Can lpns work in l&d?

[Smk22]

So I am in nursing school and I am wondering if lpns can work in l&d or is it just RN?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Depends on the state nurse practice act and scope of practice but generally because of level of care and required skills (IV push, oxytocin titration) nurses are all RNs. Some hospitals hire LPNs as " OB Techs".

[Smk22]

I live in ky. Is there other job positions that a lpn can apply for?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I live in ky. Is there other job positions that a lpn can apply for?

I'm sure there are other jobs. Did you mean in a hospital? Many LPNs work in long term care. & subacute rehab, corrections, outpatient clinics including women's health OB/GYN, private duty home health

[Smk22]

I'm really wanting to work in the hospital. But many people are telling me that they are doing away with hospital lpns.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Very few states still have LPNs in a hospital setting due to the restrictions on scope of practice. Texas has a broader scope of practice but many areas have a high number of new RNs desperately seeking work so facilities often hire RN over LPN as RNs are more independent and have a broader scope if practice. In many states LPNs cannot do IV push, administer blood, initiate many parenteral medications or TPN, administer ACLS medications, do initial assessments or initiate care plans. Some states like CA require additional credentials for LPNs to start IVs and draw blood. Acute care needs nurses that can perform these skills. In areas of high unemployment of nurses (new grads & experienced) like the major metropolitan areas of the north east and CA, RNs are often hired in traditionally LPN roles like LTC. Medicare reimbursement is higher to LTC & subacute with a greater percentage of RNs on staff and therefore when given the choice of a new RN or new LPN many facilities are hiring the RN. Acute care prefers BSN prepared RNs.

If you are interested in maternal-child/woman's health consider a clinic setting or free standing birthing center as they may hire LPNs. Your nursing fundamentals class should review the nurse practice act and LPN scope of practice for your state. I'm not from KY so I any speak to limitations of LPN scope of practice.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Kentucky has a brochure regarding LPN scope of practice right on the KY BoN website. Id link but my phone isn't playing nice

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Here it is Beachy....http://www.kbn.ky.gov/practice/

and yes...many facilites are going to or an all RN nursing staff...many facilitie are even requiring new grads to have a BSN.

LPN Scope of Practice Brochure [PDF Format - 824KB]

[cassie77775]

The hospital I work for is no longer hiring LPN. But we do have one LPN that works on our mother/baby unit.

[Smk22]

Cassie77775 are you in ky? Thank you every one I plan to get my rn after my lpn so I guess that will be a must for me..

[cassie77775]

Nope I'm in NC.

[Katie71275]

I work in Louisiana and we have RN and LPN on our L&D unit. RN's do IV pushes and Pitocin, LPNs can do most everything else except circulate in sections. They are the scrub nurse in our sections.