Confused about LPNS role

here is how I think of it.

LPNs cannot reassess. with blood products lpns cannot even check the blood product. that requires 2 RNs. and you have to stay with the pt. for 15mins. to reassess, evaluate how the are responding to the transfusion. same with tpn, that is an RN responsibility. the LPN can do some sterile produres. like dressing changes, trach care. but these should be simple procedures, which won't require the RNs assessment (that is the key, does it require reassessment). anytime you have a pt. with a sign or symptom, like restlessness, confusion, pain, headache. it requires the RNs assessment. the RN needs to assess the level of pain, are they confused/restless because they are short of breath. this requires the RNs asssessment skills. The RN is also responsible for admission and discharge. admission requires you to assess the pt. and discharge requires teaching in some ways. both of these only the RN can do. as long as the situaiton requires you to assess, reassess, plan care, evaluate, admit, discharge, teach, it will be the RN responsibility. so you have to think about are they needing something requiring me to reassess. before you give pain med. you have to assess there pain. after you give the med you have to reassess. so if it is a prn med or a med that requires reassessment. then that is the RNs patient.

here is how I think of it.

LPNs cannot reassess. with blood products lpns cannot even check the blood product. that requires 2 RNs. and you have to stay with the pt. for 15mins. to reassess, evaluate how the are responding to the transfusion. same with tpn, that is an RN responsibility. the LPN can do some sterile produres. like dressing changes, trach care. but these should be simple procedures, which won't require the RNs assessment (that is the key, does it require reassessment). anytime you have a pt. with a sign or symptom, like restlessness, confusion, pain, headache. it requires the RNs assessment. the RN needs to assess the level of pain, are they confused/restless because they are short of breath. this requires the RNs asssessment skills. The RN is also responsible for admission and discharge. admission requires you to assess the pt. and discharge requires teaching in some ways. both of these only the RN can do. as long as the situaiton requires you to assess, reassess, plan care, evaluate, admit, discharge, teach, it will be the RN responsibility. so you have to think about are they needing something requiring me to reassess. before you give pain med. you have to assess there pain. after you give the med you have to reassess. so if it is a prn med or a med that requires reassessment. then that is the RNs patient.

I am only speaking in terms of nclex. nclex is a national test. state laws do not apply. for example, some hospitals in my state allow the NA to insert foleys which is a sterile procedure. but, if it were an nclex question, I would get it wrong on the test, because one has to think broadly on the nclex. and accordingly, NAs cannot perform sterile procedures.

I am not saying that you won't encounter LPNs or NAs functioning beyond their "scope" in the work (hospital) setting. I am only answering this question in terms of nclex. nclex doesn't refer to state laws. in some states things may be able to be delegated. but this doesn't apply to nclex. for nclex it is the nurses job to teach, assess, etc., it can't be delegated. the LPN can not assess. doesn't matter how your state allows you to function. like the previous poster said you would have to get more training as an LPN to do blood products, etc.