Can an LPN train/precept and RN?

[yfloridanurse]

Where I am presently working I seen some practices that I do not think is beneficial. Have you ever have the experience where an LPN train an RN being their preceptor?

I beleive LPN are an asset to anunit, and they can be very prepared but their Scope of Practice differs a lot from the RN as well as being the RN the delegating part to an LPN. What is your opinion in this type of practice?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Like most, off the top of my head, I say "no" but it really depends on the setting

My Masters Trained professor was trained completing her RN preceptorship at Grady (trauma center) Hospital in Atlanta GA, and she is both proud and grateful to say and LPN trained her. Those LPN's often make suggestions of what physicians need to do! They advocate with an excellent command of systems, rationale, outcome and anything else you need to know. Grady is kinda like New York. If you can make it there...

Finally, do not be discouraged by the credentials a person has, assess (pun intended) their knowledge level. I know an eight-year MA that is smarter, wiser, and more knowledgeable than most RN's. She probes and ferrets out information, diligently studies medications, disease processes, clinical trials, etc. She belongs to several nursing organizations, and applies education in practice and for crying out loud VOLUNTEERS! She chooses, for personal reasons, not to pursue a degree, but I've known her to perform minor emergency surgery in crisis situations and would put my life in her hands in a minute.

Yes, especially since you need to understand what the role of the LPN is.

However, they should only train you on duties inside their scope of practice (med passes, dressing changes, etc).

I'm an RN and had a LPN preceptor for a few days. She was fantastic!

Best,

Diane

I agree, it depends on the setting. I feel that an LPN can teach basic, routine procedures for the most part and if she is advanced in skills, even more. Can't say that we can sign off on compentencies-only a seasoned RN should do that, but sure, we can and we do every day.

There is a PCA who is excellent in her role that has reminded me of several things-the most recent is how to prepare the exam rooms to be Joint Commission ready at all times. Wrote up a list for me and the entire sha-bang, then says to make sure she does it, too. If she leaves my team, I'm DEAD MEAT.

[arelle68]

A good experienced LPN is the best professor a new RN will ever have! I was trained by an excellent LPN. I learned more about Nursing than I had ever learned in school in a few short weeks.

[ChristyRN2009]

In a black and white, surface only no grey area way, no, an LPN should not precept an RN. There are differences in scopes of practice as well as legal responsibility.

However, I think we can all agree that if there's a coworker who is great at a skill, you should seek out that coworker to learn from them. Period. And there are great LPNs and RNs, and terrible LPNs and RNs. I'll say that many of the nurses in my hospital who are LPNs are just not as focused on critical thinking and assessment skills. Its a function of our state's very limited scope of practice for LPNs. So like another poster said, we may be talking apples and oranges because in my state the limitations are greater.