LPN Duties

HannasMom · Feb 7, 2004

I work in a LTC, since our move last July. I'm a charge nurse on the night shift. I love my job and the residents. When I walked into this particular LTC, I knew I came to the right place.

I have worked there for more than six months now. I haven't given any enemas so far. I do give suppositories in the early am, but it's not that awful. It's a routine, I'm use to. My duties can vary each night, yet most is just that routine.

When I come onto work, I count narcotics with the evening med-aide.

Then the evening nurse gives report.

I get the night assignments ready for my two CNAs.

Prepare the Vital Sign Sheet, I&O sheets and 24 hour Report sheet for that night and the next days shifts.

I do treatments, order meds, pass night meds, there isn't very many at night due to the fact that our facility feels the residents need their sleep.

The CNAs do the vital signs and I&O's, etc. I do the charting on residents on Alert, call doctors when needed and take doctors orders, prepare paper work for residents going to appointments the next day. I assess the residents on Alert.

I also have done IV Piggybacks, suctioning, tube feedings, wound care, suprapubic cath changes, Catherizations, lab collections, etc.

My nights can be very busy or quiet and easy going. I'm also IV Certified, so I can start IV's when needed. We are a skilled facilty.

I also have busy work for quiet nights. There is always something which needs to be done, that the last shift had no time for.

Day shift and evening shift both have med aides which pass the meds, plus the med-aides do the enemas, on those shifts. We only have a few enemas maybe twice or three times each month. It's really not an everyday thing anyway. We have an excellent bowel care program.

Being a new nurse is scary. Any new job can be scary. Working at Walmart can be scary if you are new. (To me starting each day doing their chant would be un-nerving.) (Sounds more like a cult instead of a job.):roll

When you are applying for a job, be sure to ask about orientation, how long will it be, do you get a chance to orientate for all shifts. I was lucky I received a 3 week long orientation on all three shifts, (one week each shift) so I'm well prepare.

I hope this helps some. Sorry this post is so long. Good luck.

Dixen81 · Feb 7, 2004

Hannasmom,

What is the role of the RN at a LTC facility? I am a freshman RN student whose only desire is to work in a LTC facility - not a hospital. Did I get in to the wrong program?

ktwlpn, LPN · Feb 8, 2004

I gave WAY more enemas when I worked in 2 area hospitals...soap suds enemas until clear,mineral oil enemas-even a milk and molasses enema a few times...that is not even counting the retention enemas I have given=to instill particular medications......We are bowel fixated in LTC but we aim to keep the resident moving on their own through other means (bran mixtures with meals,prune juice,stool softeners and the occassional suppo....I can't remember the last enema I gave in the nursing home-it has been a long time....Is your sister a nurse? Stick around this board for awhile=visit the different forums.You will learn all you need to know about nursing...Peggy sue-in my LTC we have LPNs and RN's functioning as charge nurses and a mix of each in every dept( staff developement,resident assessment) The house supervisor is always an RN-as are the adon and don postions..Day to day-the DON prefers that the few RN's we have do the IV meds(we have very few-all are PICC or central lines of some kind) An RN must sign off on the MDS-other then that we have the same duties.I am in charge of a unit on day shift and my duties are no different then the RN in charge of the unit upstairs...I do what Hannasmom does and am also responsible for a lot of compliance paperwork-MDS,HCFA,AIMS,Braden scales and such-stuff that means nothing to you until you become a nurse....Colormyworld-my best advice to you is to try to work as a nurse' aide somewhere first-this will help you really get a handle on what nursing is about.You sound like you are really not that familiar with the field and I hate to see anyone invest a lot of time,energy and money into something that turns out to be not what they wanted...Good lUck-enjoy our board....

Dixen81 · Feb 8, 2004

Thank you ktwlpn. Does the RN have much time at the bedside or is he/she too busy with paperwork? I want to be able to get to know the residents and spend some time with them. Do you enjoy LTC? Thanks for your input.

