Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs Going Home

Between changing federal and state regulations and the evolving healthcare industry

, Licensed practical nurse jobs (LPN Jobs) are undergoing a significant transition of their own. Where the majority of these jobs have traditionally been in hospitals and assisted-living facilities, that is gradually beginning to change.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated LPN jobs will increase in terms of availability by some 14% over the next eight years. However, interestingly enough, the vast majority of this growth will be in the area of home-based healthcare rather than hospitals and nursing homes. The reasons are numerous and interesting, to say the least.

Government Mandates

Government mandates are one of the driving forces behind the shift in LPN jobs. For example, hospitals in California must maintain specific nurse-to-patient ratios at all times. If licensed practical nurses (known as licensed vocational nurses in California) are used the number of nurses needed is higher. That means it is more cost-effective in the long run to hire registered nurses instead because hospitals would need fewer of them.

Other mandates, including the types of care an LPN can offer, are also putting the squeeze on hospitals and nursing homes. To cope many are concentrating on hiring as many registered nurses as they need and hiring support staff by way of CNAs and medical assistance. That leaves the LPN the odd man out, as it were.

Home-Based Healthcare

The other big factor driving the change in LPN jobs is the new emphasis on providing healthcare at home whenever possible. Overall, the concept is good for both patients and the health care system because it eases the stress now plaguing so many facilities. However, for the LPN, it is requiring a new way of viewing a career.

In home-based healthcare, the LPN is hired to work full-time with a single patient, sometimes as a resident of the home, or they are hired by an agency that schedules her to work with multiple patients throughout the week. In either case, he or she is providing a basic level of in-home care as long as it is sufficient for the patient's needs. If a patient needs more intense care, he or she would be off to the hospital.

Impacts of Healthcare Reform

No one really knows how the full implementation of health care reform will affect LPN jobs going into the future. The most likely scenario would see an increase in such jobs in both the home-based healthcare sector and the public health clinic. With an estimated 30 million people accessing healthcare for the first time beginning in 2014, it is conceivable that LPNs could be in high demand at the public clinic level.

Regardless of how it all plays out, one thing we can say for sure is that LPN jobs are not going away and time soon. Becoming a licensed practical nurse is a good choice either for a long-term career or as a stepping-stone to eventually being an RN or nurse practitioner. You can get started by enrolling in a two-year nursing program.

by: Kain Black

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