Any Lpn's Working In Er??

Fiona59 · Nov 26, 2004

Didn't appear to be going that way until the two previous posts appeared!!!

xy/RN2b 2006 · Nov 26, 2004

During my time in the ER, I worked with LPN's and RN's both......I always thought it was kind of interesting that the majority of the LPNs could run circles around the other nurses.

Maybe not to you Fiona59......but to me the post above sounded good enough to start a RN vs. LVN/LPN. I was just stating the obvious in reference to education and pay.

danfif · Nov 27, 2004

I would be interested to hear from everyone what states allow LVN/LPN's to work in the ER. I am in Kansas, and don't know of a single one that hires LPN's. I have worked Med/Surg, Tele, and ER as a CNA, and would love to be in the ER somewhere as a LPN.

Let Me Know,

Dan

rockchalk_jayhawk · Nov 27, 2004

Dan,

I started out as an LPN in the ER after I worked Med/Surg for 2 years. Yes, I am in Kansas. Rural Kansas. Anyway I was required to take ACLS and was the first LPN to take ACLS in our facility. I did everything... Draw blood, ABGs you name it and was not supervised by an RN. The only thing I could not do was start IV's or hang fluids ect. and I always had RN back up from the floor if needed. Now we have IV certified LPNs which is great. I think if you proove yourself to be as efficient as an RN any place would be stupid not to hire you. And if you are ACLS certified, (PALS and NRP wouldnt hurt either), and have IV certification I say go for it. No use not trying. There are times I would take a good LPN over an RN anytime. I now work in ICU after going back to school and getting my RN. I still feel the same way.

GOOD LUCK

Paula RN, KANSAS

Gooooooo JAYHAWKS

JVanRN · Nov 27, 2004

I worked as an LVN on a Tele floor before getting my RN and I did lots of things the RN's were able to do then to...it was great experience but at the time I didn't realize that I could have been possibly putting my license on the line...just make sure that you are able to do everything (legally) that you are doing (did that make sence?)....the only thing that irritates me is that LVN's are able to do more and more and get like 1/2 the pay. LPN's need more compensation for what they can do! I'm not saying pay them the same as RN's or anything...but geez

xy/RN2b 2006 · Nov 27, 2004

I worked as an LVN on a Tele floor before getting my RN and I did lots of things the RN's were able to do then to...it was great experience but at the time I didn't realize that I could have been possibly putting my license on the line...just make sure that you are able to do everything (legally) that you are doing (did that make sence?)....the only thing that irritates me is that LVN's are able to do more and more and get like 1/2 the pay. LPN's need more compensation for what they can do! I'm not saying pay them the same as RN's or anything...but geez

I agree with most of your post but the reason why there is such a huge contrast in pay between the RN and the LPN/LVN is simple. Education.....even though some people may not see education as being that important.....society rewards education. More times than none if someone has a higher education they are compensated well above the average person. This is not in every situation, I know people that do not even have a highschool diploma that make 4-5x those that have masters degrees. But in the nursing field, the healthcare rewards education both financially and socially.

NYCRN16 · Nov 29, 2004

In my ER, we only use one LPN in fast track, because there is so much that she cannot do in the main ED due to her scope of practice. Once you read below all of the limitations that LPN's have in NYS, you will see how they are not used that frequently in an ED setting, because many of these things are very common in ER. On a regular med surg floor, the limitations would not matter as much. Below is the LPN scope of practice from NYS as it is on the NYSNA website as tasks that LPN's cannot perform:

1) While LPN's cannot do patient assessments, they can do data collection.

2)LPN's cannot independantly perform the nursing plan of care.

3)LPN's cannot administer IV chemotherapy. They may however administer

bladder chemotherapy.

4) LPN's cannot administer any IV medications (except heparin and saline flushes) by direct IV push technique or administer an IV fluid bolus for plasma volume expansion except for the care of patients with chronic hemodialysis.

5)LPN's cannot draw blood from any central line, remove any central line, reestablish patency in any central line, or change dressings or heparin lock caps in any central line. They cannot access or flush any venous chest or arm port line device.

6)In home care/hospice, LPN's cannot administer initial IV doses of any medication or be involved in any procedure involving central lines.

7) LPN's cannot do triage, case management or mental health counseling.

8)While LPN's in LTC can collect MDS+ information, the resident assessment plan must be completed by an RN or other appropriate licensed health care practitioner.

LPN's CAN administer blood products if they have been through a special transfusion training program approved by the NYS dept of health, and may start IV's if they are IV certified.

This is the link to the website if anyone is interested:

Click here: http://www.nysna.org/images/pdfs/practice/rn_uap_guidelines03.pdf

Fiona59 · Nov 29, 2004

Thank you for returning to the topic!!

It's bizarre how the scope of practice differs from location to location. There is nothing worse than being trained/educated to perform a skill and then have an employer say not in this facility its the RN scope of practice.

I once worked casual in three sites that were literally next door to each other:

no.1 -- no needle drugs, narcotic administration only on certain floors.

no.2-- all needles drugs, independent wound assessment and prepartion of my own wound treatment sheets.

no.3 -- all drugs, including narcotics,

Guess where I made the most money? U got it site no.1 who placed the most restrictions on scope of practice.

Where I trained/educated, we had 80% of the competencies of an RN.

tisha1098 · Nov 29, 2004

It seems to me that you are the only one making this an RN/LPN,LVN thing... I am an experienced LPN who will graduate with my RN before you try DEC 2005. And yes education is a big difference but guess what most LPN's learn from experience and where RN"S with no prior training are going on book smarts... and they don't make good nurses... believe me i have worked with quite a few. LPN's are the RN"S backbone and CNA"S are the LPN'S backbone, always has been always will be... you see the "uneducated" LPN's as you prefer us are just as smart because you see we actually do the work while you sit around on your high and mighty stoop barking orders.

I agree with most of your post but the reason why there is such a huge contrast in pay between the RN and the LPN/LVN is simple. Education.....even though some people may not see education as being that important.....society rewards education. More times than none if someone has a higher education they are compensated well above the average person. This is not in every situation, I know people that do not even have a highschool diploma that make 4-5x those that have masters degrees. But in the nursing field, the healthcare rewards education both educationally and socially.

xy/RN2b 2006 · Nov 30, 2004

It seems to me that you are the only one making this an RN/LPN,LVN thing... I am an experienced LPN who will graduate with my RN before you try DEC 2005. And yes education is a big difference but guess what most LPN's learn from experience and where RN"S with no prior training are going on book smarts... and they don't make good nurses... believe me i have worked with quite a few. LPN's are the RN"S backbone and CNA"S are the LPN'S backbone, always has been always will be... you see the "uneducated" LPN's as you prefer us are just as smart because you see we actually do the work while you sit around on your high and mighty stoop barking orders.

:stone :stone :stone no response to your blatant attempt to troll around here and start a flame war.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Nov 30, 2004

reminder:

debate the topic. do not belittle the members' comments.

please remember the tos.

xy/RN2b 2006 · Nov 30, 2004

reminder:
debate the topic. do not belittle the members' comments.
please rember the tos.

thank you......so much......i thought you all would never show up.

rn's are the best:)