Are the LPNs get the dirty works?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2007

All floor nurses (LPNs and RNs) will eventually have to do some of the supposedly "dirty" work such as toileting, wound care, cleaning up vomitus, etc. The "dirty" work is typically delegated to CNAs, but would you be the type of nurse who would walk away from your patient just because they are dirty?

I am an LPN in a nursing home, and I rarely perform the "dirty" tasks you have mentioned. My CNAs change diapers, toilet patients, give baths, feed people, and so forth. I pass medications, do wound care, follow through on doctors orders, administer treatments, and do a whole host of other things.

I was at a public library yesterday. An elderly lady was in the rear stall begging for help because she was unable to get up from the toilet seat. I stood her up, pulled her panties and trowsers up, and handed her the cane. It only took a couple of minutes of my time to help this lady out with her so-called "dirty" work.

dmarie (GA) · Mar 16, 2007

True. "Dirty work" is done by everyone --- PCT's, CNA's, LPN's, RN's. But generally, if you have an unlicensed worker helping, they will do more of the basic, and sometimes "dirty" tasks.

The thing is: the more you do the "dirty work", the less it bothers you. Bodily fluids and other things that are considered "yucky" at first become no big deal after a while. Usually, you're more focused on the dignity of the patient.

MelodyRNurse · Mar 17, 2007

The thing is: the more you do the "dirty work", the less it bothers you. Bodily fluids and other things that are considered "yucky" at first become no big deal after a while. Usually, you're more focused on the dignity of the patient.

I agree. I immediately think about how uncomfortable the patient must be not how yucky its going to be to help them.

12breakfree · Mar 17, 2007

I totally understand the points that somehow you will peform those tasks. But to what extend, I don't know, only the real LPNs can tell me that. The reason I'm trying my best to get into the RN is so I don't have to have those duties hand down to me. I don't mind, but not dealing with it often might give me less stress. Just the thought, but the more I know the better a nurse I be will. Thanks everyone

mc3, ASN, RN · Mar 17, 2007

"Only the real LPN's"? Are the others fake? If the only reason you are trying to get your RN so you don't have to do "dirty" tasks you will be sadly disappointed. Every RN that I've worked with has changed pt's soiled briefs willingly, and if they told me to do it for them, I would (nicely) tell them where they could go. To what extent? We are all nurses. We are all responsible for keeping patients dignity.

crysobrn · Mar 17, 2007

In my unit we only have one LPN but we all do the same exact work in nursery and postpartum. However she does not do labor because she's an LPN. I'd personally consider labor messy or dirty and guess what Only the RN's are doing that where I work.

When I worked the floor we all did the same also. Usually exact same number of patients, admissions, etc. The NA would help us each the same so not sure that your license makes a difference in the cleanliness of the job. If you don't want to clean up body fluids or deal with messes I'd say either go into managment, office or stay away from the idea of nursing.

zoeyzoe · Mar 17, 2007

I'm an LPN, and, work in a hospice, that only holds 16pt. Most of the time we have between 5 and 12 pt. I work the night shift 7p-7a. The staff on that shift consist of only 1 rn, 1 lpn, 1cna, thats it in the hole building. So we have 2 work 2gether. Yes the cna is mainly responsible for the "dirty work", lpn does meds and treatments, rn does assessment, charting, in paperwork. But we are all held responsible 4 helping the tech if she needs help. If the call bell is going off, in the cna is in another room, we get the bell, and do what needs 2 be done 4 that pt, change diaper, clean throw up, get ice whatever. So we all do "dirty work' at my job

12breakfree · Mar 17, 2007

"Only the real LPN's"? Are the others fake? If the only reason you are trying to get your RN so you don't have to do "dirty" tasks you will be sadly disappointed. Every RN that I've worked with has changed pt's soiled briefs willingly, and if they told me to do it for them, I would (nicely) tell them where they could go. To what extent? We are all nurses. We are all responsible for keeping patients dignity.

Don't take it so seriously, mc3. I meant no disrespect or misguide your reading the meaning behind my post. What I was trying to say was that only those who are LPNs can tell what it is like to be one. No RNs, no doctors, no patients can tell you that. Am I right? I don't think fake LPNs exist, otherwise people wouldn't sweat to get into the school of their choice;)

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 18, 2007

It is in the job description for all of us...in fact, the aides can't do what nurses do, but the nurses CAN do what aides do, and then some.

What you may find, is that in some places, RNs do more paperwork, management and delegation while the LPN is administering the medications and doing treatments, then, the aides doing more of the work you are speaking of. At my job, for example, there has been an uproar between the LPNs and RNs because they are "double assigned" together, and in many cases, the LPN is administering the medications for the 10-15 patients that she is sharing with the RN, while the RN may do the treatments, suctioning, catherization, etc... (there are some RNs that may not bother to do those, but that's mainly because of their personalities, not each RN is negligent.) However, the LPN has no hand in the care plans or any nursing notes, and the RN has to write notes on each of the patients that they are sharing, not always knowing whether or not the LPN or aide for that matter, have done all of the care in the plan. The LPN signs for her meds, or may chart why she held a med, but the rest of it falls on the RN.

If there is a patient that does need some sort of care such as diaper changing and there is a choice between who is going to do it between the LPN or RN, it may probably be the lesser titled person.

In order to avoid that type of work (and it would be hard to never, ever, NOT see it), you may have to venture into community nursing, such as clinics, teach, or go into management.

RN BSN 2009 · Mar 18, 2007

every one works in the trenches at some point :)

Queenietoo · Mar 23, 2007

I work on the medical floor of a hospital. Each nurse, LPN's and RN's are assigned to equal amt. of pts. We usually have 2 CNA's that share the hall. LPN's and RN's are equally responsible for all treatments, med. administration, charting, etc.. of their pt. The CNA's usually handle most of the diaper changes, baths, etc... however, when CNA's are busy we never let a pt. lay in their own waste, or refuse to empty a bsc or bp while waiting for an aide to do it. RN's and LPN's alike do it. The "dirty" work is never deligated to an LPN just because they are an "LPN". One nurse is not treated different from the other where I work. "Dirty" work is part of nursing, RN or LPN. Takes a lot of teamwork.