NY hospital will keep LPNs for at least a year

Licensed practical nurses will keep their jobs for at least one year at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, their union announced."They are keeping the LPNs," said Sherri Rada, Lavelle. "I'm satisfied. I get to keep my job as an LPN." Hospital spokesman M. Michael Peckman announced April 5 that the Schuylkill Health board of directors was planning to phase out the LPNs at the South Jackson Street facility, replacing them with registered nurses and nursing aides in order to establish a new health care delivery model. The LPNs would have had the opportunity to become nursing aides - which requires no training but means a pay cut - or train to become RNs - which requires additional training that would only have been partially reimbursed by the hospital. Friday's agreement means the 51 LPNs at the former Pottsville Hospital & Warne Clinic have their employment guaranteed at least through June 30, 2012.