[Jessgurl723]

So apparently the hospital where i work is implementing some changes... I would like your opinions on one. The hospital will begin to move LPN's into the position (acting role) as Nurse techs, meaning they will not take a patient assignment or act as a nurse, but as a tech instead. Apparently this is not unheard of and their are other hospitals who do the same thing. Does anyone know of any, and if so how exactly does it work? If LPN's will act as techs then where will the techs go... and the NA's? Im a brand new LPN and will be an RN in May, however, to me this is kind of degrading to LPN's. How do you guys feel? Maybe im not seeing it from the right light?? It seems to me that we are short staffed anyway, so then by removing LPN's from patient assignments the RN's will have a higher patient:nurse ratio. Cant be good!?

I would ask my superiors but nobody seems very willing to offer any details or answer any questions. Or they just dont know!

[cassioo]

I think this has been discussed in other posts but my feeling is I'll do anything as long as you don't decrease my pay. I no longer get pulled (I'm in a closed unit) but when nurses from my unit did they often worked as NA's or med techs....it wasn't too many years ago that LPN's in my state didn't take assignments in the hospital we did a "team" approach that I wasn't too fond of where I did the assessments and they gave the meds I'd rather do primary care...even when LPN's take assignments now there are certain things the RN still has to cover.

[askmeh]

I believe this change is in response to the changes in the National Scope of Practice for RN. It is proposed that nursing care is done 100% by RNs by the year 2015. In most states LPNs are not allowed to make "Nursing AX", therefore LPNs can not function as "Nurses" in hospitals - only in Nursing Homes.

I would check the Nursing Practice Act in your state and your state Board of Nurses to see if there is a change in the requirements for minimum degree for a RN. For example, I know that NJ just changed their NPA to institute that only BSN can function as RN - they no longer allow ADN to function as RN (there is a change over period to allow ADN to complete BSN degree).

My personal belief is LPNs earned their degree and are licensed by their respective state - so they should be able to practice as a LPN and not as a CNA or Nurse Tech etc.

Hope this helps -- if not check out this post:
Mandatory BSN to practice nursing being considered