Colorado LPN Workforce Survey Findings 2007-08

2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey Survey Findings A Presentation of the Colorado Health Institute 1576 Sherman Street, Suite 300 Denver, Colorado 80203-1728 www.coloradohealthinstitute.org October 1, 2009 Christine 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 2

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 3

Profile of Colorado LPNs [next 4 slides] 4

Age demographics of licensed Colorado LPNs, 2007-08 2008 Colorado workforce* Age group 34 years or younger 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years 65 years or older LPNs 15.9% 20.0% 34.1% 25.3% 4.7% 35.8% 23.2% 23.7% 13.7% 3.5% *Includes workers 19 years or older SOURCES: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q31; U.S. Census Bureau 5

Gender and race/ethnicity of licensed Colorado LPNs, 2007-08 2008 Colorado population 49.6% 50.4% 71.1% 19.9% Demographic characteristic Female Male White, non-Hispanic Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native Asian/Pacific Islander Multi-racial/multi-ethnic SOURCES: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q32 and Q33; U.S. Census Bureau LPNs 89.2% 10.8% 81.8% 8.0% 4.8% 1.2% 4.2% 0.1% 2.0% 2.2% 2.8% 1.9% 6

Geographic profile of licensed Colorado LPNs, 2007-08 Geographic characteristic Born in the United States Born in a foreign country Grew up in a rural community Live in a rural community Work in a rural community Grew up in and work in rural community Grew up in urban community and work in rural community LPNs 94.4% 5.6% 48.6% 21.1% 23.5% 13.6% 5.6% SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q19, Q29, Q30, Q35 7

First employer after graduation compared to current employer, 07-08 First employer (N=9,157) Current employer (N=6,285) Type of employer 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 I have never worked as an LPN 0.7% 0.7% - -- SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q7, Q18 8

Rating of Educational Experience [next 6 slides] 9

Location of LPN classroom instruction Classroom location Percent Traditional 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 10

Colorado schools or programs where LPNs received LPN diploma* School Emily Griffith Opportunity School Front Range Community College Pueblo Community College Concorde Career College Pickens Technical College Northeastern Junior College Trinidad State Junior College Pikes Peak Community College Delta-Montrose Technical College Community College of Denver Otero Junior College Other (less than 3% attended the program/school) Percent attended 15.6% 7.7% 7.6% 7.0% 5.9% 4.9% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0% 3.9% 3.8% 31.6% *61 percent of LPNs received their LPN education in Colorado. SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q1 11

Location where LPNs received most of their clinical training Clinical location Percent Urban hospital 51.8% Rural hospital Urban nursing home 27.5% 9.8% Rural nursing home Other* 5.0% 6.0% *Other clinical locations included: training in both hospital/nursing home or both urban/rural locations, correctional facility, military hospital. SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q3 12

Rating of preparation for first LPN position by graduation year Positive rating (4 or 5)* Year 1950-69 1970-79 1980-89 1990-99 2000-07 OVERALL 85.5% 77.6% 79.8% 67.0% 63.9% 72.8% *Using a scale of 1-5, 1 represents Inadequate and 5 represents Most Adequate SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q1c, Q2, Q5 13

Rating of classroom instruction of LPN education program Positive rating (4 or 5)* Highest ranked content for classroom instruction 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% Positive rating (4 or 5)* Lowest ranked content for classroom instruction 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 Adequate SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q2 14

Rating of clinical instruction of LPN education program Positive rating (4 or 5)* Highest ranked content for clinical instruction Providing patient care fundamentals such as bathing, personal care, transferring, catheter care, etc. Administration of medications and treatments 91.8% 88.8% Caring for the elderly 74.9% Positive rating (4 or 5)* Lowest ranked content for clinical instruction Caring for persons with physical disabilities 57.8% Caring for persons with dementia and other mental impairments Caring for persons with behavioral health problems 55.0% 45.4% *Using a scale of 1-5, 1 represents Inadequate and 5 represents Most Adequate SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q5 15

Educational Pursuits [next 3 slides] 16

LPN educational pursuits, 2007-08 Educational pursuits Currently enrolled in RN program Plan to pursue an RN education if not currently enrolled Enrolled in another type of educational program Percent 15.0% 37.1% 4.6% SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q10-12 17

Characteristics of LPNs enrolled and not enrolled in RN program, 2007-08 LPN Characteristics Enrolled in RN program (N=934) Not enrolled in RN program (N=5,294) Primary Employer Nursing home Hospital Clinic or Physician office Other Current Age 20-39 40-49 50-59 60 or older 37.7% 34.4% 9.7% 18.2% 37.4% 1.3% 18.9% 31.4% 51.2% 34.7% 1.1% 0.0% 22.5% 25.4% 36.6% 15.6% SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q10, Q18, Q31 18

Important reasons of LPNs not pursuing additional education* Reasons** Cannot afford the cost Other time commitments that take priority Percent 63.0% 56.8% Satisfied with current work and do not need additional education or training No training program close to where I live 46.2% 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 SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q13 19

Recruitment and Retention [next 4 slides] 20

LPN workplace incentives, 2007-08 Most common workplace incentives Flexible work schedule Tuition reimbursement Percent 49.9% 21.9% Signing bonus 9.9% Student loan forgiveness 1.9% Rank order of highest importance* Flexible work schedule Tuition reimbursement Signing bonus Student loan forgiveness Percent 89.9% 72.0% 61.9% 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 21

LPN wages earned by employment setting, 2007-08 Employment setting Nursing home Hospital Clinic/physician Other* office 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. SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q18, Q21 22

Top 5 reasons of LPNs not working in a clinical position* Reason Percent** Wages insufficient given the workload and responsibility Too much stress on the job Did not feel respected in the work performed Insufficient benefits (e.g. sick leave, health insurance) Hours too long 57.1% 55.9% 53.3% 43.0% 40.7% *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 SOURCE: CHI 2007-08 Colorado LPN Workforce Survey, Q16 23

Top 5 reasons of LPNs planning to leave their employer in next 12 months* Reason Percent** Too much stress on the job The wages are insufficient given the workload and responsibility I do not feel respected in the work I do as an LPN Insufficient benefits (e.g. sick leave, health insurance) I am pursuing more education 70.1% 69.2% 66.2% 52.0% 46.4% *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 24

Full report available Colorado Health Institute website Publications: 2007-08 Colorado Licensed Practical Nurse Workforce Survey http://www.coloradohealthinstitute.org/Doc uments/workforce/2007_LPN_findings.pdf 25

Questions and Comments Contact: Christine Demont-Heinrich 303.831.4200 x 223 demontheinrichc@ColoradoHealthInstitute.org www.ColoradoHealthInstitute.org 26