2014 LPN Survey

Enhancing the Work Environment for ND Nurses Workgroup Study

(N= 44)

An online survey was developed to collect information from North Dakota LPNs in order to inform the development of a statewide strategy or program to help recruit LPNs and to help improve the work environment for LPNs. The survey was included in the December issue of the ND Center for Nursingnewsletter, promoted on Facebook and also sent to an existing list of LPNs that the ND Center for Nursing had worked with two years ago in an attempt to start an LPN association. A total of 44 LPNs completed the survey. Twelve LPNs indicated that they would be interested in joining the leadership team.

General Demographics (only of those that participated in the survey)

  • Fifty-five percent of participants live in an urban city in North Dakota.
  • Average age of participants was 53 with the youngest participant 32 years and the oldest 69 years old.
  • Over half of participants have a vocational/practical certificate and 30% have an associate’s degree.
  • The average years as a practicing nurse was 26 years. The shortest was 1 year and the longest was 49 years.
  • Most participants were actively employed in nursing full-time.
  • Most participants only hold one LPN position. 13% have two positions.
  • Participants work an average of 35 hours a week.
  • Fifty-four percent of participants work in an Ambulatory care clinic followed by 31% in a Hospital and 26% in a nursing home/extended care/assisted living facility.
  • Sixty percent of participants had graduated from a North Dakota Nursing Education Program, 33% from a Minnesota program and 7% from another state.
  • Sixty seven percent of participants do not plan to obtain further education, 15% plan to obtain an associate’s degree and 18% plan to obtain a baccalaureate degree.

Important Factors for Choosing Nursing Career

The most important factor to participants in choosing a nursing career was the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives followed by a personal attraction to nursing.

Other factors included that they had been an EMT for seven years, like to have hands on nursing direct care to the elderly, could not pursue veterinary medicine and an interest in health and science.

Important Factors in Choosing Education Program

The most important factor in choosing an education program as location followed by cost and duration and program.

Other responses included that they could do as much online as they could, don’t remember and that the program was brought to the community that they live in.

Factor at Current Employer that Have Encouraged LPNs to Work There

The most frequent factors included that they get to know the patients and that spouse/significant other has a job there.

Other responses included that it is convenient and flexible, that is was the closest facility even though it is 45 miles one way, it is closest to family or is their home town, afraid to leave what they know and that they do not need to pass meds.

What inspired you to become and LPN?

Participants provided many open-ended responses that are listed below.

  • My mother
  • Always wanted to be a nurse since I could ever Remember
  • Less schooling than a social worker
  • The staff I worked with at a huc
  • one of my coworkers encouraged me to go to school when our clinic was in need of more nurses, because I had been working here as a CNA for many years
  • caretaker by nature, childhood desire
  • I always wanted to be a nurse and help others
  • Worked as a NA and EMT.
  • I wanted to help folks and to make a difference in their lives
  • My mother.
  • Military
  • Wanting to care and help people
  • to help people
  • Caring for others
  • I knew I wanted to help people and nursing was a great chance to do this
  • When I worked at a nursing home during high school, the nurses made a big impression and I liked to take care of and help others.
  • Wanted to help people
  • A great aunt, had the influence on my decision
  • I like to help people
  • I always wanted to be a nurse. At the time I was not encouraged by my family to become an RN. I wanted to be able to support myself. I feel I have a calling to nursing and that the Lord has opened doors for me to have a rich and interesting variety of experiences in the 32 or so years of nursing I have had so far.
  • The want to help others after seeing the way that my mother was treated at the hospital in 1979. She had a PE and died from complications, but the nurses left a lasting impression on me. I was 14 years old.
  • it was a respected career
  • I wanted to make a difference in good care for the elderly.
  • taking care of people
  • I was a candy striper in high school and then worked in a nursing home in high school and enjoyed the work.
  • my aunt
  • caring for others
  • My desire to have a positive impact in peoples live, from the holistic approach of nursing.
  • Was a CNA prior and knew that I could make more of a difference as a nurse.
  • My desire to care for others, and for the feeling I get when I've made a positive difference in someone's life.
  • The lack of compassion others have. I knew I would make a difference.
  • I was a caregiver to a family member while she was in hospice.
  • I like to care for people and it is something that I am good at.
  • Liked taking care of elderly as a young child
  • Interest in health and being able to help people

What has helped you continue in your role as an LPN?

