The 2015 Wisconsin Licensed Practical Nurse Survey Report and its accompanying brochure were accomplished with significant support of key individuals and partners. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are a critical segment of the nursing workforce in the state. This report is sponsored by the Wisconsin Center for Nursing, Inc. (WCN) in partnership with the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD).
WCN greatly appreciates the dedicated volunteer researcher, Josie Veal PhD., RN, APNP, Associate Dean, Milwaukee Area Technical College, School of Health Sciences, and the contributions of her institution, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and statistician Jeffrey B. Henriques, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Their work on this critical report provides comprehensive information on the status of the LPN workforce in Wisconsin and recommends strategies to address future nursing shortages.
Many partner organizations provided expertise in the design, development and delivery of the survey. In particular, the work being done by members of the Data Collaborative of the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education & Workforce (WCMEW), was not only instrumental to the creation of the original survey design in 2011, but also resulted in improvements to the 2015 Wisconsin LPN Survey.
We are grateful to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services for making the survey accessible to the thousands of LPNs in our state, and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, without whose assistance, our work would not be possible. We also wish to thank Wisconsin LPNs for completing the survey, and the care they provide to patients and their families.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge and express our gratitude to the many schools and organizations that will utilize this information to advance nursing education and practice to assure a sufficient, competent and diverse nursing workforce for the people of Wisconsin.