AONL Quick Hit | Q2 2026
LPNs/LVNs: A Workforce Lever Nurse Leaders Are Ready to Pull
Three out of four nurse leaders anticipate maintaining or expanding LPN/LVN utilization, despite persistent implementation barriers. AONL's Q2 2026 Quick Hit explores how nurse leaders view the current and future role of licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses in care delivery models.
of nurse leaders predict LPN/LVN utilization will stay the same or increase over the next two years.
Respondents: June 2026
The survey gathered input from AONL members across a broad range of hospital sizes, care settings and geographies.
Key Findings at a Glance
Widespread Utilization
LPN/LVN utilization is common
LPNs/LVNs are currently used across a variety of care settings.
Positive Outlook
Use is expected to grow
Three out of four nurse leaders anticipate maintaining or expanding LPN/LVN utilization over the next two years.
Operational Barriers
Barriers are operational, not clinical
Role clarity, scope of practice and workflow challenges are the biggest barriers.
Leadership Perspectives
Leadership views differ
Directors and CNOs view the future role of LPNs/LVNs more positively than CNEs.
Regional & Policy Factors
Regional and policy factors matter
State policy, collective bargaining and Magnet considerations significantly influence utilization.
Career Pathways
Career pathways are critical
Most organizations provide some form of support for LPN-to-RN career pathways.
of members want AONL to provide guidance, benchmarking and thought leadership on LPN/LVN integration.
Where LPNs/LVNs Work
LPNs/LVNs are currently used across multiple care settings, with the highest utilization in acute care and ambulatory or primary care.
Key insight: LPN/LVN utilization is not limited to one setting. Nurse leaders report use across acute, ambulatory, emergency and post-acute care environments.
Top 5 Barriers to LPN/LVN Integration
The findings suggest the primary barriers to LPN/LVN integration are operational and regulatory rather than clinical.
1
Role clarity, delegation and team workflow challenges
0%
2
Scope-of-practice limitations
0%
3
Training, onboarding or supervision capacity
0%
4
Difficulty recruiting or retaining LPNs/LVNs
0%
5
Quality or patient safety concerns
0%
Only 13% cited quality or patient safety concerns as a barrier.
Importance of the LPN/LVN Role in Acute Care Delivery Models
Leadership perspectives vary, with directors, CNOs and managers reporting stronger agreement that LPNs/LVNs will play an important role in acute care delivery models.
Directors and managers are more likely to see LPNs/LVNs in an important future role, while CNEs appear more divided.
Organizations' Support for Formal LPN-to-RN Career Pathways
Most organizations offer some form of support for LPN-to-RN pathways, although the level of structure varies.
Offer support
79% of organizations provide some form of support for LPN-to-RN pathways.
Factors That Influence LPN/LVN Integration
Regional differences play a significant role in how organizations use or expand LPN/LVN roles. State policy, collective bargaining, role clarity and scope-of-practice considerations vary across regions.
Region 9
Collective bargaining has stronger influence
63% reported collective bargaining influences LPN/LVN deployment — about twice the overall average.
Regions 3 & 6
State policy is a major factor
These regions reported the highest agreement that state policy drives LPN/LVN integration.
Region 5
Barriers are more concentrated
Region 5 showed the highest concentration of barriers related to role clarity and scope of practice.
Magnet Considerations
Magnet influences staffing decisions
About 1 in 4 members reported Magnet pursuit or designation influences staffing to a major or extreme extent; ~40% said it has constrained LPN/LVN roles.
What Nurse Leaders Are Saying
Survey respondents shared both optimism and concerns about LPN/LVN integration, especially around role clarity, scope of practice and the value LPNs/LVNs bring to care teams.
“
They are also nurses. Their voice deserves to be heard.
“
We allow LPNs to work at the top of their license, carefully choosing care areas where they can be utilized to their fullest.
“
The most important risk is inconsistent scope utilization or unclear role boundaries.
“
It would be excellent to see literature on a true team-based model approach using RN-LPN-CNA.
What Members Want AONL to Do
AONL members are looking for practical guidance, thought leadership and support to help evaluate and implement LPN/LVN integration across care settings.
Surface best-practice guidelines and frameworks.
Engage the Magnet Commission on evolving care models.
Provide thought leadership as the trusted expert for nursing leadership.
Help benchmark LPN/LVN utilization and outcomes.
Teach best practices for workforce pipeline and education alignment.
Surface member learnings and real-world case examples.
Nurse leaders are ready to expand the role of LPNs/LVNs, but success requires clear roles, regulatory alignment, team-based care design and strong organizational support.
Explore the Full AONL Quick Hit Report
Get the complete findings, including regional insights, member comments and implications for care model redesign.
AONL Quick Hit LPN/LVN Workforce Outlook & Care Model Implications
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Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AONL Quick Hit on LPNs/LVNs?
The AONL Quick Hit is a survey of nurse leaders exploring the current and future role of LPNs/LVNs in care delivery models.
How many nurse leaders responded?
The survey included 827 nurse leaders representing 374 hospitals and 245 health systems.
Do nurse leaders expect LPN/LVN utilization to grow?
Yes. Seventy-five percent expect LPN/LVN utilization to stay the same or increase over the next two years, and one in three expect an increase.
What are the top barriers to LPN/LVN integration?
The top barriers are role clarity, delegation, team workflow challenges and scope-of-practice limitations.
Are quality and patient safety concerns the main barrier?
No. Only 13% of respondents cited quality or patient safety concerns as a barrier.
How do members want AONL to help?
Members want AONL to provide best-practice guidance, engage the Magnet Commission on evolving care models, offer thought leadership, support benchmarking and share member examples.