Licensed Practical Nurse Employment Transitions: A Signal of Changing Value to Employers

Investigators: Cheryl B. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN, Meriel McCollum, PhD, RN, Alberta K. Tran, PhD, RN, CCRN, Mark TOles, PhD, RN, FAAN, George J. Knafl, PhD

Objective: The nature of careers has changed as employees gain greater ability to move between organizations, vocations, and modes of employment, such as full-time, part-time, per diem, at-home, web-based, and self-employment. Traditional models of work are being replaced by dynamic patterns of employment that are based on the “boundaryless” career, in which employees are more mobile and able to work across organizational and vocational boundaries (Arthur & Rousseau, 1996). With the rise in demand for LPNs, particularly in long-care settings, understanding the characteristics of LPN participation in the workforce is crucial to better address potential shortages based on this growth.

Data and Methods: Drawing on the theory of boundaryless careers, the investigators examined longitudinal employment data from LPNs in North Carolina (NC) and described patterns in LPN licensure and career transitions.

Results: Two career patterns were identified: (a) the continuous career, in which LPNs were licensed in 75% or more of the years they were eligible to be licensed and (b) the intermittent career, in which lapses in licensure occurred.

Conclusions: Findings indicated that LPNs who made job transitions were more likely to demonstrate continuous careers, as were Black LPNs. These findings suggest the importance of organizational support for LPN career transitions and support for diversity in the LPN workforce.

• Jones CB, McCollum M, Tran AK, Toles M, Knafl GJ. 2021. Supporting the dynamic careers of Licensed Practical Nurses: A strategy to bolster the long-term care nurse workforce. Politics, Policy, & Nursing Practice. Online July 7, 2021.

• Jones C, McCollum M, Tran A, Knafl G, Toles M. The Dynamic Careers of Licensed Practical Nurses. Poster presented at the 2021 AAMC Group on Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) Health Workforce Research Joint Conference, May 5, 2021.