L.A. School Teachers Protest End To Popular Nursing Program
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Teachers of the East Los Angeles Occupational Center (ELAOC) appeared Tuesday before the Los Angeles Unified School District board to protest the cancellation of the 60-year-old Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program.
Benjamin Gilvan, Latasha Valentine, Matthew Kogan and Laura Vasquez
With a $2,000 annual tuition, the 12-person program offers a nursing education at a fraction of the cost of private schools—some of which cost over $50,000—and boasts a 100 percent graduation rate into a high-demand industry. "It is terrible that they are closing [the LVN]; it is a great program with over 400 applicants a year. They really should be opening more programs," said Matthew Kogan, the United Teachers Los Angeles' (UTLA) Adult & Occupational Education committee chairman in an interview.
Kogan criticized the board's decision as prioritizing bureaucratic goals over community benefit. "[LAUSD wants] quick certificates for low wage jobs," Kogan said, adding that they focus on four-month programs rather than 12-month programs like the LVN, to increase graduate turnover and improve reported numbers.
This logic is misleading, said Chapter Chair of ELAOC Laura Vasquez, who pointed out that although graduate turnover is increased with shorter programs, students leave with a skill-set that leads to lower average wages. Graduates of a comparable four-month program, which produces certified nursing assistants, can expect to make $8 to $11 an hour, whereas graduates of the 12-month LVN program can expect to make $11 an hour or more.
Vasquez rebutted the LAUSD's claim that the LVN program lacked funding by pointing out that "four [ELAOC administrators] retired this year, all of whom were planned for in the budget. That’s why I say there is a lack of will, not a lack of funding."
Had the meeting not ended early, LVN students were prepared to give remarks to support the program's revival.
Latasha Valentine, a student who was waitlisted to the now non-existent LVN program, would have asked board members to "come see my community." In East Los Angeles, "What do you see on every single corner? Nail salons. We don't need any more of those. We need more courses that are going to train us for high-demand jobs, like the LVN, where we are going to be able to pay the bills, be able to feed our children, put clothes on their backs. Being a manicurist is not going to do it."
Current student Benjamin Gilvan praised the low price of the program. "I couldn’t afford to go to school if it weren’t for public education. I'm looking forward to giving back and helping people, which is why I wanted to become a nurse. I am thankful I got the opportunity with the LVN program, but I feel bad for everyone in East Los Angeles who is not going to get that chance." Students interested in public nurse training now have to apply to programs over 20 miles away.
In a complaint to the LAUSD earlier this year, Kogan affirmed that the demand for trained nurses is increasing. "The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that licensed vocational nurses' employment is projected to grow at a much faster rate than average [and that] overall job prospects are very good... Why is LAUSD going in such a different direction?"
The LAUSD communications office declined to comment.
Reach Nuha Abujaber here.
Comments
To add on about the CNA only carrying a certification. It is still issued by the STATE which means you have to pass a written and perform, know and understand 28 skills.
CNA= Certified Nurses Assistant, LVN= License Vocational Nurse and RN= Registered Nurse. In every title/acronym the word "Nurse" is in it. I can't stand when people attempt to discredit what a person has accomplished. A CNA has the basic responsibilities of nursing which is directly dealing with the patient, establishing a relationship and trust and is not easy because you have to genuinely have compassion & want to help others to do what a CNA does especially for what their paid. An LVN performs limited medical procedures while under the supervision of an RN/ or Physician... the pay is more tolerable. Registered Nurses are basically supervisors, depending on where they are, all they do is sign off on what they ordered the LVN to do and the LVN tells the CNA what to do. CNA are typically supposed to be an assistant to a Nurse hence the "assistant" following the word "NURSE" of C-N"A". The main problem is people (like the 2 anonymous comments)always look down at the person behind them who's possibly working to get to the same status or higher. It's too bad that a lot of LVN programs are closing due to "funding" but it may be due to the realization that LVN are doing what RN are suppose to do, so all that's really needed are the CNA and RN's. Either way I hope neither of you RATCHETS(2 anonymous commentors) are nurses.
Lets be clear: LVNs and LPNs are not Registered Nurses. They have a limited scope of practice and while many practice outside this scope this breach of practice does not make them "nurses" as we understand this nomenclature today. This breach only evidences the lack of understanding of scope of practice and a lack of safe practice and professionalism. It is time to take the price tag of a nursing education out of the discussion as to what is needed in healthcare today. No other PROFESSION places a dollar value on the requirements to provide what the profession requires to be safe and competent. As the patients become more acute and the level of sophisticated technology emerges we need to advance the educational requirements to enter nursing practice in order to meet the needs of society in the 21st century. YES, there is a difference between a PN/VN, a 2 year and a four year RN. Lets stop promoting mediocraty and start promoting best practice. It is not only best for patients but for nursing practice and nurses themselves.
An LVN/LPN is a "Nurse", how dare you take that title from the hard working LVNs/LPNs that serve our nation. A Licensed Vocational Nurse, is a Nurse, although there scope of practice is not as wide as an RN. I believe the misconception that people have is that CNAs, certified nursing assistants are nurses, they only carry a certification, as where an LVN is Licensed by a state board of nursing.