Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,659 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.
| No. 40 | 
Oct 29, 2005, 03:51 PM
 Re: LPN's Role in the ICU?
The hospital where I used to work and one of the largest here in Washington, laid off ALL OF THIER LPNS TWO YEARS, AS HAVE OTHER HOSPITALS. California hardly uses them in the hospital. Here in Spokane, jobs for LPNs are pretty much just in Nuraing homes and Assisted Living Facilities.
I have ony worked with LPNs/LVNs in NY. I have worked ICU for years, and I don;t know anyone who uses LPN/LVNs in ICU. LPNs and LVNs don't belong in ICU due to the knowledge base that is needed to work ther safely. I don;t care who says that they can "run rings around the RNs". The RNs are responsible for what you do or don't do, and there is too much in ICU, that you can't. I do not want to be responsible for someone elses work in the ICU. I am too busy with my own one or two patients, to want to be responsible for someone elses' one or two patients. If there are nurses who are stupid enough to take on that responsibility, what can I say. It is not my license.
But wait, this is Texas, where workers have no unions and no rights. And the nurses will lose their jobs, if they refuse to work with LVNs in the ICU. And be reported to Group One, and blacklisted from every job that they apply for. JMHO, and my NY $0.02.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 41 |
Oct 30, 2005, 04:22 PM
Re: LPN's Role in the ICU? Originally Posted by lindarn The hospital where I used to work and one of the largest here in Washington, laid off ALL OF THIER LPNS TWO YEARS, AS HAVE OTHER HOSPITALS. California hardly uses them in the hospital. Here in Spokane, jobs for LPNs are pretty much just in Nuraing homes and Assisted Living Facilities.
I have ony worked with LPNs/LVNs in NY. I have worked ICU for years, and I don;t know anyone who uses LPN/LVNs in ICU. LPNs and LVNs don't belong in ICU due to the knowledge base that is needed to work ther safely. I don;t care who says that they can "run rings around the RNs". The RNs are responsible for what you do or don't do, and there is too much in ICU, that you can't. I do not want to be responsible for someone elses work in the ICU. I am too busy with my own one or two patients, to want to be responsible for someone elses' one or two patients. If there are nurses who are stupid enough to take on that responsibility, what can I say. It is not my license.
But wait, this is Texas, where workers have no unions and no rights. And the nurses will lose their jobs, if they refuse to work with LVNs in the ICU. And be reported to Group One, and blacklisted from every job that they apply for. JMHO, and my NY $0.02.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
I'd agree with some of your statements, however....
This is also the same Texas that has the good sense to actually utilize LVN's to their fullest potential rather than employ them to be little more than glorified CNA's who can pass pills and insert foleys.
Talk about a wasted resource for a hospital with a tight budget.
I also think you're being a little dramatic in your painting a picture of TX RN's being forced to work with LVN's in the ICU or be blacklisted.
The RN's I worked with back when I was an LVN were not resistant to the idea and were certainly not forced to work with me. They more than welcomed me.
The recurring theme here is that the RN's in this discussion who are the most resisitant to the idea are the same ones who have little or no experience actually working with LVN's in the ICU.
Many RN's who go to work in specialty areas where there is little or no LVN presence rely on old ideologies and outdated information about LVN practice that they recall from years ago in their RN programs.
| | No. 42 |
Oct 30, 2005, 07:27 PM
 Re: LPN's Role in the ICU?
the state i live in allows lpn's only to hang ivf and some antibiotics. no ivp meds. they are not allowed to take verbal orders from md or allowed to do assessments. they are not allowed to titrate drips either. they may not initiate an iv infusion but may hang a new bag of ivf if it is empty. i don't think they are allowed to access any type of central lines either. my hospital doesn't have lpn's in our icu. the truth is i think they would be very bored to be there.
while in nursing school i worked on med-surg and found the lpn's to be more knowledgeable about many things than some of the rn's. i think it doesn't have so much to do with your degrees or certifications, rather your own states practice act and what things are within your scope of practice that determines where you can and should work. just my 2 cents.
| | No. 44 |
Mar 22, 2006, 08:34 PM
Re: LPN's Role in the ICU? Originally Posted by lindarn The hospital where I used to work and one of the largest here in Washington, laid off ALL OF THIER LPNS TWO YEARS, AS HAVE OTHER HOSPITALS. California hardly uses them in the hospital. Here in Spokane, jobs for LPNs are pretty much just in Nuraing homes and Assisted Living Facilities.
