I've looked around and didn't see a thread discussing this problem so I started my own. Excuse me if it's been done to death. I just need to vent. :stone My anger is directed at the hospital not LPN's...so please read this with that thought in mind.
I work in a medium sized CCU in a community hospital. We have RN's and LPN's working in the unit. I'm about to lose my cotton picking mind. We had a rough night last night...scratch that...every night is rough. I've never worked with LPN's before. I had no clue what their scope of practice was. I've come to the conclusion that LPN's in a unit creates incredible stress for the RN's. Their limited scope of practice leaves the RN's with ALL the admissions, ALL the sickest pts, ALL the codes, ALL the PCI's, plus covering the desk which monitors tele's from the tele floor.....AAAARGH! Last night there were 2 RN's and 3 LPN's. One RN had the desk and I was the only RN actually working in the unit. I had the 2 sickest pts plus admitted a code from the tele floor, plus covered the LPN's iv meds, (all ICU pts are on IV drugs...what the heck is up with having nurses on board who cant give iv drugs??) transfusions...then a PCI was called. Give me a freaking break!
OK, vent over. :uhoh21: