Why are LPNs not allowed to do more?

BinkieRN, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2008

It varies "greatly" by what part of the country you live in and what type of facility you work in. The outlook for LPN's is better in the South than out West where they are used as glorified techs. I love the LPN's I work with and they are very capable and are allowed to do 95% of what the RN's do and they carry their own patient load without problems.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 1, 2008

If your question had been "why are LPNs not paid more?" I would agree. :)

In my area LPNs do almost the same job as RNs with just a few exceptions so I'm not sure what states you are talking about with this problem.

lpnflorida · Sep 1, 2008

You bring up good points. Nursing Scope of Practice mandates first, individuals states also have guidelines, followed by the individual institutions policies.

LPNs are not represented well, only my own personal opinion.

Rn's and our legislators make up the majority of the body unto whom make the guidelines.

As LPNs we need to take an active role in our associations who lobby for us. We need to keep our voices heard respectfully on the various committees at our places of employment. We need to keep our legislators informed as to what it means to work as an LPN, some truly do not know. We need as individuals keep up to date on new innovations in health care, be open to new ways of doing things. Be willing to do and be, rather than fall back on the " I am not paid enough to do that" " or the infamous it's not my job" I am not talking about ever going outside of our scope of practice mind you or going against your institutions policies.

Continue to be a valuable employee no matter where you work.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2008

If there is a so-called nursing shortage, why is the scope of an LPN's job becoming more narrow, and why are some hospitals doing away with them altogether?

There is no true nursing shortage.

The 'nursing shortage' is a myth. . .don't believe everything the media feeds you. 500,000 actively licensed nurses in the US are doing things other than working in the profession. There's only a shortage of nurses who would willingly work at the bedside to get abused from all angles, disrespected by many people, and inadequately compensated by employers.

If these 500,000 inactive nurses returned to the bedside, the nursing shortage would be solved overnight.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Sep 1, 2008

i work in a hospital that does not hire LPN's anymore and my hospital will not even accept agency LPN's to fill shifts , only RN agency staffers, if we have a nurse short on a unit..... but they just hired 15 new grad RN's to fill any short shifts so we don't have to call agency.

i also have a part time job where i am charge over 2 LPN's and 2 CNA's on my unit w/ 20 patients. i love the LPN's i work with they are so wonderful and they are as good as any RN. the LPN's do all the meds and i set up flush bags on PICCs so they can hang antibotics , i do all the pushes, orders and hang TPN and blood , draw blood from the central lines and the LPN's do all the venous blood draws. i also do al the orders...

LPN's are awesome nurses and i couldn't work without them..

pattylpn54, LPN · Sep 1, 2008

:sniff: I'm a 54 yr old who went back to school after being out for over 30 yrs. I received my PN License on 8/8/08. I always thought that Licensed Practical Nurses were also nurses, but I'm learning the hard way that evidently we're not. The article mentions the nursing shortage, referring to RN's and doesn't include LPN's. Maybe if people would hire us there would not be such a shortage. In my area, hospitals only hire RN's and Dr. offices only hire MA's. So that really only leaves me with LTC's. I have NO problem with working in one. My problem is with the fact that we're left with no options. I began school being proud to know if I worked & studied hard I'd be a nurse one day. Now I just feel like I wasted a year of my life cause noone wants what I've learned -- it isn't enough.

PS: I originally posted this on the forum about Fla. having a hugh nursing shortage, but it seems appropriate here also.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 1, 2008

I'm a 54 yr old who went back to school after being out for over 30 yrs. I received my PN License on 8/8/08. I always thought that Licensed Practical Nurses were also nurses, but I'm learning the hard way that evidently we're not. The article mentions the nursing shortage, referring to RN's and doesn't include LPN's. Maybe if people would hire us there would not be such a shortage. In my area, hospitals only hire RN's and Dr. offices only hire MA's. So that really only leaves me with LTC's. I have NO problem with working in one. My problem is with the fact that we're left with no options. I began school being proud to know if I worked & studied hard I'd be a nurse one day. Now I just feel like I wasted a year of my life cause noone wants what I've learned -- it isn't enough.
PS: I originally posted this on the forum about Fla. having a hugh nursing shortage, but it seems appropriate here also.

Hi Pattyewlpn,

I totally agree with your sentiments about LPNs being under appreciated but employment options largely depends on where you live. In my area many hospitals still utilize LPNs. If you are working in LTC you surely didn't waste a year of your life, that is one of the hardest jobs out there, imo. Hang in there, Jules

skwlpn · Sep 1, 2008

There is no true nursing shortage.
The 'nursing shortage' is a myth. . .don't believe everything the media feeds you. 500,000 actively licensed nurses in the US are doing things other than working in the profession. There's only a shortage of nurses who would willingly work at the bedside to get abused from all angles, disrespected by many people, and inadequately compensated by employers.
If these 500,000 inactive nurses returned to the bedside, the nursing shortage would be solved overnight.

Amen! I have been beaten by more 80 year olds than I can count. I now have a herniated disc, a shoulder injury and many scars from bites and finger nail...and that was just from one patient! LOL!

The compensation is reallly sad considering the level of knowledge necessary and the skills required. I love my work, but would love better pay.

By the way, in KY, we used to be allowed to hang blood. That was in our scope of practice since 2006. Apparently there were errors made and the Kentucky Board of Nursing changed its advisory opinion. It was not something that we did for years and years. It was one of several changed made in 2006. Only this one has changed.

Stacey

BinkieRN, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2008

If your question had been "why are LPNs not paid more?" I would agree :)

There's an easy answer to your question, while LPN's are as capable as RN's, there is still a college degree that stands between the two and that's why RN's earn more.

skwlpn · Sep 2, 2008

There's an easy answer to your question, while LPN's are as capable as RN's, there is still a college degree that stands between the two and that's why RN's earn more.

True. RNs should earn more based on college credits, I suppose. But, the gap is narrowing as far as scope of practice. I think the difference in pay rates doesn't reflect that.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2008

True. RNs should earn more based on college credits, I suppose. But, the gap is narrowing as far as scope of practice. I think the difference in pay rates doesn't reflect that.

The scope in NYS for an LPN is very limited. The biggest issue, IMO, is the inability of the LPN to officially assess.

I think the RN's fighting for a BSN-entry-level have had a lot to do with it.

One hospital here advertises for "nurses and LPN's." I won;t be interviewing there any time soon.