Difference between RN and LPN responsibilities in the hospital setting?

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 8, 2009

I can't think of a single bad LPN I've ever worked with. I wish they would all go back for their RN and get paid what they are really worth.
OP, the answer to your question is a legal one, primarily. As another poster stated, read your state's Nurse Practice Act to learn what the RN does and what the LPN does, from a legal standpoint.
LPN's can and do Charge in Skilled Nursing facilities and other long-term care facilities in some states.
Where I work, they cannot take phone or verbal orders, cannot do physical assessments, cannot push IV meds or hang blood. The nurse on my floor who is the best at starting IV's is an LPN, though! I keep bugging her to go back for her RN, as she will be working another 15 years, at least. She's very knowledgeable, very skilled, a wonderful asset to our ward.
OP, good luck with your studies. BTW, the LPN came about as a "replacement" for RN's during WW 2, I think, when lots of RN's were overseas caring for the troops - or something like that. Anybody know for sure?

It is true, we were born out of a need to quickly replenish nurses during a time of 'drought', which was WWII. I see this is an old post, but, what you said just about sums up what LPNs are able to do in New York. Most of us are charge nurses in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. We cannot triage, make initial assessments or such. Contrary to what many believe, we do critically think. It may be within the frame of our scope of practice but we do. And, I noticed that LPNs that have worked more than 20 years ago are definitely smart cookies because (at least in the hospital I work in), they were in charge on the evening and night shifts; with maybe one nursing supervisor (RN) for every two or three floors.

I came into the LPN position when more RNs were available and while the roles of the LPNs in my hospital have not necessarily decreased, we didn't have to intervene as often on emergencies, thus, I feel that I am not as effective as I'd like to be in emergent situations.

sunray12 · Jun 9, 2009

RN's study more in depth the etiology of disease processes and other conditions. They are expected to recognize and act on potential problems that someone with a lesser education may not. Although Experienced LPN's are capable of this. Rn's are trained to critically think and do nursing diagnoses and on leadership and delegation. RN's are taught to supervise and lead the team. Lpn's are trained to do basic nursing care and RN's are trained to do that as well as trained to critically think, and to critically think you must have the extensive knowledge of the disease processes and conditions learned in RN school. Basically, Lpn's are trained to do more basic care for people, Rn's are trained to treat, prevent, and critically think in any situation, especially life threatening situations. I think both deserve respect and both are nurses but they are totally different in the aspect of expectations and responsibilities.

The resuscitation of an old thread ....

My med surge text book (PN) has critical thinking questions on just about every other page so I'm not so sure about the "RN critical thinker" vs "LPN - basic robot" stereotype. Someone wrote in this thread a few years ago that BSN-RN's are more well rounded because of their education. In applying some critical thought one ought to realize that with so many people changing careers for various and sundry reasons these days it's not accurate to assume that a PN student has no prior education or professional experience. So in today's world it is very possible for a PN student to have more rounding than a BSN. Some PN students have taken the same list of gen ed prereqs as RN students so they are working with the same foundation of a&p, chem, logic, freshman comp, freshman algebra, and a smattering of social sciences, yadda, yadda either because the PN required it or because they were shopping both RN and LPN programs at the same time and ended up going with the LPN program. The gen ed stuff coalesces and forms a basis for understanding nursing 101. What threads like this come down to is that RN is a higher level of smart than LPN - and as a categorical statement this couldn't possibly be true. The difference between the two titles? Refer to your respective BON websites and the appropriate statutory sections in your state. Occupations are a choice. You won't find a legal definition that says "this title is smarter/better than that one".

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2009

It depends on the hospital, the state, and the floor. I don't care if someone's a LPN/RN/BSN/MSN/DNP, I would just want a smart nurse if I was in the hospital.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 9, 2009

The resuscitation of an old thread ....
My med surge text book (PN) has critical thinking questions on just about every other page so I'm not so sure about the "RN critical thinker" vs "LPN - basic robot" stereotype. Someone wrote in this thread a few years ago that BSN-RN's are more well rounded because of their education. In applying some critical thought one ought to realize that with so many people changing careers for various and sundry reasons these days it's not accurate to assume that a PN student has no prior education or professional experience. So in today's world it is very possible for a PN student to have more rounding than a BSN. Some PN students have taken the same list of gen ed prereqs as RN students so they are working with the same foundation of a&p, chem, logic, freshman comp, freshman algebra, and a smattering of social sciences, yadda, yadda either because the PN required it or because they were shopping both RN and LPN programs at the same time and ended up going with the LPN program. The gen ed stuff coalesces and forms a basis for understanding nursing 101. What threads like this come down to is that RN is a higher level of smart than LPN - and as a categorical statement this couldn't possibly be true. The difference between the two titles? Refer to your respective BON websites and the appropriate statutory sections in your state. Occupations are a choice. You won't find a legal definition that says "this title is smarter/better than that one".

I am one of those LPNs who had to take college level science, psychology, English and sociology courses, so, I can agree with your statement. We also had critical thinking, the nursing process and care plans in our program as well, so, I was not trained to be a conveyor belt nurse who acts without thinking.