LPN job despriptions

Specialties Hospice

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ladyrider

2 Posts

I work for a hospice that uses LPNs in a different way. We hire LPNS to work in the capacity of a hha with using our nursing skills. It was just degrading at first. Because I felt like I had to rely on the RN to make decisions I was expected to in past jobs. I have found after 4 years in this area of nursing that. It seems better this way. More communication and brain storming happens between staff members. We are respected as LPNs and the RNs rely on our judgement we are their eyes and ears when they can't be with pt. But sometimes its just a pain to have to call an RN to give a PRN med that we already know we can should give. But this cat litter emptying, toilet cleaning, enema giving, cath inserting LPN loves her job. Please tell what other hospices use there LPNs for. bornfree:nurse:
I work for a hospice that utilizes RN's and LPN's as a team. We use our LPN skills and rely on our judgement when making assessments. We do report to the RN's. We are allowed to give medications just as we would in any other setting. I love my job, I have been a hospice nurse for 8 years and recently obtained my CHPLN. Good luck in your career! ladyrider

bornfree

8 Posts

Yea! I just passed my test. I am a CHPLPN. I got a 75cent raise as well.:balloons: I love my job because Im able to spends lots of time with the pt and family and leave the paperwork and details to to the RN and still use my nursing skills. Tami

sunnilynn

2 Posts

Fist time here. Been a hospice LPN for 5 years in LA.

We do all the RN's do accept admits and recerts. Which recerts are just more paperwork anyway.

We do team nursing with RN and LPN with a case load of aprox 20, swithing back from week to week seeing pts, and carry a total census aprox 150.

I make decisions on obtaining md orders and carrying them out. The RN are called Case Managers and the LPNS are Case Cooridinators. We are pretty much treated equally at least by administrator and don.

Many times I have trained Rn's new to hospice, which only brings respect my way. I have new to hospice Rn's call me regular with questions and I am glad to help.

The whole working as a cna and being a licensed practical nurse really blows my mind. But I'm glad to hear that the person doing it is enjoying it.

It would tick the Rn's off if we had to call them for prn meds and such . We do try to keep in close communication regarding the pts we share.

They really expect us to act as the professional nurses we are and use our qualified nursing judgement.

As in other genre of nursing we dont flush pic lines and such things that are out of our scope in any feild of nursing.

EmptytheBoat

96 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, Rehab, MRDD, Home Health.

I personally believe a CNA (HHA) may be the most

important element of the team, and the most

needed by patients and families. My biggest rewards

in Hospice have usually been performing ADL's and

post-mortem care.

Nurses have their funtions on the team,

and their importance depends on their willingness

and effectiveness, not on their title.

sunnilynn

2 Posts

I agree with you on the importance of the cna in the hospice arena. I feel what you do is honorable. I only wanted to share how we operate our hospice . It seems to me that nurses should be used as nurses. We have alot to offer just as the Rn's, and it seems a waste of all the knowledge you have as an LPN to be used as cna.

I am not above doing cna tasks when needed...certainly dont mind getting my hands dirty!

I also didnt mean to offend you if thats what happened. Only well intentions made, so sorry if my post offended you.

EmptytheBoat

96 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, Rehab, MRDD, Home Health.
I agree with you on the importance of the cna in the hospice arena. I feel what you do is honorable. I only wanted to share how we operate our hospice . It seems to me that nurses should be used as nurses. We have alot to offer just as the Rn's, and it seems a waste of all the knowledge you have as an LPN to be used as cna.

I am not above doing cna tasks when needed...certainly dont mind getting my hands dirty!

I also didnt mean to offend you if thats what happened. Only well intentions made, so sorry if my post offended you.

Dear sunnilynn:

You did not offend thee, I was just adding my thoughts about

the team approach to Hospice, and the insignificance of titles.

Take care and much success in your career.

By the way, for the record, I'm a RN.

msnicola27

5 Posts

Specializes in Community nursing/hospice/case mgmt.
I was just wondering about what LPNs are allowed to do in hospice in CA. I was under the impression that LPNs could not do anything related to a PCA pump in Ca or push IV meds. Can anyone clarify what LPNs in Ca can do relating to IVs, PCA pumps, vent patients, ng tubes ect. Thanks

Hi, check out your scope of practice for CA. I was an LPN there while I was going through RN school. As an LPN I was allowed to care for pts with vents, but as far as IVs go we were only allowed to d/c them and hang fluids (but no abx and definitely not PCA pumps). Of course Lpns out in CA can insert IVs if you get your certification. We were taught to do f/c, ngt insertions/feedings and the like. I worked Hospice out there and at the time (should be the same unless the scope of practice has changed) I was allowed to do assessments and pronounce. Basically I worked as a float nurse under the RN. She gave me a list of patients to see and I went and saw them. Some nights I took primary call for 2 counties with an RN back up but I was the one making the visits at night, pronouncing and calling the coronor. I went back to nursing school to get my RN only because it seemed like where I lived in CA they weren't hiring LPNs much in hospitals. You could go far as an LPN in LTC but I didn't really feel that was my area. My niche must be hospice because i'm back in it as an RN (in TN). Out here where I work, the LPN's are used primarily as continuous care nurses (although they do not have to call to check on giving prn doses), however sometimes they are using them to do some home visits when we are busy. Anyway, hope that helps :-)

Nicola

VinoLover2030

428 Posts

Specializes in lots of specialties.

with that one patient what do you do when your pt doesnt need anything?Im with my one pt for 12 hours and I just wonder what I should do......read write..hmm cant really study like I like to.....dont know.Agency never gave anything clear to do

Patton1514

7 Posts

Curious to know. I just became an LPN and was on the certification website to order my study material. I took the RN and LPN practice exams for certification and passed both of them. It advised to wait a year or two before taking the exam to get experience for the exam questions. I am wondering if I should wait that long. If I know I can pass the exam...why wait? I love psychology and excelled in dealing with patients and families during clinicals. It could help that the past 20 years I have been a manager in finance and furiniture and have had long term customers that have had terminal diseases. What is your opinion?

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