Can LPNs educate under their scope of practice?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Can LPNs educate,

Every state has laws that govern LPN/LVNs practice,  and there is wide disparity among states.

Some states restrict the LPN/LVN role in patient education to following a previously developed teaching plan, while others do not.

In California, for example, only an RN can develop, implement, and evaluate the teaching plan. The RN cannot delegate this to the LPN/LVN. The LPN/LVN can reinforce the initial information and provide ongoing education.

Sometimes it seems a matter of semantics or word parsing when differentiating RN and LPN/LVN scopes of practice, such as saying "collecting data" instead of "assessing"  and "participating in the plan of care" as opposed to "independently planning care" but the differences are significant.

Your question is important, and the answer lies in your state's Nurse Practice Act.

LPNs/LVNs are invaluable healthcare team members and are loved by RNs. A recent allnurses survey showed 81% of respondents felt hospitals should hire LPNs/LVNs back into acute care.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

[Ann Fosque]

Nurse Beth said:

Dear Can LPNs educate,

Every state has laws that govern LPN/LVNs practice,  but there is wide disparity among states.

Some states restrict the LPN/LVN role in patient education to following a previously developed teaching plan, while others do not.

In California, for example, only an RN can develop, implement, and evaluate the teaching plan. The RN cannot delegate this to the LPN/LVN. The LPN/LVN can reinforce the initial information and provide ongoing education.

Sometimes it seems a matter of semantics or word parsing when differentiating RN and LPN/LVN scopes of practice, such as saying "collecting data" instead of "assessing"  and "participating in the plan of care" as opposed to "independently planning care" but the differences are significant.

Your question is important, and the answer lies in your state's Nurse Practice Act.

LPNs/LVNs are invaluable healthcare team members and are loved by RNs. A recent allnurses survey showed 81% of respondents felt hospitals should hire LPNs/LVNs back into acute care.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

I really appreciate your prompt and kind response. 

Thank you very much 

BTW

This question was posed with the state of New Jersey in mind.