Blurred Boundaries: Should we eliminate the distinction between RNs and LPNs?

there are many things i can do independently of an RN. please remember i have a license too.

i am not going to be in trouble for changing my patient's diapers by myself. or giving them a g-tube feeding by myself. or starting an IV by myself. or check my patient's vital signs by myself.

the north carolina BON says an RN has to make my assignment for me. there are things i must report to my supervisor and things my supervisor must do for me that are out of my scope, unless i am working in my paramedic capacity outside of the hospital. i have the nurse practice act in my clipboard, actually. i know the rules.

but i have my very own scope that i can do, too.

In my 17 years of being the RN supervisor of LPNs, not once has an LPN gotten in trouble with the BON for stepping outside their practice, and not once have I ever seen an RN get into any kind of trouble for what an LPN has done "under their license".

mine too.

i had to have the same pre-reqs, english 1 & 2, anatomy and phys 1 & 2, computers, intermed. or college algebra, chemistry and micro. and pass the same entrance exam.

unfortunately, the waiting list for the RN program, even with an incoming 3.8 GPA on pre-reqs is like 4 years long here. so i did the LPN program and when i start my bridge i only have 4 semesters left (or the 2nd yr of an ADN program, minus traditional peds and OB).

I also know there are excellant LPN nurses out there and have considered myself lucky to have worked with and learned from them but also have a problem with the thinking that we are equal in our knowledge and skills. I don't understand; is there not a standardized program for LPNS as there is for RNS?The reason I'm asking is because 2 of my youger sisters are LPNS and even their nsg math was not as intense or detailed as Rns, I know this for a fact because when 1 of my sisters attempted to enter the RN program, she found out she would have to take the A&P, Nsg math etc over.This was in an attempt to do the bridge thing where if you have so many years experience as an LPN, and all the preresq. done, you could bridge into 2nd year Rn classes.

I think where some of the confusion regarding my original question of "should we merge the LPN and RN programs" is because the roles are VERY similar where I live. I am being trained to be an LPN in Alberta, Canada.

My recent reading of the Act describes the scope of practice for as LPN with the words "when delegated". This means that an LPN cannot work independently with clients. The client must be under the care of another professional in order for the delegation to take place.

While RN's also work in partnership they are not limited to that role and can enter into a professional relationship with a client as the primary care provider.

I've heard similar interpretations before of various nurse practice acts in Northern America. But we're essentially talking about inpatient bedside nursing here, aren't we? Many hospitals have given LPNs roles that almost duplicate that of RN - that is LPNs are responsible for 90% of all nursing care for their assigned patients (such as everything except for the admission assessment and hanging blood). In cases like that, the distinction between LPN and RN can easily become blurred and contentious.