LPN pt assignments

U.S.A. Illinois

Published

Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

My hospital recently changed its practice of allowing LPNs to take pt assignments, stating that it is against the IL Nurse Practice Act. Essentially, the LPNs now aid, give meds, & do admissions & the RNs have to take on more pts for their assignment. Most of us believe that the RN should do the initial assessment (for my floor this is usually when the pt returns from surgery) & then after that, the pt could be assigned to an LPN on later shifts along with an RN to report any problems to. Assessment is the RN's scope of practice but when reading #1 under the LPN scope below it seems that "collecting data and collaborating in the assessment" would include the LPN checking pulses, lung/heart sounds, etc.

I guess I'm just wondering how your facilities give LPN assignments. It really is feeling like the LPNs are being underutilized now where I'm at, but it's also being made known that there will not be any new LPNs hired.

(225 ILCS 65/60-35)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)

Sec. 60-35. RN scope of practice.

(a) Practice as a registered professional nurse means the full scope of nursing, with or without compensation, that incorporates caring for all patients in all settings, through nursing standards recognized by the Department, and includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) The comprehensive nursing assessment of the[TABLE=width: 500, align: center]

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[TD]health status of patients that addresses changes to patient conditions.[/TD]

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[TD](2) The development of a plan of nursing care to be[/TD]

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[TD]integrated within the patient-centered health care plan that establishes nursing diagnoses, and setting goals to meet identified health care needs, determining nursing interventions, and implementation of nursing care through the execution of nursing strategies and regimens ordered or prescribed by authorized healthcare professionals.[/TD]

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[TD] (3) The administration of medication or delegation[/TD]

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[TD]of medication administration to licensed practical nurses.[/TD]

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[TD] (4) Delegation of nursing interventions to implement[/TD]

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[TD]the plan of care.[/TD]

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[TD] (5) The provision for the maintenance of safe and[/TD]

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[TD]effective nursing care rendered directly or through delegation.[/TD]

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[TD] (6) Advocating for patients.

(7) The evaluation of responses to interventions and[/TD]

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[TD]the effectiveness of the plan of care.[/TD]

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[TD] (8) Communicating and collaborating with other[/TD]

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[TD]health care professionals.[/TD]

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[TD] (9) The procurement and application of new knowledge[/TD]

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[TD]and technologies.[/TD]

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[TD] (10) The provision of health education and counseling.

(11) Participating in development of policies,[/TD]

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[TD]procedures, and systems to support patient safety.[/TD]

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[TD](Source: P.A. 95-639, eff. 10-5-07.)[/TD]

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(225 ILCS 65/55-30)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)

Sec. 55-30. LPN scope of practice.

(a) Practice as a licensed practical nurse means a scope of basic nursing practice, with or without compensation, as delegated by a registered professional nurse or an advanced practice nurse or as directed by a physician assistant, physician, dentist, or podiatrist, and includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Collecting data and collaborating in the

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[TD]assessment of the health status of a patient.[/TD]

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[TD] (2) Collaborating in the development and[/TD]

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[TD]modification of the registered professional nurse's or advanced practice nurse's comprehensive nursing plan of care for all types of patients.[/TD]

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[TD] (3) Implementing aspects of the plan of care as[/TD]

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[TD]delegated.[/TD]

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[TD] (4) Participating in health teaching and counseling[/TD]

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[TD]to promote, attain, and maintain the optimum health level of patients, as delegated.[/TD]

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[TD] (5) Serving as an advocate for the patient by[/TD]

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[TD]communicating and collaborating with other health service personnel, as delegated.[/TD]

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[TD] (6) Participating in the evaluation of patient[/TD]

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[TD]responses to interventions.[/TD]

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[TD] (7) Communicating and collaborating with other[/TD]

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[TD]health care professionals as delegated.[/TD]

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[TD] (8) Providing input into the development of policies[/TD]

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[TD]and procedures to support patient safety.[/TD]

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[TD](Source: P.A. 95-639, eff. 10-5-07.)[/TD]

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