A Presentation of the Colorado Health Institute1576 Sherman Street, Suite 300Denver, Colorado 80203-1728www.coloradohealthinstitute.org

2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey

Survey Findings

October 1, 2009Christine Demont-Heinrich, MPH

Thanks to the following for their assistance in designing, analyzing and funding the survey…

• The Colorado Trust• The Joffit Group• Key Informants

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Survey methods

• 2,500 surveys were mailed to a randomly selected sample of active licensed LPNs in late November 2007– 107 surveys undeliverable– 2,393 surveys delivered– 1,002 LPNs completed a survey (42%

response rate)• Data were cleaned and weighted to

represent 9,719 active licensed LPNs in Colorado

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Profile of Colorado LPNs [next 4 slides]

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Age demographics of licensed Colorado LPNs, 2007-08

Age group LPNs

2008 Colorado

workforce*

34 years or younger 15.9% 35.8%35-44 years 20.0% 23.2%45-54 years 34.1% 23.7%55-64 years 25.3% 13.7%65 years or older 4.7% 3.5%

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*Includes workers 19 years or olderSOURCES: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q31;U.S. Census Bureau

Gender and race/ethnicity of licensed Colorado LPNs, 2007-08

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Demographic characteristic

LPNs

2008 Colorado populatio

nFemale 89.2% 49.6%Male 10.8% 50.4%White, non-Hispanic 81.8% 71.1%Hispanic 8.0% 19.9%Black, non-Hispanic 4.8% 4.2%American Indian/Alaskan Native

1.2% 0.1%

Asian/Pacific Islander 2.0% 2.8%Multi-racial/multi-ethnic

2.2% 1.9%SOURCES: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q32 and Q33;U.S. Census Bureau

Geographic profile of licensed Colorado LPNs, 2007-08

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Geographic characteristic LPNsBorn in the United States 94.4%Born in a foreign country 5.6%Grew up in a rural community

48.6%

Live in a rural community 21.1%Work in a rural community 23.5%Grew up in and work in rural community

13.6%

Grew up in urban community and work in rural community

5.6%SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q19, Q29, Q30, Q35

First employer after graduation compared to current employer, 07-08

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Type of employerFirst

employer (N=9,157)

Current employer

(N=6,285)Nursing home 35.6% 36.7%Hospital 43.9% 15.8%Rehabilitation facility 1.6% 2.7%Home health agency 1.9% 5.2%Behavioral health facility 1.8% 3.7%Public health/Community health 0.5% 1.2%Clinic or physician office 7.5% 17.0%School-based health center 0.2% 0.5%Did not work as LPN after training program

0.7% -

I have never worked as an LPN 0.7% --SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q7, Q18

Rating of Educational Experience

[next 6 slides]

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Location of LPN classroom instruction

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Classroom location PercentTraditional campus 67.4%Hospital-based nursing program

15.9%

On-site program at place of employment other than hospital

0.6%

Other* 16.1%*Other classroom locations include: military base, technical school, vocational school, etc.SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q1e

Colorado schools or programs where LPNs received LPN diploma*

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School Percent attendedEmily Griffith Opportunity School 15.6%Front Range Community College 7.7%Pueblo Community College 7.6%Concorde Career College 7.0%Pickens Technical College 5.9%Northeastern Junior College 4.9%Trinidad State Junior College 4.0%Pikes Peak Community College 4.0%Delta-Montrose Technical College 4.0%Community College of Denver 3.9%Otero Junior College 3.8%Other (less than 3% attended the program/school)

31.6%

*61 percent of LPNs received their LPN education in Colorado.SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q1

Location where LPNs received most of their clinical training

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*Other clinical locations included: training in both hospital/nursing home or both urban/rural locations, correctional facility, military hospital.

Clinical location PercentUrban hospital 51.8%Rural hospital 27.5%Urban nursing home 9.8%Rural nursing home 5.0%Other* 6.0%

SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q3

Rating of preparation for first LPN position by graduation year

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YearPositive rating

(4 or 5)*1950-69 85.5%1970-79 77.6%1980-89 79.8%1990-99 67.0%2000-07 63.9%OVERALL

72.8%

SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q1c, Q2, Q5

*Using a scale of 1-5, 1 represents Inadequate and 5 represents Most Adequate

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Rating of classroom instruction of LPN education program

Highest ranked content for classroom instruction

Positive rating

(4 or 5)*Providing patient care fundamentals such as bathing, personal care, transferring, catheter care, etc.

