Many hospitals started down sizing LPNs a few years ago and I understand why. At my facility, many of them have unions and became LPNs via a welfare option a few years ago, to become an LPN, courtesy of the welfare department in attempt to move them into the work force and off welfare. Well I think a more rigorous screening process should have been performed. In my unit LPNs run the floor and tell the RNs what to do. Our head nurse is more concerned with being their best friend than ruling with a more firm hand. The LPNs have a union so they feel they are untouchable. With that being said, they come to work everyday with the intention of doing very little for the day. They don't draw blood, they don't collect samples, they don't help set up for the day, they don't stock supplies, they don't assist with anything except taking vital signs and even that is a challenge. They spend the day sitting around, texting each other, friends, and god knows who else, playing games on their cell phones, surfing the internet, paying bills, reading, and taking naps. Isn't this an amazing way to spend EVERY day and get paid for it? My favorite, strolling the hallways, speaking loud, laughing loud, carrying out inappropriate conversations and my absolute favorite, cursing all the time and dropping the f bomb with every few words so that the patients we are caring for can hear.
This is the environment that I work in. The PCAs are no better. Nobody can control them and nobody dare tries. If it were up to me, there would be no unions for these positions and there would be a no tolerance policy for this kind of behavior. Having no unions for these positions allows you to manage more affectively.
People from "welfare," who you describe as "loud" and engage in "street behavior." Does anyone else smell what I smell? Oh, and it's because of an environment where people are of low economic status and aren't educated, right?
klone, MSN, RN
14,857 Posts
Please don't. Even used ironically, the term turns my stomach.