Participants provided many open-ended responses that are listed below.

  • Not much. Telling the student the truth about hours. And pay.
  • Like the place I live and work
  • ability of various jobs/roles
  • The hours and able to be home on weekends with my family
  • I go to conferences and trainings to keep my mind fresh with new and repeated information. My providers are a great learning resource for me.
  • variety of work opportunities and experiences
  • I decided to retire this year because no I do not want to go back for more education and do not think our pay is what it should be when a McDonald s employee can almost make what I was making after years of nursing
  • experience and education
  • job satisfaction
  • Love of seeing a Nurse can ease a patient thru a scary time be it a procedure or diagnosis. Not everyone is medically savy and having someone to bridge that gap between provider and pt.
  • The opportunities surrounding my employment at various locations in my career.
  • Same reasons
  • Determination
  • Nothing
  • The satisfaction of meeting new people and ability to know the patients in the many years that we've seen them in our clinic
  • The demand at the facility where I work and the number of years I have been employed there, being a seasoned nurse in that area of expertise.
  • Working with people and on-going learning of how to give the best care you can,
  • I like to help people
  • As above, I feel I have been put in the position that The Lord has chosen for me throughout my work history. I believe I make a difference in the lives of those I serve.
  • Family support and determination
  • The Christian attitude adopted by my employer.
  • I don't know
  • didn't know what else to do
  • love my job
  • I have felt gratified
  • Job opportunities
  • The patients
  • My strive and desire to improve the quality of life for others who need caring people to get by each day. Someday, I will want the same things for myself. Do unto others as you'd want done for yourself. . Great message!
  • My residents. LPN is a negative word. Many of us do the hands on work but are looked down on. My resident who asks where have you been. Using my vast experience to assess and help patients and other nurses become better.
  • Course was brought to the community I was living in.
  • too afraid to leave and try something new.
  • Being able to work in several different fields
  • Fear of change and trying something else

What strategies would help recruit more individuals to become LPNs?

Participants provided many open-ended responses that are listed below.

  • Stop RNitis!
  • Now that there's a 2 year RN no brainer to do RN vs LPN for pay diff and respect as society doesn't classify LPN's as nurses any more. :( sad
  • encourage employers to allow maximum practice within the scope of LPN
  • Better salary
  • Better advertisement of the programs available in the area, and more job opportunities in the area.
  • better pay and benefits, more flexibility with scheduling
  • North Dakota needs to get the LPNs back into the hospital setting. they should not be left just for nursing homes I feel. But I do not see this changing at all.So yes I retired early because of all of this.
  • Better pay and more LPN jobs, Not being looked down upon for being an LPN. Most places will only hire RNs.
  • higher pay enhanced working conditions
  • Associate Degree LPN's with over 20 years’ experience should be able to challenge the ADN Boards in ND.
  • More opportunity in different areas & better pay. My pay once I graduated was lower at my current

job with a non-degree position.

