Are Licensed Practical Nurses (L P N's) Programs Still Relevant Today? (1651 hits)
Licensed practical nursing, called in some states licensed vocational nursing (LVN) has a noble history. This category of nurse began to emerge in the early 1940’s as a way to get licensed caregivers into the workforce in a shorter period of time than it took registered nurses. This was important after WWII when many RNs served in the military, which resulted in somewhat of a nursing shortage in the US. While they filled a definite need during that time period, the question is often asked whether LPN programs are still relevant and needed today. In the spirit of full disclosure, I must reveal that I am the Executive Director of a Board of Nursing which licenses LPNs. My instinctual response to this question is a resounding “Yes!” At the risk of sounding self-serving, I have taken a step back to look more objectively at the issue. I think that the answer actually is “It depends.”
