Why are LPNs not allowed to do more?

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I've read several threads on here about what LPNs can and can't do. I've even read some threads where LPNs used to be able to do some stuff but are no longer allowed by law to do those things. I guess I'm not understanding something here. Why would an LPN no longer be allowed to do something they were able to do for years and years? 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? It all seems pretty backward to me. Does it have anything to do with the education an LPN receives? Are LPNs not trained/qualified to do the things they aren't allowed to do, or is it that it's becoming a liability issue? I've also seen a few posters say they consider themselves glorified CNAs and that's why the hospitals are getting rid of them. What is going on? I'm working on prereqs for an LPN program and I just want to understand what I'm getting myself into.

Thanks!

Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.
Are you saying than an LPN should be on a commitee making decisions just for LPNs or are you saying that an LPN should be making decisions for all nursing fields?

I certainly hope not, just need the clarification.

To clarify, I have sat on what is called The Clinical Practice Council of our facility of which I am proud to say at that time had only 2 LPN's on a committee over 150 nurses. Part of committees role was reviewing hospital policy, renewing and the updating of. Do did we make decision that all nurses, employees of our hospital. You bet your sweet bippy. You have a problem with that? Fortunately I was/am proud that it was recognized that we are valuable and yes we had a voice along with our fellow nurses in whom all were of various titles behind their RN. The head of the council at that time had her RN, masters, PHD.

The only deal to belonging to the committte is you had to be a bedside nurse, not in management. Who better to look at these things. We did and had additional advisors to the committee such as the Director of nursing an such. Our hospital and our nurses are trying to empower their nurses.

OncologyRn23,why should I be more comfortable with only a specific title making decisions about nursing practice in my facility of which I would have to then have to follow. Our facility is going also for magnate status. I am proud of them, does it mean someday my skills as an LPN would be needed? Perhaps, time will tell.

Just for the record I would have thanked you bringing it up as it was a good question. It was the judgemental " I would certainly not" which made me questions why would I not be affronted when so many others try not to include us in their voices. Fortunately not where I work.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I totally understand the one year LPN program (it's a great opportunity) but a two year degree to obtain an LPN is waste of the students time and money. It seems as though the school cannot get credentials and/or professors to offer an RN program? It makes absolutely no sense. The graduates of this program are not going to earn anymore than any other LPN.
In my opinion, a 2-year practical nursing degree is not a waste of time. Here are my reasons for feeling this way.

1. Society seems to bestow more credibility upon degrees (versus diplomas or certificates)

2. All of the college credits that were accrued to earn the practical nursing degree will transfer to an RN program. Many LPN diplomas and certificates earned from trade schools, private colleges, and adult education programs have college credits that are not transferable.

3. If a 2-year degree program was mandatory to become an LPN, this might serve to increase pay rates across the board. The quicker the entry, the lower the pay (usually). If it took longer to become an LPN by virtue of earning the degree, this would create a shortage, which would increase wages.

If it only took 12 months to become an engineer, they wouldn't be paid so well. However, they must attain a minimum of a bachelor of science. Since there's no quick entry to becoming an engineer, their pay will remain competitive.

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My, what an interesting turn this thread has taken. I appreciate everyone's contributions, however I don't feel that anyone has answered any of my actual questions. Why is the LPN's sope of practice becoming more narrow in some parts of the country? Why are they being allowed to do less, and why are hospitals no longer using them in some places? Who is doing the work that LPNs used to do if they are no longer being used in hospital settings?

TIA!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Are you saying than an LPN should be on a commitee making decisions just for LPNs or are you saying that an LPN should be making decisions for all nursing fields?

I certainly hope not, just need the clarification.

Can you clarify what you are hoping for or not?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Why is the LPN's sope of practice becoming more narrow in some parts of the country?
It is all about preserving job security for our RN counterparts.
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actually the question has been answered in many differant ways it is all opinion however but basically it is magnet status which is a way for a hospital to show they have staff with higher degrees which in turn attempts to prove a higher degree means better skills as for how does a hospital replace LPNS in indiana the CNAS are now being called PCAS meaning they give them training to do a few more things than CNAS such as ng tube placement , vs, bs, etc... but I am seeing LPNS being utilized a little more in acute care in southern Indiana compared to up North.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
Are you saying than an LPN should be on a commitee making decisions just for LPNs or are you saying that an LPN should be making decisions for all nursing fields?

I certainly hope not, just need the clarification.

I'm not the person who posted that comment so I can't clarify but our nursing committe is made up of RN's and LPN's as well it should be. LPN's are nurses too.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I'm courteously asking that we refrain from engaging the member OncologyRN23.

This person spends plenty of time in the forums where the LPNs tend to post, such as the Geriatric/LTC forum and the LPN Corner. The vast majority of his posts include snide comments directed at LPNs, although he is free to express his opinions. I personally feel he is trying to stir the pot, so don't fall for the game. Stay strong and ignore the unfriendly debaters.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
If it took longer to become an LPN by virtue of earning the degree, this would create a shortage, which would increase wages.

I don't think it would increase LPN pay by virtue of having an Associates in Practical Nursing. Which gets me back to the question asked by the OP.

The reason LPN's are being relagated to LTC and other places of employment rather than the hospitals is because, for right or wrong, the public wants to be cared for by an RN.

I know LPN's are just as capable, many more capable than RN's but the point is they do not have RN after their name and we have to face the fact that this is what the public wants when they are sick.

Yes if an LPN gets her associates her credits would likely transfer to an RN program but why not just get the RN to begin with? That's where I see a waste of time and money.

What is an LPN with an associates missing in her/his education compared to an RN with an associates?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Yes if an LPN gets her associates her credits would likely transfer to an RN program but why not just get the RN to begin with? That's where I see a waste of time and money.
I received my LVN schooling in California, which is a state where virtually every RN program is impacted with 2 to 3 year waiting lists. On the other hand, I could enter an LVN program immediately with no waiting.

I see no waste of time or money with an LPN program. A person who earns a MA degree in sculpture has wasted a bunch of time and money, as there's not a huge demand for sculptors in the US job market. With my measly LVN license, I am earning more money than the typical person who earned an MA degree in a fluffy humanities or art major.

Sorry, but I'm assured that the struggling writer or starving artist would love to trade places with me. I'm not trying to sound cocky or anything, but many people with higher education have got it significantly worse.

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The reason LPN's are being relagated to LTC and other places of employment rather than the hospitals is because, for right or wrong, the public wants to be cared for by an RN.

I disagree, Binkie. The public doesn't really know the difference. I think we are being replaced with cheaper, unlicensed personnel for a lot of what nurses, period, used to do.

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If there really is no nursing shortage, and there are many nurses who aren't working, why? Could it be because there is so much BS in nursing? From the way WE treat each other to the way the general population sees us? Those are the things we can change.

I work in LTC/rehab, and while I can't do everything an RN does, I know that if there were no lpn's at my facility we would have big problems. We are mostly lpn's and we work our butts off to make sure everything for our patients gets done.

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