What real life skills do lpn's do regularly?

amoLucia · Jan 2, 2015

Can quickly think of doing GT feedings, injections (esp PPDs), and inserting foleys (male & female).

tnmarie · Jan 2, 2015

The skills you use are going to depend on where you end up and even the shift (night shift did all the U/As, colostomy and PEG care in my last SNF). My last SNF didn't let LPNs do IVs but most SNFs do. See where I am going? You may want to see where you end up to get a better idea of what skills you need to review.

I wills say that if you do end up at a SNF, the primary thing you will be doing is passing meds! Seriously. Hours on a med cart. You give lots of insulins and lots of tube feeds so insulin administration and PEG feeding and care would be good skills to review. Also lots of U/As and Foleys if you are on night shift.

I don't think many hospitals hire LPNs now and again the skills you use would be dependent on the type of floor you end up on.

I've never worked at a doctor's office as an LPN but in clinical it was mostly VS, paperwork, and talking on the phone to labs and pharmacies. Most offices in my area use MAs instead of LPNs. If you end up at a specialist, your tasks will vary widely.

Is there a particular area that you WANT work?

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jan 3, 2015

You received excellent advice from tnmarie! It will also depend on your state and the scope of practice they allow.

I worked SNF/rehab and while my STATE would allow LPN's with certification to start/manage IV's, my facility would NOT. They weren't allowed to touch anything IV related at all.

Nikki0727 · Jan 3, 2015

I work with adults with disabilities. I'm passing meds,suctioning trachs(sometimes changing the inner cannula) gtube feedings and changes. Super pubic catheter changes vitals. Sometimes straight Cathing for a sample. Flu season I gave all residents there flu shots.. And LOTS of documentation!!!!! I love my job! First nursing job and I've been there fr 6 months :)

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2015

While an LPN I worked in a LTC/short stay facility.

My main duties were med pass (I worked 3p-11p). I had two good sized med passes. Lots of insulins, lots of crushed meds. My particular unit had 3 tube feeds, 5 dialysis pts w/A-V fistulas, lots of DM pts, as well as many respiratory pts (COPD, etc) so a lot of neb tx, suctioning etc.

I did foleys on occasion (most LTC try to stay away from doing foleys due to infections.), once in a blue moon we had a pt on IV abx but not often. I was IV certified and my facility allowed LPNs to give abx via the IV, but other than that we did not have any pts with PICCs. And lots and lots of treatments (mostly wound care).

As the others said it really depends on where you end up working to know what skills to brush up on. Most of the skills aren't too difficult. It just takes practice to perfect your technique. My first few foleys...I couldn't get it in the urethera if the darn thing jumped at me, sang a song and flew a flag..LOL. After a few I could get a cath (maintaing sterile technique) with a combative patient, with weird anatomy, in the dark with one hand tied behind my back. :)

amoLucia · Jan 4, 2015

.... My first few foleys...I couldn't get it in the urethera if the darn thing jumped at me, sang a song and flew a flag..LOL. After a few I could get a cath (maintaing sterile technique) with a combative patient, with weird anatomy, in the dark with one hand tied behind my back. :)

This is funny! But oh so true!