My 226 bed acute care hospital has formed a committee as we are going to re-introduce LPN's on the med-surg floors. The committee is looking at how we are going to utilize the LPN's.
SO, would you please tell me--if you work in a hospital--what exactly your duties are and what you as an LPN are and aren't allowed to do. I realize that the LPN/LVN scope of practice varies by state, I am in Northeast Ohio.
I am specifically interested in Nurse- patient ratio for the LPN in your facility and any other infor mation you can provide will be helpful.
Personally, I am looking forward to working side by side with the LPN's and feel that it was a grave mistake that a lot of hospitals--especially in this area of the country-that they were phased out of the acute care setting.
I work in ICU now, but when I was on the floor, LPN/RPN's did nothing........because they are not there- we did primary nursing and the hospital laid off ALL the lpn/rpn's .......they are all gone. When they where there, they did vitals, baths, personal care. I am curious, I see many posts refering to LPN's "pushing meds" In the hospital that I work in, only pts in ICU or a step down unit can push meds. Why? Because for many meds the pts need to be on monitors.
Tell me, the LPN's who are pushing meds.....what kind of meds are you pushing............ I am very curious. IF you are pushing lasix, what precautions do you take? If you are pushing cardiac meds, are all your pts on monitors????????????
Let me know OK..........my curiousity has been peaked!
First of all let's not let your curiousity kill the cat.You IVP lasix over a 2 minute period ,monitoring VS and labs , especially ones potasium level, which if to elevated can cause cardiac arrest. I also live in the real world were LPN's are able to do such things as IVP's, draw blood from C.L's,start IV's (if cert.)insert G/T's, N/G's, TPN/PPN(while adding the needed insulin and vitamins).We change CL drsg's,Trach care ,PCA pumps,Nephro tubes. We do it all except hanging blood,then like they said the RN signs it off.Also working in LTC, there will not be access to monitors and such.If I was in a place were LPN's were being utilized as CNA's ,I would MOVE!!!!!Most LPN's are capiable of any task or Dr's,order given to them, let alone writing the order. Most LPN program's go to school during two summer sessions the first year an one the next year. Often it is said we (LPN's) only have 1 year schooling, WRONG! You have prereq., then most are a year and a half., LPN's get alot more clinical hours!!! I ,myself have 5 yrs. of college with an AS.in Science,and my LPN. Having everything out of the way for my RN but had ran into some family issues, so got into LPN program. Which I am grateful for.Vincennes IN. LPN program is excellant.I have the knowledge and courage to do almost anything,given or put in front of me. Im very proud to say I am an LPN.Also 99.9% LPN's know if they were not sure on an IVP duration of time to be pushed , then we look it up in our good ole' drug handbook,also that is why we are taught to double if not triple check calulations and such. We have our Pharm.any time we need their expertise. I've been a NURSE for 8 yrs. in LTC and I LOVE IT!!!!! OH and VERY GOOD at it!!!
although i work in an acute setting i work on med/surg. if pt needs cardiac drugs pushed then we have to send to cardiac floor. but like lasix just depending on how you much you are pushing you know how fast to push. at the hospital i work at, if they must have ivp bp meds then we must send to cardiac. even i've only been an lvn for 3 years i didnt have to have prereqs at the school i attended. it wasnt until after i graduated that they implemented that program. i wish i would have needed prereqs then i wouldnt be doing them now in order to go into the rn program. im envious.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Hello,
My 226 bed acute care hospital has formed a committee as we are going to re-introduce LPN's on the med-surg floors. The committee is looking at how we are going to utilize the LPN's.
SO, would you please tell me--if you work in a hospital--what exactly your duties are and what you as an LPN are and aren't allowed to do. I realize that the LPN/LVN scope of practice varies by state, I am in Northeast Ohio.
I am specifically interested in Nurse- patient ratio for the LPN in your facility and any other infor mation you can provide will be helpful.
Personally, I am looking forward to working side by side with the LPN's and feel that it was a grave mistake that a lot of hospitals--especially in this area of the country-that they were phased out of the acute care setting.
Thank you for your help!
Kelly:)
I live in New York, and the med-surg units have LPNs administer medications, do piggybacks and fingersticks. They have pulled them away from primary care. Most LPNs have about 10-15 patients, but are only medicating them. No nursing notes unless extremely necessary. Some of the LPNs may assist the RN with dressings, suctioning, tube feedings and catheter insertion and care once they complete their assignments, if they feel like it, but most don't because they are bitter that the RNs may have 3 to 5 patients to the LPNs 10 to 15, and unfortunately, my experience showed me that many of the RNs were not giving their medications to the patients on a timely basis.
I work in Ambulatory Care, but did 6 weeks in med-surg first. I considered doing overtime in med-surg, but since most of my skills may be lost anyway, I hadn't really bothered.
I appreciate your letter. I am LPN now living in Savannah,GA. And after 30yrs in CA,I am now being told that I can do it all,but push IV meds. I am mixing meds,giving meds via PICC,hanging piggybacks,etc,etc. Needless to say all this is not in my scope for CA. I am in career shock,and trying to adjust to this transistion.Not to mention I have had no offical training here as yet. I thank God that CA has it's standards. Well,I have been doing a long time.I've been thrown in there many a day,so,it's sink or sail,once again I suppose.And,I suppose I'll sail. thank You.:monkeydance:
Well Grey, you need to realize that different states have different laws concerning the scope of practice for nurses. In this state, it is legal for an LPN to push drugs in accordance with the policy of the facility.