  • Better hourly Wages
  • Less backstabbing older nurses. better pay. More opportunities to advance especially in small towns as they generally have nothing to keep younger people in them as much as the larger cities
  • end the cap on wages and more trust in our ability to do our jobs.
  • Showing our work environment and fellow nurses are like family and it's fun to come to work everyday.
  • I think pay is a big factor as well as benefits. More flexible schedules.
  • Pay
  • $$$$$$
  • Better pay. Respect from other areas of nursing. Over the years there have been more than a few cases of Rn's looking down at the LPN and NA. until we all respect each other’s role and importance it will be difficult to recruit and keep LPNs also when Hospitals refuse to let LPNs do clinicals and focus on RN only care this issue will not be solved. In the past 32 years there have been several waves of "get rid of the LPN" many wonderful nurses have left nursing during these times. This has also fed into the feeling among many that the RN is the only nurse who is of value. I may not have the correct set of letters behind my name, however I am a dedicated, caring, and intelligent nurse with problem solving skills who is very hard working. I see so many young nurses who are only encouraged to continue on to become an RN, we need great nurses who choose to serve as LPNs as well as RNs and NAs .only when we work together as a team is great care given.
  • Higher wage. More opportunities to use learned skills.
  • tuition assistance, more respect to LPN role
  • To take pride in our role, "you're not a glorified aide"!
  • better pay
  • Better pay
  • better pay
  • we use LPNs as primary caregivers, gathering patient assessment data, giving meds, IV therapy, patient treatments, they are key in providing bedside nursing care.
  • satisfaction with work environment and job
  • lower education cost.
  • More job availability and flexibility.
  • Affordable Nursing Programs that offer payment plans, option of a self-paced study. A legitimate program NLN and N-Flex accredited.
  • Who would want to be a LPN? We are the bottom of the nursing field. Just get your RN so you can be somebody.
  • I would encourage LPNs to further their education as the opportunity for LPNs in my location is limited
  • Better pay and benefits
  • Being able to work with another LPN to see if that is their calling. Offer his in HS Health occupations class
  • Better pay and better treatment from managers , physicians etc.

What strategies would help retain more LPNs?

Participants provided many open-ended responses that are listed below.

  • I had to drive 45 miles to work in a clinic or nursing home I do not feel the pay scale is what it should be for a professional nurse.then you made it difficult for LPNs to only get certain jobs where I was a surgical nurse in a hospital and loved it and was replaced by R.Ns that I trained in and then was replaced because of education ??
  • Opportunity to management in some degree.
  • Not sure. Treated as glorified aides
  • Again, allowing LPN to work at maximum level within the scope of practice
  • Better salary
  • Better pay, more openings in the area.
  • more opportunities for continuing education, more flexibility with scheduling, strategies for employee health and wellness - we must first take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others
  • I have seen this come and go many times in my years of working as an LPN. The switching of LPNs in the hospital to more professional workers and more educated RNs it is not fair I feel we were good workers and were good enough for one on one cares but now that has changed too. It is not all good for Patient Care it is how good you are at getting the info typed into computer and to throw your pills at patient to go on to next patient. Very little compassion left there I have noticed. I have worked for Doctors who were standing outside my door timing me with a patient and was told I only had 10 minutes to get information into computer. It did not matter if patient was crying or why ...Yes Nursing has changed quite a lot...
  • Pay and job security, more jobs for LPNs.
  • Employers paying school loans in return student investing so many years in that institution
  • Easier advancement to obtaining minimally an Associate Degree –RN
  • Better wages
  • small towns having as much to offer as the larger towns, cities
  • Better wages and letting your employees know they are valued.
  • Offering more pay for LPN's to compensate for all they do for patients especially when their lives are at stake!
  • Regular pay increases/bonuses.
  • Better pay
  • Pay
  • $$$$$$$$$$$$
  • Better pay and more respect.
  • Promote from within
  • better pay and benefits
  • To help have better self-value and self-esteem.
  • Better appreciation and compensation
  • I don't know
  • Better pay
  • better pay
  • wages
  • When raises are given LPN's get them along with RN's and CNA's as jobs are more equally divided among them.
  • Reduce the pay gap for LPN's and RN's, As in increase LPN wages. A RN in my position make $7.00 more per hour than I do, but has no more job responsibilities than the LPN.
  • Job availability, flexibility, lower work load. Respect to LPNs as "real" nurses.
  • I feel, as an LPN, that it's getting harder to find jobs. I feel LPN's are getting pushed aside, more and more limitations in their scope of practice.
  • Why be a LPN?? RN are what employers are looking for. It does not matter how much experience you have or the associates degree it’s the title RN. Ask the State Health Dept. Who won’t hire. LPNs.
  • LPNs need to be treated as a professional and needed staff members. Their jobs are not any less important than RN. I find the LPNs are more problem solvers and do more of the work that RN think is below them.
  • Better pay and benefits
  • Not such a huge difference in wages from RN's.
  • Better pay. We are responsible for so much and expected to do more work all the time. It is a highly stressful work environment.