Why are LPNs not allowed to do more?

[GaMBA]

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!

[GaMBA]

"the few that get out [there] and witness real world nursing run for the hills."

I can imagine :-) Why do you think this is? What do you think are the hardest aspects to deal with in real world nursing??

I'm going through my CNA class right now and it's really interesting to me. I do a reality check at the end of every class and ask myself everyday is this something I could really see myself doing for a living. So far the answer is yes but I do have a small fear in the back of my mind of "what if I get out there in the real world and hate it??" Have any of you ever felt like this when you were starting out in your nursing/asst career?

[lpnflorida]

There are some things while being an LPN I have hated, such as. missing most holidays with my family when my daughter was little. I hated when I worked nightshift being so tired, I was most often hateful to be around at home.

I have moments I hate it when a family of a patient or a patient themselves is yelling at me . Sometimes they are justified to be upset, sometimes I am no more than the target for a projected anger

Somedays I am overwhelmed. But hate Nursing?

That would be like asking to hate myself.

That fear you talk about, yes I have had that also. It is most often fleeting the longer I work.

[mystic66]

I have never really had any fear. I loved nursing, but the politics of it is what made me think twice at times. Another thing was the fact that there was never enough help, yet the powers that be expected the same amount of work from you. No excuses! If you worked short, oh well. Thats what upset me more then anything and who really suffered? The patient or resident. I retired early when the paperwork became more important then the patient.

[Practicalone, LPN]

At the University were I received my PN degree there are three nursing programs, the PN, ADN and BSN. Facilities around the area have made it very clear that they would rather Hire one of the PN students than the BSN students due to the fact that we have more required clinical hours than they do. We spent about 250 more hours at clinicals than they did. We didn't spend an entire class on learning how to write nursing care plans. were were thown into them and said here you go. Don't get me wrong the BSN program is good, and the ADN is better because you have to be an LPN first to get into that program. I also believe that it totally depends on the state that you live in, the school that you attend and the determination that you have. Here in Idaho LPNs can do almost every thing that an RN can with the exception of pushing IV meds. And yes the RNs do get paid better, about $10 more an hour. There are always jobs here for LPNs in the hospitals too.

[mystic66]

Yep .. thats what I figure. Just play the game and get it over with.

Guys, we have been playing this game for years and years. I graduated in 1975 and it was going on then. I,m retired now, but worked for over 30 years. Most of that stuff is for fill in. They don,t know what to put in that slot. You might have one thing pop up in your entire career where you will use some of this stuff, but at least you know it.

Hopefully. Just go with the flow and get through it. Its another thing you can say you know.