LVNs training RNs???

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello fellow nurses!

I had my first shift last night on a Med-Surg Oncology floor. I was shocked to find out that I was being oriented to the unit by a LVN. Now I realize that we do a lot of the same tasks as RNs but there are other things that I would be doing that they don't...

Has any RN out there been trained by a LVN? I am a new graduate, and I know I have A LOT TO LEARN but this particular LVN was engaging in unsafe behavior consistently--she seriously only used gloves twice the entire shift.

I was thinking about meeting with the nurse manager because I told the charge nurse and she didn't seem too concerned. Everyone seems very lax on this floor and I did have a great time but I know that is not what is important. Do you think it would be too ballsy for a new grad RN employee to meet with the nurse manager this soon?? The LVN was extremely nice and was trying to be helpful but she gave me incorrect information multiple occasions as well.

I'd LOVE any advice. Thanks a lot!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

If she gave you incorrect info and didn't use gloves those are concerns, but make sure of your concerns before you start your career off on a really BAD note. Do things they way you were taught or according to procedure, but also ask yourself if some of this is you being in "school" mode. I'm not saying who's right or wrong, but what happens in school has an annoying tendency to NOT be real world. And as far an LPN training you, one of our clinical sites had just removed all LPN's from the OB floor and would only let RN's work there. Except when a new RN needed trained, and one of the "removed" LPN's would get recalled to the floor to train the newbie. training over? Bye bye, you can't work here now.

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

You have a right to be precepted correctly. Go to your nurse manager. And as far as a LVN training a RN...never heard of it...once many yrs ago...as a nurse extern they tried to put me with a lpn and when the boss found out..she immediately put me with a RN..the scope of practice is different. Stand up for yourself. Good luck.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

As a NEW nurse, one, don't go running to mamma, the manager with everything that is not according to the books. That is a classic mistake new nurses make, they think their manager needs to know every infraction.

Two, in your next many years of nursing, you will learn that not everyone plays by the rules. You have a license. What others do to endanger themselves (not wearing gloves).. you can hand over a pair or shut it, unless it's a broken sterile field and I'd draw the line there. If a peer want's to expose themselves to harm, I'd offer the gloves and leave it at that. We are all professionals accountable for our own practice. You will never get anyone to conform to your own personal standards, that's why their own personal standards... you do better than them.

The hardest transition a new nurse makes is to the real world of nursing. Possibly because this person has a "lower" degree than you it's easy to find fault. Rest assured, when a patient status changes, you'll want this experienced LVN to guide you as to what to do.

You as a licensed nurse knows standards of care, it's your job to learn from the expert LVN and know what you will and will not take pieces from and mold them into your practice.

Because this person is less degreed than you, does not mean you are not capable from learning from them, you simply evaluate habbits and emulate those that are good practice, the others you ignore, unless it's a safety issue.

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Please stop and re-think. A new RN grad on a floor compared to a LVN who is very nice and helpful and has worked there ____? number of years. YES YES YES the LVN can train the RN.

As the first poster said don't obsess over "we learned to do this in school," compared to what really works on the floor. If you have specific nursing/medical concerns about patient care ask allnurses, or get some "facts" from your text books, and discuss those concerns with your charge nurse.

Do not even think about implying the LVN is not qualified to train you. I have learned more about good nursing care and bedside nursing from LVN's, CNA's, housekeeping, various medical "technicians," families, etc., than all the nurses with letters after their names have taught me!

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There is no reason an excellent, experienced LVN/LPN couldn't orient you to most aspects of nursing on your floor. Other than the gloves thing, I don't know what else she told you that was wrong, so I can't comment on that. I do think you should insist on an RN precepting you through the admissions (esp. the initial assessment of a new admit) and discharge processes. But as for learning how to do procedures, documenting, etc., an experienced LPN could teach you and be a valuable ally as you move through your orientation.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ Rehabilitation.

I agree with the one above in that things you addressed were of some concern. However, for the time being, I would not go to the nurse manager about anything. It is far too early and it will just cause problems for you in the future. You have to remember that you are a newbie and everyone else has probably been there a lot longer; they are in routine and do things the way they like to do it whether it be harmful or not. That being said, I would just remember everything you learned in school and be role model for them as well as protect yourself and other patients. I think that writing a letter to the state addressing your concerns will help. As far as the LVN training you. LVN's are nurses too and I think we all (RN's) need to get over the whole "I am better than you b/c I'm a RN" kinda thing. In 2 semesters I will be an RN and I am guilty of those thoughts as well eventhough I'm not even an RN yet! I just think that the LVN is getting you acquainted with the hospital you work in, policy, etc. Not truly training you, you were trained your skills to be an RN in school. right?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Keep in mind that LPNs and RNs do a lot of the same tasks, so don't automatically write the training experience off as being inappropriate. That doesn't mean you should follow incorrect training from her (i.e., the glove thing)...but don't tune it all out though because a lot of it will apply to you.

As far as things that are only in the RN scope of practice, though, be sure to get that training from another RN.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

That will go in your record, so please, please ask them to change preceptors.

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Specializes in IMC.

*snip*

Two, in your next many years of nursing, you will learn that not everyone plays by the rules. You have a license. What others do to endanger themselves (not wearing gloves).. you can hand over a pair or shut it, unless it's a broken sterile field and I'd draw the line there. If a peer want's to expose themselves to harm, I'd offer the gloves and leave it at that. We are all professionals accountable for our own practice. You will never get anyone to conform to your own personal standards, that's why their own personal standards... you do better than them.

*snip*

Because this person is less degreed than you, does not mean you are not capable from learning from them, you simply evaluate habbits and emulate those that are good practice, the others you ignore, unless it's a safety issue.

The only problem is that failing to glove is a patient safety issue. Gloving not only protects the wearer but also the patient as it prevents the spread of infection from patient to patient via the nurse's hands. Just because it isn't breaking a sterile field doesn't mean it isn't dangerous to the patient.

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Specializes in PACU, OR.

When I first started as a new RN in PACU, I learned almost as much from the staff nurses (LPNs) and assistant nurses (CNAs) as I did from the other RNs. Obviously your preceptor can't teach you procedures that are outside her scope of practice, but basic care, unit routine, learning the ropes-why ever not?

Once you have been there a while, proved yourself and earned some professional respect, then you can start correcting things you perceive as wrong. Until then, make like a sponge and soak up all the experience and job knowledge you can, regardless of the source.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I know on the med/surg floor I did clinicals at LPNs and RNs both worked on the floor. The LPN or RN would have 5-6 patients to do assessments/treatments/med passes/charting/etc. Their was another RN on the floor who didn't have patients who did admits/discharges/transfers/watched the monitors if there were any. The only difference between the LPN and RN was if there was a patient that needed blood products, that patient would go to the RN... so if you were working on that floor, a LPN could easily train and orient you to the floor since they virtually did the same job.

*** Although they do the same job.... the LPN has less education and therefore is paid less. The RNs on the floor are able/should be able to detect subtle issues with patients that LPNs might not be able to detect due to lack of education. That doesn't mean the LPNs can't catch subtle issues and that RNs will never miss it either, though.

But if your floor was like that floor, yeah the LPN could train you.

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