Schools: Registered Nurse Jobs in the Jeopardy
The recent events surrounding Wisconsin's budget battle are stark reminder that state governments all around the country are running out of money. Although Wisconsin's troubles applied to all state workers, media attention was focused on teachers, who made up the vast majority of protesters showing up in Madison. At the heart of the issue is whether or not the taxpayers can continue funding the public school system at the ever increasing levels we've been accustomed to over the last decade.
Unfortunately, as school systems continue to face ever tightening budgets some positions have to be eliminated. And while we generally think of teachers and administrators, there are other school personnel who will find themselves at the wrong end of the pink slip. Included are registered nurses; the people to whom we've entrusted the health of our children during the school day. These nurses are being let go in large numbers because schools simply can't afford them any longer.
LPNs as Replacements
If there's any good news here it's the fact that lost registered nurse jobs don’t mean the absence of medical care at the public school. Many school systems are replacing their registered nurses with less expensive license practical nurses (LPNs), so at least emergency medical care is still on the premises when necessary.
Critics of the plan claim that replacing RNs with LPNs is a bad idea that could endanger the health of students. Their criticism stems from the fact that in most states LPNs only undergo one year of study followed by training at a community college or medical facility, as opposed to four years of study and practical job experience required to be a licensed RN. Those in favor of the plan claim that most medical issues that occur in a public school setting are not serious enough to warrant paying the higher salary and benefits that RNs require.
Unfortunately, as school systems continue to face ever tightening budgets some positions have to be eliminated. And while we generally think of teachers and administrators, there are other school personnel who will find themselves at the wrong end of the pink slip. Included are registered nurses; the people to whom we've entrusted the health of our children during the school day. These nurses are being let go in large numbers because schools simply can't afford them any longer.
LPNs as Replacements
If there's any good news here it's the fact that lost registered nurse jobs don’t mean the absence of medical care at the public school. Many school systems are replacing their registered nurses with less expensive license practical nurses (LPNs), so at least emergency medical care is still on the premises when necessary.
Critics of the plan claim that replacing RNs with LPNs is a bad idea that could endanger the health of students. Their criticism stems from the fact that in most states LPNs only undergo one year of study followed by training at a community college or medical facility, as opposed to four years of study and practical job experience required to be a licensed RN. Those in favor of the plan claim that most medical issues that occur in a public school setting are not serious enough to warrant paying the higher salary and benefits that RNs require.
Benefits to Hospitals
If some states succeed in replacing RN jobs with LPNs, one possible bright spot would be the availability of more registered nurses for work in hospitals. And right now, with hospitals and other medical clinics in such desperate need of RNs, every little bit helps. For example, in one mid-sized city in upstate New York, a local city school district employs about 80 registered nurses. If those nurses were replaced by LPN's, and the RNs were then dispersed among the area's four hospitals, 20 registered nurses per hospital would go a long way in alleviating their shortage of RNs.
Regardless of how state budgets plays out in the future, there are likely to be plenty of registered nurse jobs well into the future. Experts suggest that most major medical institutions are short staffed on registered nurses at a rate of 10% to 20%. Individuals who decide to pursue a nursing career should be able to find plenty of work available for years to come. It just may be the more RNs will have to go back to hospitals rather than working in public schools.
