Can LPN be supervisor to another LPN?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2006

Check with the Ohio Board of Nursing.

I am in Texas and, yes, LVNs are allowed to supervise other LVNs. In fact, the three ADONs (assistant directors of nursing) at my workplace are all LVNs.

SCRN1 · Dec 8, 2006

Yeah, I'd check with your State Board of Nursing. Here, LPNs cannot do initial assessments, among a multitude of other things and each patient has to be assigned to an RN at least one shift every 24 hours. If it's the same where there, I don't understand how they could be a Unit Manager or a DON if they, themselves aren't allowed to preform all tasks that nurses have to. However, we can have LPNs orienting another LPN to the unit.

WahooRN08 · Dec 8, 2006

YEP, all you need is an RN to co-sign. I supervise at an SNF now.

WahooRN08 · Dec 8, 2006

I have also oriented RN's before.......Virginia is wide open with LPN's. It is up to the hospitals and SNF's state to decide the bounds of LPN practice.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2006

The commuter is talking about LTC. LVN's are able to do the initial assessment and do not need a RN to sign off on their work. Of course this is Texas and the scope for a LVN is wide and it also depends on your policy and procedures for your facility. Very often LVN's are ADON's but the only time they serve as DON's is in ALF's.

Yeah, I'd check with your State Board of Nursing. Here, LPNs cannot do initial assessments, among a multitude of other things and each patient has to be assigned to an RN at least one shift every 24 hours. If it's the same where there, I don't understand how they could be a Unit Manager or a DON if they, themselves aren't allowed to preform all tasks that nurses have to. However, we can have LPNs orienting another LPN to the unit.

jemommyRN · Dec 8, 2006

At the LTC facility I work at, the nurse supervisor is an LPN.

cant_not · Dec 8, 2006

I’m originally from West Virginia, and back there LPN’s could not supervise other LPN’s, nor could they be in any kind of director position. I currently reside in KY, and the Unit Manager at a facility I worked at recently was an LPN, I thought it was rather weird, because she had authority over RN’s that worked on my unit; Which is totally backwards if you ask me.

SCRN1 · Dec 8, 2006

The commuter is talking about LTC. LVN's are able to do the initial assessment and do not need a RN to sign off on their work. Of course this is Texas and the scope for a LVN is wide and it also depends on your policy and procedures for your facility. Very often LVN's are ADON's but the only time they serve as DON's is in ALF's.

She said facility, so I did not know for sure that she was talking about LTC. Anyway, that's why I said she should check with her State Board. I have never worked in LTC, but from what I've heard from fellow nurses here who have, LPNs can give care. But an RN is required to be in charge. Just what I've been told.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2006

A lot of times there is no RN in the building but there is always one just a phone call away. And there has to be one in the building for at least 8 hours a day. In LTC 90% of the charge nurses are LVN's, now of course things are completely different in the hospital.

She said facility, so I did not know for sure that she was talking about LTC. Anyway, that's why I said she should check with her State Board. I have never worked in LTC, but from what I've heard from fellow nurses here who have, LPNs can give care. But an RN is required to be in charge. Just what I've been told.

SCRN1 · Dec 9, 2006

A lot of times there is no RN in the building but there is always one just a phone call away. And there has to be one in the building for at least 8 hours a day. In LTC 90% of the charge nurses are LVN's, now of course things are completely different in the hospital.

LOL, in my last reply, I was talking about what I'd been told how it is in LTCs in MY state. I know there are differences in hospitals & LTC. I was talking about how it is here in my state. Different states and different facilities within the states have different laws/rules. That's why I said in my original reply that she should check with HER State Board.

noBS N · Dec 9, 2006

In a home health type facility where I used to volunteer there was a LPN who was an ADON. La