Then you need to get off of your judgemental horse and quit making assumptions! I don't lie about what I do. I'm a competent and well trained professional and I and my team have saved many lives. And if you want, you too can move to this state and do all the same things I do.
And in my most professional voice:) you my dear, can BITE ME!
All I can say is, you all better be double checking the standards for what you can do, legally, with the state. There are National regulations and I'm just glad I don't work with some of you.....sounds too scary!
All good nurses regardless of there title should know their scope of practice!!
It varies sate to state. Do you know all the nurses scope of practice from state to state??
I WORK IN GREENSBORO , NC AT A HOSPITAL AND THE LPN'S HERE DO EVERYTHING EXCEPT CENTRAL LINE CARE , THE IV TEAM DOES THAT , EVEN THE RN'S ON THE FLOOR DON'T DO THOSE. WE DON'T DO THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT ON PATIENTS, WE DO PUSH MEDS , BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT WE DON'T, AND WE DO HANG BLOOD WITH A RN AND MONITOR IT. LPN'S IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING ARE JUST AS EFFECTIVE AS THE RN , AND WHEN THERE IS TEAM NURSING IT MAKES BOTH JOBS GO A LOT SMOOTHER , IT ALSO CUTS DOWN ON STAFF OVERLOAD. I HAVE BEEN NURSING 20 YEARS NOW AND HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH DRAMA OVER THE LPN VS RN ROLE AS I HAVE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE ARE ALL NURSES , AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT EACH STATE BOARD OF NURSING SAYS. OUR PRIMARY AND MAIN GOAL IS PATIENT CARE , AND THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE. EVERYONE HAS A JOB DESCRIPTION , BUT IN THE END IT IS THE CAREOF THE PATIENT THAT MATTERS. SORRY TO HAVE GOTTNEN OFF TRACK , BUT WE PRIMARILY DO THE SAME THINGS ON THE FLOOR EXCEPT FOR THOSE FEW THINGS ,BY THE WAY I WORK ON A TELEMETRY FLOOR. I ALSO HAVE PRACTICED IN VA , AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THERE TOO.
I'm an LPN in Vancouver, BC. I started nursing in Alberta where, in the LTC I worked in we were utilized at full scope. Meds, IMs/SQs, admissions, everything. At the acute care I worked. I did care. O2 therapy, wounds, admissions. That's it! Boring for the most part. I was paired with an RN who ran around doing meds, hanging IVs etc. We were responsible for 6 - 9 pts. I am aware that there were some units at the hospital that allowed LPNs to use there full scope though. Nah, LTC is the place for me! :)
Specializes in sub acute, ALF. Currently in RN school.
WOW...I am an LPN in NJ, and you guys have it MADE. In NJ they are pretty much pushing all LPN's out of hospitals, although i did see an ad in the paper for a hospital hiring them. The hospital that I worked in as an aide wasnt hiring LPNs anymore, and the one's they did have they paid them $8/hr less than RN's.
When I worked in a sub-acute facility, we did almost everything the RN did except be charge and do IV-pushes. I am IV certified. My desire becoming a nurse was to work in a hospital and challenge myself. I don't feel challenged working in an assisted living facility. NJ sucks
Fellow North Easterner... I am an LPN & live in far NE corner...I work at a county hospital and I believe they have staffed LPN's for the last 6-7 years. I do everything but hang blood and IV pushes... we team nurse , with an RN.. so I go to her for all my pushes & such... we both have approx. 6-7 patients depending on the census. our unit has 28 beds I believe and our other med-surg wing has 34.. we usually have 4 nurses... two LPN and two RN... & two NA. So far I like this set up.. I haven't been here along time but... time will tell. Are you east of cleveland? I only know of a few hospitals this side of cleveland that don't staff LPN's at present time. Good Luck!
I ,myself have 5 yrs. of college with an AS.in Science,and my LPN. Having everything out of the way for my RN but had ran into some family issues, so got into LPN program. Which I am grateful for.Vincennes IN. LPN program is excellant.I have the knowledge and courage to do almost anything,given or put in front of me. Im very proud to say I am an LPN.Also 99.9% LPN's know if they were not sure on an IVP duration of time to be pushed , then we look it up in our good ole' drug handbook,also that is why we are taught to double if not triple check calulations and such. We have our Pharm.any time we need their expertise. I've been a NURSE for 8 yrs. in LTC and I LOVE IT!!!!! OH and VERY GOOD at it!!!
I HAVE BEEN NURSING 20 YEARS NOW AND HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH DRAMA OVER THE LPN VS RN ROLE AS I HAVE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE ARE ALL NURSES , AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT EACH STATE BOARD OF NURSING SAYS. OUR PRIMARY AND MAIN GOAL IS PATIENT CARE , AND THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE. EVERYONE HAS A JOB DESCRIPTION , BUT IN THE END IT IS THE CAREOF THE PATIENT THAT MATTERS. SORRY TO HAVE GOTTNEN OFF TRACK , BUT WE PRIMARILY DO THE SAME THINGS ON THE FLOOR EXCEPT FOR THOSE FEW THINGS ,BY THE WAY I WORK ON A TELEMETRY FLOOR. I ALSO HAVE PRACTICED IN VA , AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THERE TOO. 
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