Cali · Feb 8, 2004

Originally posted by Colormyworld
Help me please! I am fearing the duties of an LPN. My sister called me this morning and said that I really should rethink my choice because most of my work will be giving enema's. Is this true of LPN work ...are there an abundance of choices? I have noticed that most LPN positions are in nursing homes. Could someone describe their day?

Have you decided on exactly what area of nursing you want to go into? LPN's do not only give enema, we have far more duties. As an LPN I have worked Family Practice clinic, Urgent Care, Surgery Center, and Labor & Delivery and I have never given an enema. It all depends on where you work. You may have to give an enema or two but it's not the bulk of your job.

Brita01 · Feb 8, 2004

Originally posted by Colormyworld
Help me please! I am fearing the duties of an LPN. My sister called me this morning and said that I really should rethink my choice because most of my work will be giving enema's. Is this true of LPN work ...are there an abundance of choices? I have noticed that most LPN positions are in nursing homes. Could someone describe their day?

I'm just curious. What profession is your sister in?

ktwlpn, LPN · Feb 8, 2004

Originally posted by peggysue
Thank you ktwlpn. Does the RN have much time at the bedside or is he/she too busy with paperwork? I want to be able to get to know the residents and spend some time with them. Do you enjoy LTC? Thanks for your input.

+In my facility he/she can...We have several pool RN's and a few full timers that refuse to charge any unit so they fulfill the duties of a staff nurse and float from floor to floor..Our larger units(up to 44 beds) have one charge nurse-typically an RN because we have some at this time) and 2 or 3 floor nurses-rn's and lpn's..The charge nurse on each unit is responsible for varying amounts of paperwork and once you get organized and learn the resident's routines you can spend as much time with them as you like-or as a few of my co-workers do-as little.....The floor nurses are more involved with the med passes and treatments and such and depending on the acuity of the unit they may be able to spend time with the folks and still get their tasks completed in time...On good days ( no doctors rounds-no meetings with disgruntled families) I have time to take fellas to the bathroom and help feed meals and play music for my bedfast fellas.Even the ones that can' t talk can communicate.I like to pull up a chair for a few minutes everyday and try to get to everyone each week....I try to give extra mouthcare to the tubefeeders fella....Imagine never getting a hug or having your hand held-=imagine the only time anyone touches you is to bath you or hurt you while doing a treatment.....I like to hold a hand and make eye contact.I will rub lotion on hands and arms or do nail care sometimes while sitting with them but sometimes I just sit and make eyecontact...I have a captive audience for my singing,too...poor fellas..i can't carry a tune in a bucket..I really do enjoy LTC-I like nursing-it's all I ever wanted to do..I have great days and really bad days just like anyone else but the good outnumber the bad pretty consistently..What does your sister do?

Dixen81 · Feb 9, 2004

Thank you, again ktwlpn. You've been a big help, and you sound like an awesome nurse.

I think you're talking to the OP when you ask what her sister does.

ktwlpn, LPN · Feb 10, 2004

Originally posted by peggysue
Thank you, again ktwlpn. You've been a big help, and you sound like an awesome nurse.
I think you're talking to the OP when you ask what her sister does.

You're welcome....and thanks for the compliment.I try my hardest.I was asking colormyworld what her sister does....I bet she worked as an aide for 4 days once...maybe

sarpa · Feb 12, 2004

Help me please! I am fearing the duties of an LPN. My sister called me this morning and said that I really should rethink my choice because most of my work will be giving enema's. Is this true of LPN work ...are there an abundance of choices? I have noticed that most LPN positions are in nursing homes. Could someone describe their day?

Hi , not all the time you give enemas,not true i think your sister is just discouraging you, but if that is what you want and love to do, that is your choice, being in this field it is rewarding. :coollook: :)

jschut, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2004

LPN's do alot more than just give enemas!

I pass meds, chart, do treatments, soothe jangled nerves, try to help family members :angryfire (That's a WHOLE other post!) give insulins, call Dr's......

There are sooooo many things a LPN does!

Don't Be discouraged, being a LPN is a rewarding and wonderful career!

God bless you and take care!