LPN's Role in the ICU? - Page 7

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  1. Apr 15, '06 by
    Quote from RN34TX
    I respectfully disagree.
    Obviously, many do, in fact, want to hear it as it is an extremely popular topic on this forum and it comes up fairly often.

    But if someone really doesn't want to hear about it, it needs to be kept in mind that no one is forcing anyone to read and/or participate in RN vs. LPN type threads.

    Discussing the issue doesn't necessarily merit the "bad attitude" or "high horse" labels.
    No discussing the issues do not, however, that is not the case. There is no excuse for the comments that some posters have made about LPNs
    HazelLPN likes this.
  2. Apr 15, '06 by
    I am an LPN working in ICU stepdown unit. I work along side, with, as a team, an RN. We have 5 patients usually according to their acquity level. We both do meds, baths, I&O's, patient care together.

    I would never presume to go outside of my role as an LPN. In fact, I LOVE being an LPN.

    Most of the RN's I work with really like working with LPN's. If an RN doesn't have an LPN with her, she has 2 to 3 patients by self, depending on the acquity of the patients. Most would rather be as a team with an LPN.

    We are about to do more as LPN's in the hosptial where I work. They are sending us to school to be able to push I.V. drugs. We will also be doing assessments and such. I am very nervous, but excited about the changes. I love learning new things.

    Debby
  3. Apr 15, '06 by
    I am a LPN in Indiana,and work in a med-surg and telemetry unit. I also work in our ICU. I take verbal orders, hang blood, start IV's, give IV push meds, etc. etc. I am in a RN bridge program, just so I can make the same amount of money that the RN beside is making doing the same job.
  4. Apr 15, '06 by
    Quote from flasandy42

    i'm curious about what you study and learn in a bsn program the extra two years. is a lot of it clinical? i've worked with a lot of rns who never even put in a catheter or an ng tube and many other bedside procedures. in lpn school we had to be checked off on three of most procedures to graduate. i personally think the best rns are those that were lpns first, as they get more clinical time than a two-year rn.
    very well put.

    i was mistaken, i thought this site was for lpn's and rn's. not just snooty rn's.
  5. Apr 15, '06 by
    Quote from lindarn
    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
    The above poster has the same attitude about us lowly diploma RN's also. (read other posts on that subject!)
    I worked in ICU as a new grad (alas, was 20 years ago) and was precepted by an LPN. My goal has always been to be as caring, compassionate, and skilled as she was!
    HazelLPN likes this.
  6. Apr 16, '06 by
    Quote from Princess74
    No discussing the issues do not, however, that is not the case. There is no excuse for the comments that some posters have made about LPNs
    I agree.
    However, I believe that the comments about LPN's that you are referring to are nothing more than a reflection on a profession that is extremely starved for attention and recognition and at the same time so ignorant in understanding each others roles and abilities.

    On top of it, I can't believe the number of nurses who have no idea that the scope of practice isn't the same everywhere as in their home states.

    The whole world doesn't revolve around what's going on in let's say Kansas for example.
    LPN/LVN's actually do function as real nurses in many states, and not as some form of a "technician" of some sort.
    Hard to believe, isn't it?
    HazelLPN likes this.
  7. May 5, '06 by
    I am an LVN and have worked in ICU/CCU for 6 years and it's been the best experience. The RN's were very helpful and supportive and the absolute best teachers. I know there are some "clueless" or "lazy" LVN's and RN's too...but I look at it this way, we do what we do because we want to help the patients get better...it's not a competition on whose the better nurse...there has been some nurses who were totally against me working in ICU, but that was adminstration's idea...and they are not the ones paying my bills...So with this nursing shortage we have just be happy LVN's are there than having to take that other patient or that other admission....
  8. May 5, '06 by
    Quote from lady2
    I think the LPN'S are a Little touchy! But I guess they have just cause. My point is if they went back to school and became an RN, there would not be any discussion about their presence in the ICU unit.:kiss
    I can't imagine WHY they're touchy.
    HazelLPN and DeLanaHarvickWannabe like this.
  9. May 5, '06 by
    Quote from txspadequeen921
    I am not touchy, but more along the lines of taken back at some of the increasingly harsh comments posted here. I have no intention of ever working in ICU, its not my bag baby. I know my limits and it stops well short of anything critical. However, I do get the feeling that some posters in this thread look towards LVN's as incapable of nursing period. Just my opinion. No need to start the LVN/RN war again.
    This bears repeating.
  10. May 5, '06 by
    Discussing the issue doesn't necessarily merit the "bad attitude" or "high horse" labels
    If some were actual discussions, i'd agree, however, quite a few posts on this thread were deliberately insulting.