Wow! Just wow. NB needs to get with the times.

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This is a poster that NBNU is currently circulating in New Brunswick in response to a recent increase of LPNs on the hospital units there.

It's disgusting how LPNs are disrespected in New Brunswick and constantly kept down and not allowed to practice to full scope ( not even half scope). This province really needs to get with the times and look at how well LPNs are working as a professional part of the healthcare team in the rest of the country. I really find this sickening.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

lol I meant on a dummy arm with a fake PICC line.. Then we are good to go.

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i am in calgary working for a acute hospital, our unit is same like NB, limited LPN's practise scope even if LPNs are certified, manager said: "you can initialize IV in other unit, doesn't mean you can do in this unit;", once patient have central line, this patient have to assigned to RN, sometimes, RNs are short, charge nurse will ask schedule to call RN for overtime, instead of calling LPN for straight time;[/quote']

Whooaaa!!! Really ? I haven't heard of anything like this happening in Calgary. I am kind of curious what unit this is so I can be sure to stay away. I also work in Calgary and have been on 2 units here at 2 different hospitals an we absolutely work full scope. One of the units I was even trained as charge nurse.

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i am in calgary working for a acute hospital, our unit is same like NB, limited LPN's practise scope even if LPNs are certified, manager said: "you can initialize IV in other unit, doesn't mean you can do in this unit;", once patient have central line, this patient have to assigned to RN, sometimes, RNs are short, charge nurse will ask schedule to call RN for overtime, instead of calling LPN for straight time;[/quote']

I don't think they are allowed to limit scope like that because certain skills such as IV initiation are standardized across AHS

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I'm thinking awyl needs to contact her shop steward, CNE and go to the office of her service. No manager can decide which skills are utilized on their unit.

Frankly, I'm not impressed that CLPNA keeps adjusting our skill set and when we object shout "contact your union on matters of compensation".

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Don't mention central line, even if pt with peripheral line, there are lots of medication, like electrolytes, potassium chloride, magnesium, etc, LPNs are not allowed to hang, if pt has panto continually infused, this patient have to assigned to RN.... So every shift, our unit have 7 to 8 RN to work on the floor, maximally 3 LPNs;

One day charge nurse called me, said one RN need Lpn to assist her to do vital sign when pt had blood transfusion, I went to there, the RN even if no idea how to set up the tube....I know she is new grads, but do you think this is total insult to experience Lpn? In my manager's view, even if you have been Lpn 20 or 30 years, you are still junior than new grad RN, is that rediculous?

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I'm thinking awyl needs to contact her shop steward, CNE and go to the office of her service. No manager can decide which skills are utilized on their unit.

Frankly, I'm not impressed that CLPNA keeps adjusting our skill set and when we object shout "contact your union on matters of compensation".

I agree, this needs to be brought to the union immediately. What do other LPNs on your unit think about this?Are they mostly new grads? I would find this extremely insulting.

I do agree with you though Fiona, if we are going to have all these additional skills and responsibilities then the pay should reflect that . On the unit where I am currently working there is essentially no difference between the LPNs and the RNs except the RNs make an extra

$10+/hr.

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I have problems with Awyl's situation for a couple of reasons. I'm working to full scope and she's not. We are paid on the same wage scale. I also want to know why her unit manager is allowed to run her unit as a separate fiefdom from the rest of the AHS world.

Finally, on my unit there are only two degree educated RNs, all the rest are hospital or community college educated. We see a PICC and cytotoxic IV meds maybe once a year and never hang blood or TPN. Can somebody explain the wage disparity? We have a new grad LPN who attended post secondary for a longer period of time than our RNs. A couple of the LPNs hold degrees in other disciplines. So the LPNs are far more educationally rounded than the RNs we work alongside.

And yes, I understand there is a difference between a nursing degree and an education degree. I just don't see how an RN educated in the mid 1980s and upgraded with hospital inservices is academically superior to a post 2005 LPN.

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I also don't understand how our manager to do the cost control? Seems nobody care why this unit need so many RNs instead of LPNs? I know RNs don't like to see this, but this is the fact: there are cost effective person can do this kind of job, but manager still insist on paying more money (sometimes even if double) to hire others, I totally can't understand;

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I have problems with Awyl's situation for a couple of reasons. I'm working to full scope and she's not. We are paid on the same wage scale. I also want to know why her unit manager is allowed to run her unit as a separate fiefdom from the rest of the AHS world.

Finally, on my unit there are only two degree educated RNs, all the rest are hospital or community college educated. We see a PICC and cytotoxic IV meds maybe once a year and never hang blood or TPN. Can somebody explain the wage disparity? We have a new grad LPN who attended post secondary for a longer period of time than our RNs. A couple of the LPNs hold degrees in other disciplines. So the LPNs are far more educationally rounded than the RNs we work alongside.

And yes, I understand there is a difference between a nursing degree and an education degree. I just don't see how an RN educated in the mid 1980s and upgraded with hospital inservices is academically superior to a post 2005 LPN.

Very well put Fiona. You've perfectly summed up my feelings on the issue as well.

Hate to say it but AUPE hasn't really been pulling their end if things here...

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Yeah the wage thing bothers me whenever they add a new skill. I can hang blood, access PICC lines and we have been inserviced on TPN but the wage gap is infuriating.If they expect us to take responsibility for these things then we should be paid more.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I think it depends on the unit, but overall, there are so many generalizations made about both RN and LPN practises. I've worked with some fabulous LPNs who have greater breadth and depth of knowledge than some RNs. A new grad RN for example is really no match for an experienced LPN. How could they be? We learn more theory and research, but it takes time and experience to learn how to apply that in practise.

Honestly, all the arguing is exhausting. The entire health care system is flawed, and if these health authorities were wise, they would utilize LPNs and RNs to full scope instead of laying off and inviting more drama. Some days, I wish I would have gone to medical school.

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I think it depends on the unit, but overall, there are so many generalizations made about both RN and LPN practises. I've worked with some fabulous LPNs who have greater breadth and depth of knowledge than some RNs. A new grad RN for example is really no match for an experienced LPN. How could they be? We learn more theory and research, but it takes time and experience to learn how to apply that in practise.

Honestly, all the arguing is exhausting. The entire health care system is flawed, and if these health authorities were wise, they would utilize LPNs and RNs to full scope instead of laying off and inviting more drama. Some days, I wish I would have gone to medical school.

Completely agree with you!!!

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