an unexperienced CNA who just finished an 8 week CNA course is suddenly given a med cart and an I.V/Catheter kit. It means they would need to be trained & certified to do more nursing duties.
But how extensive would that trainin g be?? Doubtful it would be as involved as in nursing school:mad:
They seem to be doing just that in NY. In 1993, when I graduated as an LPN, they hired in all of the hospitals- 1/2 LPNs and 1/2 RN grads to staff the floors. Over the years NY state has cut back on what LPNs can do, and I basically had to go back for my RN in order to be allowed to do the job I had been doing for the last 10 years.Now none of the area hospitals will hire any LPNs, and they are trying to get rid of the few that remain. It's rotten
LPN's know how to do CNA work as well as what separates LPN/LVN's from CNA's. However, just as it's more economical to pay a CNA to perform/assist with ADL's for clients, it's more economical to pay an LPN/LVN to pass meds, etc. than to pay an RN to do so.
But all in all, if you've gotten your LVN/LPN license, why not go ahead and get your RN? If you have the willpower of course.
LVN's will never be out of a job. Job requirements may change, but LVN's will definitely always be able to get a job.
At my hospital, they just ousted 3 LPNs- the one left that was on our floor had worked on that floor, as an LPN, for 40 years. They got rid of her to make RN positions- so a new grad is more in demand than someone with 40 yrs - It's disgusting. I see in the furture, the powers that be will try to fill some of the open positions with CNAs or "Med Techs"- They will send people through an 8 week med course, put them on the floors in a hospital, under the RN, and tell the RN- You now have 20 med/surg patients, but don't worry, the techs will do the meds- We are going to get it stuck to us, wait and see.If we were smart, we'd start lobbying against the use of med techs, or whatever you want to call it.
Yes, and it will be the RN;s license on the line, and fanny in the flames...
You're in Cali, I'm guessing. (lol...the name gives it away). I've seen so many listings for CNA and Medical Assistant. When there are LVN positions posted, I'm sure they're flooded with apps. And when an ad says Med Assistant/LVN...they'll check out the MA first...don't have to pay them as much as an LVN.
Recently I noticed one of the hospitals having just per diem spots for RNs, no benefits for them, saves money. I do have an interview on Friday (finally!!) I'm anxious already. I have never been this stressed over job searches before. I keep wondering what I have to do to really stand out and make an impression.
My mom got her RN back in `77 and she told me when she was in nursing school that "they" were talking of phasing out LPN's then.
True...I graduated in 78, and hsps started soon after. Most LPN's around here work in LTC...
But how extensive would that trainin g be?? Doubtful it would be as involved as in nursing school:mad:
The extra training CNA's could possibly face in the future would never be as involved as nursing school. It is all about companies trying to save a buck. They have been doing it for years. Hire a CNA. train the CNA do something the LPN would normally do, possibly pay them an extra dollar or two (if your lucky), cut back on some nurses and save money. It seems that is what the hospitals have done in my area. They wiped out LPN's but there is always an opening for Patient Care Tech's. They work with the RN's.
Med techs are becoming popular as well. I would not be comfortable having all the responsibilities as a med tech with all those nursing type duties without nursing pay. Trust me, as long as people need work, there will always be someone(s) more than willing work as a Med Tech (or whatever). I guess if it pays the bills, why not?
Yes they are doing that here in Florida too. Why not you ask? Because I would hate to have the Medical Nursing field become like Walmart with lower and lower wages.
Med techs are becoming popular as well. I would not be comfortable having all the responsibilities as a med tech with all those nursing type duties without nursing pay. Trust me, as long as people need work, there will always be someone(s) more than willing work as a Med Tech (or whatever). I guess if it pays the bills, why not?
Yea at one of my jobs they use med tech's. At one time there will be about 3 med tech's in the building, but only one LPN.Thats another way they save money:down::down: But the thing is, the med tech's don't make more than we do..and are still responsible for the same duties that we are:confused:
As a CNA in a Hospital that no longer employs LPN's, I can tell you that the CNA's have picked up many of the LPN duties. And the pay rate is FANTASTIC. Starting pay for an experienced CNA in the hospital is $17/hr. That is with a minimum of 5 years experience. The CNA's go through extensive training and are required to maintain a minimum of 12 CEU's a year. We are trained to run EKG's and to Intubate patients, insert foley's, Phlebotomy, Accuchecks, etc. We can hang IV meds, we cannot do pushes, and we cannot pass narcotics. CNA's in our hospital are required to hold a CMA certificate, so that we can legally pass uncontrolled medications. We cannot start IV's. We cannot do assessments. I have looked into LPN pay in the few hospitals that still employ them, and I found that I am actually making the same, and in some cases more than the LPN's. Our hospital notified the LPN's that they were going to no longer employ them, that if they wanted to stay, they were encouraged to attain an RN and that they would assist in the funding. Many opted not to further their education and lost their jobs. They were given two years to make the decision. So apparently they were not interested in being RN's. Nursing homes and some home health and hospices still employ LPN's here. I am currently enrolled in the RN program and am loving it. And since the nursing program is through the hospital, scheduling is a breeze!
:down: But the thing is, the med tech's don't make more than we do..and are still responsible for the same duties that we are:confused:
dscrn
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oh yes,,,"patient care techs", I feel, will perform the majority of duties once the responsibility of LVN's, LPN'S-with much less training. (But a substantial financial saving to facilities) Sure does not make one feel real comfortable about the level of care-and this is by no means a slight to these hard working , dedicated people