92.3%

Administration of medications and treatments

89.6%

Decision-making within the LPN scope of practice

77.5%

Lowest ranked content for classroom instruction

Positive rating

(4 or 5)*Caring for persons with physical disabilities 55.7%Caring for persons with dementia and other mental impairments

50.6%

Caring for persons with behavioral health problems

39.8%

*Using a scale of 1-5, 1 represents Inadequate and 5 represents Most AdequateSOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q2

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Rating of clinical instruction of LPN education program

Highest ranked content for clinical instruction

Positive rating

(4 or 5)*Providing patient care fundamentals such as bathing, personal care, transferring, catheter care, etc.

91.8%

Administration of medications and treatments

88.8%

Caring for the elderly 74.9%

Lowest ranked content for clinical instruction

Positive rating (4 or

5)*Caring for persons with physical disabilities 57.8%Caring for persons with dementia and other mental impairments

55.0%

Caring for persons with behavioral health problems

45.4%

*Using a scale of 1-5, 1 represents Inadequate and 5 represents Most AdequateSOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q5

Educational Pursuits[next 3 slides]

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LPN educational pursuits,

2007-08

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Educational pursuits PercentCurrently enrolled in RN program 15.0%Plan to pursue an RN education if not currently enrolled

37.1%

Enrolled in another type of educational program

4.6%

SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q10-12

Characteristics of LPNs enrolled and not enrolled in RN program, 2007-08

18SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q10, Q18, Q31

LPN Characteristics Enrolled in RN program (N=934)

Not enrolled in RN program

(N=5,294)Primary Employer Nursing home 37.7% 37.4% Hospital 34.4% 1.3% Clinic or Physician office

9.7% 18.9%

Other 18.2% 31.4%Current Age 20-39 51.2% 22.5% 40-49 34.7% 25.4% 50-59 1.1% 36.6% 60 or older 0.0% 15.6%

Important reasons of LPNs not pursuing additional education*

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SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q13

Reasons** PercentCannot afford the cost 63.0%Other time commitments that take priority

56.8%

Satisfied with current work and do not need additional education or training

46.2%

No training program close to where I live 19.3%*Percentage of LPNs who rated these reasons a 4 or 5 indicating “important” or “very important”**Other reasons included: retiring soon, too old to go back to school, waiting list too long, program requirements

Recruitment and Retention[next 4 slides]

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LPN workplace incentives, 2007-08

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Most common workplace incentives PercentFlexible work schedule 49.9%Tuition reimbursement 21.9%Signing bonus 9.9%Student loan forgiveness 1.9%Rank order of highest importance* PercentFlexible work schedule 89.9%Tuition reimbursement 72.0%Signing bonus 61.9%Student loan forgiveness 56.0%

*Percentage of LPNs who rated these reasons a 4 or 5 indicating “important” or “very important”SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q27, Q28

LPN wages earned by employment setting, 2007-08

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SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q18, Q21

Employment setting

Nursing home

Hospital Clinic/physician

office

Other*

Up to $15/hr 2.2% 13.8% 18.4% 4.9%$15.01 - $20/hr

32.7% 47.0% 57.6% 49.2%

$20.01-$25/hr 53.4% 38.8% 20.0% 36.8%More than $25/hr

11.7% 0.4% 4.0% 9.1%*Other included corrections, assisted-living facilities, behavioral health.

Top 5 reasons of LPNs not working in a clinical position*

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Reason Percent**

Wages insufficient given the workload and responsibility

57.1%

Too much stress on the job 55.9%Did not feel respected in the work performed 53.3%Insufficient benefits (e.g. sick leave, health insurance)

43.0%

Hours too long 40.7%SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q16

*28 percent of LPNs reported not being employed in a clinical position**Percentage of LPNs who rated these reasons a 4 or 5 indicating “very important”

Top 5 reasons of LPNs planning to leave their employer in next 12 months*

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*24 percent of LPNs reported that they plan to leave their current employer within the next 12 months**Percentage of LPNs who rated these reasons a 4 or 5 indicating “very important”SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q26

Reason Percent**

Too much stress on the job 70.1%The wages are insufficient given the workload and responsibility 69.2%I do not feel respected in the work I do as an LPN 66.2%Insufficient benefits (e.g. sick leave, health insurance)

52.0%

I am pursuing more education 46.4%

Full report available

• Colorado Health Institute website• Publications: 2007-08 Colorado

Licensed Practical Nurse Workforce Survey

• http://www.coloradohealthinstitute.org/Documents/workforce/2007_LPN_findings.pdf

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Questions and CommentsContact:Christine Demont-Heinrich303.831.4200 x 223demontheinrichc@ColoradoHealthInstitute.orgwww.ColoradoHealthInstitute.org

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