I have ony worked with LPNs/LVNs in NY. I have worked ICU for years, and I don;t know anyone who uses LPN/LVNs in ICU. LPNs and LVNs don't belong in ICU due to the knowledge base that is needed to work ther safely. I don;t care who says that they can "run rings around the RNs". The RNs are responsible for what you do or don't do, and there is too much in ICU, that you can't. I do not want to be responsible for someone elses work in the ICU. I am too busy with my own one or two patients, to want to be responsible for someone elses' one or two patients. If there are nurses who are stupid enough to take on that responsibility, what can I say. It is not my license.
But wait, this is Texas, where workers have no unions and no rights. And the nurses will lose their jobs, if they refuse to work with LVNs in the ICU. And be reported to Group One, and blacklisted from every job that they apply for. JMHO, and my NY $0.02.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
My License can be lost just as easily as an RNs can.
LPNs lack the knowledge base to work in critcal care? My LPN program was a 2 year long hospital based diploma program. RNs went 3 years. I'm not sure what kind of magic knowledge base that extra year would have brought me. My critical care knowledge came from doing, researching, and learning on my own. Experience is the best teacher.
| | No. 45 |
Mar 22, 2006, 10:01 PM
Re: LPN's Role in the ICU?
LVN/LPN have no place in an ICU.
| | No. 46 |
Mar 22, 2006, 11:24 PM
Updated
Mar 22, 2006 at 11:26 PM by Princess74
Re: LPN's Role in the ICU?
Wow, no wonder that there are so many nurses not in the profession anymore. Some of y'all need to get off of your high horse and settle down. With your bad attitudes toward your fellow nurses, I really wonder how you treat your patients. I would not want a nurse with a "GOD" Complex taking care of me or my loved ones. Some of you are acting like a Doctor with an I know it all and I'm better than you attitude. GROW UP!! (Not trying to put Doctors down but you all know what I am talking about. Every hospital has atleast one).
Now, get off the RN vs LPN/LVN thing. None of us want to hear it!!
| | No. 47 |
Mar 23, 2006, 09:32 PM
Re: LPN's Role in the ICU? Originally Posted by HazelLPN My License can be lost just as easily as an RNs can.
LPNs lack the knowledge base to work in critcal care? My LPN program was a 2 year long hospital based diploma program. RNs went 3 years. I'm not sure what kind of magic knowledge base that extra year would have brought me. My critical care knowledge came from doing, researching, and learning on my own. Experience is the best teacher.
Hazel--
You are absolutely right...the very best teacher is experience. I am sure with your many years critical care experience that you are a capable as well as mentor!
| | No. 48 |
Mar 23, 2006, 11:43 PM
Re: LPN's Role in the ICU? Originally Posted by pedinurse05 Hazel--
You are absolutely right...the very best teacher is experience. I am sure with your many years critical care experience that you are a capable as well as mentor!
LPN/LVNs in ICU? Not on my watch and my license. You are not as capable or educated as an RN, and you have no place in ICU. Period. There are more appropriate areas to for you to work in, that would better utilize your education and scope of practice.
LIndarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
|
| 354 members
2,736 guests 3,090
| 33 | | | 0 | | | 3 | | | 8 | | | 20 | | | 2 | | | 13 | | | 63 | | | 14 | | | 12 | |
| 41 | | | 1 | | | 13 | | | 2 | | | 9 | | | 17 | | | 11 | | | 16 | | | 16 | | | 39 | | | 14 | | | 20 | | | 23 | | | 20 | | | 24 | |
|
Nursing News