Are LPN's hired much for psych facilities?

[newtress, LPN]

HI all, I am in my last semester of LPN program and have found that behavioral medicine is comfortable with me. I come from a family of professionals in psych/behavioral and found that I liked my psych rotation at clinicals very much. But I wonder if the LPN is utilized very much in psych facilities or is it prefered that only RN's are hired for such posistions?

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

See previous thread "Any LVN's in Psych" currently on page 8 of psychiatric nursing forum.

[newtress, LPN]

Thanks for redirecting me. But didn't see much there on that page for answers. Anything current on LPN's being part of the psych nurse team?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I'd say the answer is "sometimes." I worked at a big psych hospital. Each unit had a possible census of 22 patients. Generally the units were staffed by one RN for lower census, but if another nurse was needed to meet census needs, it was usually an LPN that filled the role. This was because there weren't that many RNs locally that wanted to work psych, and LPNs don't cost the hospital as much money.

[Little Panda RN, ASN, RN]

LPN's are used in psych in my part of the country. I am not sure where you live, but you could check into psych facilities near you to find out if they in fact are hiring LPN's.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Where I worked, LPNs did almost all that RNs did, except they couldn't do admits (but they did them and RNs would ok them and sign them). An RN had to be present at all times though, if an LPN was working or not.

[greatan]

Hi, I am a LPN and have been working in a psych hospital for about 3 months now. LPN's can do everything a RN does except get orders for restraints and seclusion. And like what was mentioned earlier if the census drops on a floor then only a RN is utilized and a RN must always be working alongside a LPN. The LPN cannot work alone. Hope that helps.:nuke:

[Jules A, MSN]

We are about 50/50 RNs to LPNs. I was actually hired as a LPN. :)

[newtress, LPN]

Well, this is encouraging. Thanks for your replies. Although I'm sure that different states and facilities either have LPN's on staff or it is mostly Rn's. But glad to here of those that are working in psych. I have been living in Louisiana and thought about moving back to Calif as I do have family there. I wouldn't have any trouble working as LPN in psych facilities here, but always thought that Calif would mainly only want RN's on board in psych facilites. As OP Whispera mentioned, having LPN's are cost effective and maybe there will be more LPN's utilized in this role in the future. And I do think it's a good thing that LPN's must have an RN authorize what the LPN is doing within her scope of practice. If there's only a few functions the LPN can not do, or must be supervised by RN I don't think the LPN is so restricted, or not a fully functioning part of the health care team. Looking forward to following my passion.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Not in my area, psych does not employ lpn's.

[dieselnurse]

In my agency, the outpatient facilities utilize almost exclusively LPN's. However on the inpatient units, there is a charge RN, that does the admit new patients, get physician orders, will do most of the charting and the LPN functions as the 'Med Nurse'. The LPN as Med nurse will give all emergency Treatment orders, supervise (along with the RN) takedowns etc, assist with Physical Assessments, skin checks, etc.

[JCLVN67]

I work in a state psych hospital as an LVN, do meds, treatments, set appointments, generally run my a** off while the RNs do massive amounts of charting and staff supervising. I like the job very much, have been there a year and a half and plan on staying many more. Wishing you the best, JCLVN