A day in the life of an LPN

[Sophie32]

What are some of the things you do each day on your job? I know it depends on what type of facility your work in, and each day is different, but... can you tell me what you did today or yesterday on the job? What type of activities did you do at work?

Thanks!

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I became a lpn at 39 and just started my first job in ltc a few weeks ago. This is my pm shift: Get report, read over tx book and take notes. Do med pass/insulins (takes me 4ever!), finally finish up in the dining room. Scarf my sandwich while writing a few summaries. If I'm lucky, I'll get all of my summaries done and hope nothing changes after that! I then begin my 2nd med pass of the evening along with any hs insulins. I finish and begin more charting and orders. At 10:30 I thank the cna's and watch everyone leave and get back to my charting/orders/and whatever else. By 2400 I'm hopefully punching out and heading for the door for my 1hr ride home so I can get up at 0530 to get my children off to school. Did I mention I'm also trying to finish my rn degree? UGH!!!

[richquis]

That is... Wow! Thank you for the update. Would you change what you do for anything in the world?

[momtojosh]

i work in a medically frail house to 12 mentally retarded individuals...who do not walk,nor talk......we do it all...no aides to help...ADL's,pass meds,trach care,suctoining,g-j tubes,only 2 bolus feedings all others are cont......they clogg,have to unclog,they pull them out,have to reinsert,all meds have to be crushed so it takes forever to pass.....flushes every hour.....repostioned to chair,bed,etc....every 2 hours.....their laundry,the beds....assess for signs of distress,breathing treatments,which are many....take your turn with a one on one,...........if your the med nurse for the day and someone has siezures its up to you to do siezure protocols.....oh there is probably more but i am tired just listing it all...hehe.....i do love it there tho...and i love my guys!!!!

[systoly]

drink lots of coffee, tease coworkers, hide fake spider on supervisor's desk, wait for supervisor's screams, hope today is not the day everyone decides to pay me back at the same time

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

Well, last night we had 2 med passes, helped feed supper to the residents, charting, skin assessments, more charting, 4 straight caths, more charting, blood sugars and report, oh, and more charting!! I work in LTC in case you didn't already figure that out!!

Add to that , monitoring dementia pts, getting snacks from kitcken, passing out said snacks, feeding snacks to pt unable to eat on their own, hydrating pts, answering phones, call lights, family & pt's questions, obtaining labs & reviewing them, contacting Dr's, admissions, discharges, looking for needed supplies, oh ya, and more charting .

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

That is... Wow! Thank you for the update. Would you change what you do for anything in the world?

I really hope that as I get used to being the lpn, things go quicker for me. Right now, I can tell you that when I leave work I feel good, tired, but really good. Yes I would change just a few things such as rallying for more lpns on the floor or at least med techs. But overall, I love my job and can't wait to hopefully graduate in May with my rn degree and start the lovin all over again!

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

Post surgical unit...

Today I...

-did a number of head to toe assessments

-changed 3 dressings

-removed staples

-gave a few IM's

-took some blood sugars

-passed oral meds

-hung a few IV bags, dc'd a few IV's/saline loks

-dc'd 2 patients home

-admitted 2 new pts into those beds

-chatted with my long term (a week or more ) patients

-drank 3 cups of coffee

-oh and how could I forget..............CHARTED......A LOT!!!

-went off shift

It was a great day :)

[dawnmich]

I start school in August and I'm 45...

so to the 36 and 39 year old, you'll be fine!!!

I know we all live in different areas...but for

those that were nice enough to post your days

for us THANKS

my question would be...

what are you making an hour?

thanks!

[Sparrowhawk]

Hmm..

Get report, walk through and say hi to my residents and give hugs and talk as needed, talk with my aides and get a run down of the days plans, set up my supplies and my brain, get vitals, chart...accuchecks before supper...pass meds, clean up supper, chart some more, referree wandering residents, talk about the news with the men residents, chart some more, another accuchecks, pain patches, help on the hall with my aides and talk, report..go home.

[Megasmile2]

i work in the er in a small country town every day is a challange and every visit is different but i have great coworkers and a awesome boss so everyday we come in with what is today gona bring and a smile:loveya: