Can a LPN delegate to RN?

[roxs752]

We have a new manager on the LTC unit. She is a LPN. She has been delegating to me and another nurse who is a RN. Is this even legal? How can she delegate tasks that are out of her scope of practice.

[Jolie, BSN]

If not for delegation, you would you propose she accomplish tasks that are beyond her scope of practice ?

Are you concerned that the position should not be held by a LPN?

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

She is your manager, correct? How else is she to assign duties?

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Is she assigning you to do a job as a manager would or is she delegating? They are different things.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

It is my understanding that an LPN can oversee (therefore, delegate) non-clinical tasks to an RN.

An LPN CANNOT oversee/delegate clinical tasks that are outside the LPN scope of practice.

The issue (raised by PPs) of how else is the LPN to deal with issues outside the LPN scope of practice is not yours to deal with. The issue belongs to the idiot that placed a LPN in charge of roles/functions outside the LPN scope of practice.

You have no obligation whatsoever to worry about how "things will get done." Protect yourself and your license.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

Are the tasks in the scope of practice of a RN?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Are the tasks in the scope of practice of a RN?

Doesn't matter. If it's clinical, it cannot be delegated by LPN to RN.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

In my experience, I haven't delegated to RNs as a LPN, however, at the LTC that I work at a LPN was a unit manager; however in the LTC setting, most work and tasks are similar whether it be a RN or a LPN.

I would familiarize what your facilities policies are in terms of who can delegate, etc.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

You sound very bitter that the lowly LPN dare to have a position of power over you.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

You sound very bitter that the lowly LPN dare to have a position of power over you.

Wow. Could you please quote the words or phrase in which you detect "bitterness"? I'm at a loss to discern any such intent.

[alrighThen]

This is kind of ridiculous. If it's in your scope of practice and in your job description, what's the problem? If you are refusing on the grounds that you are 'higher than her' I would still see it as subversive and insubordinate and even counterintuitive to the purpose of AN, which is to support each other as nurses. I cringe to think of how you might view your contributions to the 'team.'

[CrazyGoonRN]

Where I work (LTC/SNF) all Nurse Managers and supervisors are LPN's. There are a few RN's who they supervise but there has never been any issues because their job duties are different than the RN's. The RN's who work there work on a cart and have their assigned tasks (same as LPN's who work a cart). We are all nurses caring for patients. I don't know how it all works legally but I am confident that since my employer has high standards and consistently keeps up with the nurse practice acts and is determined to keep their 5 star rating that they aren't doing anything illegal.