LPN's role?

Quita · Oct 14, 2003

LPN's draw blood,give injections, apply dressings, remove sutures, vital signs ,assist doctors, prep for surgical procedures and also front office duties.

tbriggsLPN · Nov 13, 2003

I just moved here (Dallas, Ga) from Wooster, OHIO. Here I can really do anything, but the system is as backwards. (Up north I did assessment and passes meds, but could not to IV's.) I pretty much feel like a glorified aid that can do Iv's and give meds. I can give meds IVP or IVPB. I can start IV's. Can't hang blood or give concentrated things like K riders or push or hang some cardiac drugs. They don't let me do assessments usually. (ony some nurses, very few) But basically at this facility they have me passing meds, vs, accuchecks, lab draws and giving baths. I'm hoping to move to a bigger facility in the system in January. I'm not challenged at all. I also am trying to get into an RN program as well (LPN - RN bridge) The insurance benefits aren't great and too expensive. I'd like to find out how to geta union started, other nurses think it would really be great, but don't thing the system would allow it.

abh1026 · Jan 1, 2004

I used to teach LPN school in GA. Per the GA LPN Board of Nursing, an LPN can do anything an RN is allowed to do as permitted by the guidelines of her employer. This means an employer consults with their malpractice company to set their specific guidelines. As a result, LPN's find inconsistencies in job functions/tasks for different locations and jobs in this state.

BarbPick · Jan 1, 2004

Susan moved to Atlanta from Miami after working in Mother Baby for 18 years at a VERY big hospital. When she got to the hospitals , few would talk with her. She went to Piedmont Hospital in Mother Baby, and was given the title "Care Partner". She worked in bedside care and was only allowed to pass meds if an RN was off or Died.

She was miserable. She watched New Grad RN's not wrapping babies correctly, give strange education to the patients, and really not teach breat feeding as we know it on Earth, and she was not allowed to say a word.

cgail143 · Sep 1, 2008

I have been an LPN for more than 20 years and I am sad to say, I can't answer your question. I have been working in the newborn nursery in a GA hospital for the last 8 years. I have been doing assessments and teaching new moms I have only been restricted from doing the initial assessment on admission. Now, as of last week I am being told LPN's can not do patient assessments. So..... I am no longer sure what my role is. It seems I can't do any more than a CNA can do. And since they don't have to pay them as much. I think I may be on my way out. Not sure what I'm going to do since it seems the only places that hire LPN's now are the nursing homes. And if we can't assess patients, not sure how long that will even last. I am just very discouraged with the nursing profession in general right now. Not sure if it's even worth going back for my RN now. Not even sure why they are still teaching LPN's. I'm looking into other professions myself now.

KellyCCRN · Sep 2, 2008

wow I 'm kind of surprised to read some of these responses. I have worked at a mid-sized hospital for several years now as an LPN ( finishing RN school at the moment). In the facility that I work I was hired to a med/surg floor PRN in a full time spot but have since shifted to float pool. I work primarily ICU/CCU and ER at this time I am considering an acute dialysis position Prn as well. The only thing that we can not do at my facility is the initial admission assessment, update care plans or triage. Anything else you name it I've done it. I hang blood, titrate drips (cardene, dopamine, diprovan, lidocaine ect....), I assist with procedures ( c-lines, piccs, chest tubes ect...), perform shift assessments ect. I live in SW GA and do not know what the pay is in the Savannah area but at the hospital I work I make $18hr+ shift diff for nights/weekends.