Versatility of LPNs

Dear LPN"s I just spent the last 45 minutes with a carreer dept,the gentleman when, I asked how to proceed to RN,looked at my college transcript/work history/experience & told me all the ways I can't become an RN(college).So I asked him why is it so difficult for LPN's to be accepted?? He stated what I have been hearing,Academia needs to get out of its' own way. I know he is aware of the comming Nursing shortage. I guess they want to replace all LPN'sto Rn's,delete 800,000 of  us??Good luck! Average age of nurses 55-57 what happens in 2012???

I have been an LPN for 33 years.I have worked 18 years in acute setting and the rest in LTC.I have always been allowed to work to my fullest potential but what really upsets me is that some of the RN's that I work with don't work to their fullest potential and get paid WAY more than I do. I believe the pay scale is definitely unbalanced and I do believe that experience should have some type of monetary reward.Unfortunatually thats not real. I would,for one, would like to see it change.

I have been an LPN going on 22yrs this July. I have worked @ the same hospital all these years. The LPN's once we merged with St. Barnabus, have been treated like second class. We have not had any raise except cost of living. The RN's are always getting compensated for something. We ( LPN) can't even get paid for our years experience because we are not considered Professionals. My license comes from the same board as the RN's. The hospital is now pushing out the LPN's.  I remember the days when we were restricted in areas to work because of our title, but when they were in a crunch, they knew how to bend the rules just to get a "body" to fill the empty shift. Then after you come in to care for sick & needy, you were no good again in those areas.  I take pride in my work & consider myself a professional. I always keep up with what is happening in the hospital & served on the Professional Practice Committee for 5 yrs. when the RN couldn't be bothered.  That all ended this year when it was decided that only the Professional ( RN) can attend.

As far as the nurse from Trenton NJ that works in surgical/trauma, are you saying that only you are responsible  for your patients?  The RN's are not assessing your patients and doing your inital charting under the body system assessment?  In the critical step down unit I worked on for many years, the RN's did the assessment. We did vitals & personal care.

As far as the LPN's that are being forced to leave where I work,they are told to be in the float pool ( only to get floated to where they say they can't work) or be a OR Tech.

    WHAT A DISGRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CT Nurses for Reform  http://www.ctnursereform.org

About Us

Connecticut Nurses for Reform would like to bring the ongoing debate regarding our Country's Nursing Shortage and under utilization of Licensed Practical Nurses to the General Public. As health care advocates, we believe the Public has a right to Quality of Care in our hospitals and nursing homes, and that means being cared for by LICENSED staff.

We want the Public to be aware of how our Legislators are addressing the Nursing Shortage, and how qualified Licensed Nurses, directly related to the restrictions imposed on us by our State Scope of Practices, are being replaced in the health care setting with Unlicensed Personnel. As the cost of health care for Americans continues to sky-rocket, our Country's hospitals and nursing homes are cutting costs by hiring more and more Unlicensed Personnel.

Our goals are logical and straight-forward. To address our Country’s Nursing Shortage through legislation enabling the thousands of Licensed Practical Nurses meet proposed new requirements to sit for boards and transition to Registered Nurse, and for our Educators to create the criteria and certification to allow Licensed Nurses to practice at our full Scope of Practice. (of which we are already expected to do!)

The time has come for our Legislators and Educators to address the considerable resources of the already educated, experienced, and available, LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE……….. learn more @ http://www.ctnursereform.org  We need your input and participation!

Sign our Petition, and forward it to all your colleagues, families and friends!  http://www.petitiononline.com/lps2t/petition.html

**LPN’s, Please help us collect data by completing our survey @ http://www.ctnursereform.org  and get your colleagues to also participate!

“For we who nurse, our nursing is something which, unless we are making progress every year, every month, every week, we are going back. No system shall endure which does not march.”

Florence Nightingale

Thank you to all,

Lisa Morell, LPN, RAI-C

administrator@ctnursereform.org

i've worked as a LPN for over 40yrs in an acute care setting and at no time have i felt inferior to my Rn co-workers,nor has the hospital treated me inferior. I've been a mentor and a teacher to my co-workers.I have earned great respect from them as well as from the doctors and the administration. I have my own full patient assignment and provide total care to my patients within the guideline of the BOARD OF NURSING in my state

I work in a large hospital.  The LPN's are not treated well at this hospital.  They get all the work that the RN"S and CENA's do not want to do.  It causes a lot of conflict.  The LPN's often get overloaded, and yelled at alot.  Sometimes the amount of work that they are asked to do is not safe.  We are definitely unappreciate.  I guess it depends on where you work.