LVN's/LPN's How does coverage work on your floors???

When you ask about coverage, do you actually mean assignment distribution? It sounds like it to me when you speak of the situation; it seems that your question is more of what can be assigned to an LPN. If your scope of practice or policies do not permit you to do direct/ER admissions and cannot do piggybacks and pushes, then, the charge nurse is wrong. Or, it could be the way your floor practices, moreso than what is actually allowed. An example is this: I work in the OB-GYN clinic and while I know that I am allowed to administer Rhogam to patients, my clinic would prefer that I don't, which is different from the BON and policy and procedure. Maybe something happened where these particular RN nurses decided that they would prefer to do it themselves. I think that what frustrates some of the RNs is that they have a great deal of responsibility and feel that when they see the LPN, they see another nurse, but one that is limited in their scope. It doesn't make it right, for sure, but this is the vein I get. Maybe getting a bit more specific about what the charge nurse was gripping about can help us answer you better.

Experience has taught me to review policies and procedures and keep copies of them handy when needed. I have also contacted the BON and asked them for copies of their rulings on certain things and have them in a handy place at work. I have no problem in stating to anyone that I am not legally allowed to perform a task and if they are angry, there really isn't anything I can do about it without risking myself.

I had similar issues; one time a nurse asked me if I would administer meds through a central line. Never saw one before, and had a feeling it was not for me to do and she said "Well, I know that LPNs are not allowed to, but they do them" and I said "Well, I'm not because I am not allowed, have never been trained or inserviced". I can agree, her attitude sucked lemons; I mean, even if you are going on for your RN, you are not one today, so, unfortunately, she will have to give. Maybe she was just annoyed with being in charge overall? It does suck because the charge nurse takes the fall for the entire unit. Sorry this had to happen, and of course, best of luck in your studies!

If I had a charge nurse who attempted to make me feel unwanted on the floor because I am an LVN, I would have tactfully called this person's bluff. I might have responded, "You seem upset about having to work with an LVN. Would you like for me to go home right now so you can do all my work for the rest of the shift?"

My charges cheerfully do whatever I need them to. In return, I help out as much as I can with things like putting in orders, helping out other staff, getting hard sticks, etc.

I think I have a less limited scope of practice than you do; pretty much the only thing I can't do that is routinely required is IV pushes and spike blood. Not that it makes any difference; her job is to cover what you can't do, and she should without being a butt about it.