Difference between RN and LPN responsibilities in the hospital setting?

[mommatrauma, RN]

It is state and institution dependant...in my institution LPNs can not can not do IV push, and can not hang IVF w/Potassium...They are allowed to do a full assessment, write a chart, give any po and injectable meds...(sq and im) start iv's (after they take an IV course). We utilize our LPNs in our quick care, and they are a vital addition to keep our quick care working efficiently!!

[churdlpn]

in my experience i know a lot of LPNs who are a lot more knowledgable than RNs. but everyone seems to think if you are not an RN you are not a real nurse. i have to disagree with that

[soontobe_RN]

in my experience i know a lot of LPNs who are a lot more knowledgable than RNs. but everyone seems to think if you are not an RN you are not a real nurse. i have to disagree with that

I have a feeling that this was what Tweety and Z was talking about. The continuous debate on "who is the better nurse?". With that said, please don't use the word "everyone". Now, granted I am only a nursing student getting my ADN, however, I have no bias against CNAs or LPNs. Infact, at the facility where I work there is this one LPN who is amazing!!! She has more knowledge in nursing then I can ever hope to have with a college aducation alone. I have learned so much for this woman. Most of the employees where I work agree that she is the best nurse we have, even above our Nursing Supervisor. There is one thing that I have learned, and that is, it doesn't matter how much education you have, it is the person inside that determines how good you are at you job. There are nurses who have their masters that I would not want caring for my family, yet LPNs, like the one I spoke about, I would entrust my children to.

Jennifer :)

[NancyJo]

LPN's where I work do all but IV pushes, hang blood and TPN. We do enter initial plans of care but the RN covering us has to go in behind us and enter that they concur. We also do admission assessments, all our own charting, dressings, and yes we do give baths, feed, change bed linens etc. We start our own IV's. We call our Dr.'s to get our own telephone orders. I forgot we can hang piggybacks on an existing central line, but cannot on lines without fluids already running.

[*nightshift*]

i just graduated from an adn program after having been an lpn for 15 years. in all honesty, i returned to college for the pay increase and a wider range of job opportunities. as i continued through the program, i realized how much more in-depth the education really is. i also realized that just because you can ace the theory portion of the program doesn't mean you have an inkling of common sense!!! rn or lpn, it doesn't matter. it's how you use what you've learned in school or through experience. lpns---if you can, go back to school and get paid for your wonderful, valuable, experience!!!

[leopold]

This is a little off the topic but I'm in LPN school now and planning to get my RN. I've already done the college thing (about 20 years ago) and am not interested in doing it again. Some of my credits are transferrable but there are still a lot of science courses I need to get. My question is, aside from IV certification (which I can get as an LPN) what will I be learning in an RN diploma program? Some of my colleagues are doing the RN program online and I'm like What about the procedures? And they just blithely say, Oh well I've already learned them all. So my question is, what are they studying?

[soontobe_RN]

This is a little off the topic but I'm in LPN school now and planning to get my RN. I've already done the college thing (about 20 years ago) and am not interested in doing it again. Some of my credits are transferrable but there are still a lot of science courses I need to get. My question is, aside from IV certification (which I can get as an LPN) what will I be learning in an RN diploma program? Some of my colleagues are doing the RN program online and I'm like What about the procedures? And they just blithely say, Oh well I've already learned them all. So my question is, what are they studying?

I am currently getting ready to start my 1st semester of clinical this fall for ADN, so, I really can't help you on the specifics. What I do know is that if an LPN was to get their ADN, they only need to do 2 semester of clinical rather than 4, like myself. I also do not think that they need to take any prereqs. Of course this is at the college I attend. I don't know about any others. Sorry I couldn't help you more .

Jen

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Suggest going to your state board of nursing, or their web sites, to find your answers.

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

See a topic for the millionionth time, nothing new to add, then why not just pass on the thread in question in stead of rolling the eyes.

It's the same attitude that students and new employees are seeing everywhere that is so troblesome: lack of desire to share one's knowlege and see questions as burdensome.

Nursing is about TEACHING and EDUCATION of patients and peers, lest we forget that. At some time it will be you moving to a new usnit, new facility and asking questions for the thousandth time.

Knowledge = power. Use it and share it wisely.

What a wise woman.

Since the question has been posed, perhaps I can be heard?

I have noticed along the way (and I'm old, so there has been a lot of "along the way") that some people, some professions, look like it is common sense, like anyone can do it. I believe that happens for at least two reasons: the person you observe is very good and very confident, and the situation you observe is routine for them.

An RN has been trained to be competent not just in those routine situations where "anybody can do that," but also in those rare but critical moments when they have to pool their knowledge, intellect, creativity, experience and humility (in case they have to consult someone else), to make a decision and act on it, for the benefit of their patients and the staff they supervise and are responsible for.

An RN can lose a license because of the acts of an LVN or a tech, because the RN is responsible for supervising appropriately. The LVN and the tech will not be held accountable for the actions of the RN supervising them, however.

And being charge isn't as easy as it looks either. You really are the one who has to stand up and make the decisions, and keep the team moving and working well together. It can be a challenge, if it is done right. In the end, the charge nurse gets the deficiency list--and as hard as it may be to go back and fix someone else's oversights, it's easier than tracking them down, etc. If you don't supervise others, you don't have that responsibility.

Everyone has a place on a team, and every member is valuable and capable of contributing. If you don't like the role you have, perhaps that's a sign that you are ready to receive the training that opens the door for another role for you.

But if it's about seeing from the outside what looks easy, and experiencing the sour grapes of resentment, then that's not about LVN versus RN, it's about looking inward to take care of your own issues.

And, while I'm at it, the "here we go again" thing really makes a poster feel bad about having opened their virtual mouth. Thanks, Karen, for reminding us of our higher purpose.

[SmilingBluEyes]

rn and lpn accountabilities and responsibilities

standards of safe nursing practice in ohio - critical care nurse ceus

nova scotia: delegation guidlines

this should be posted as a sticky. it would help so many others who ask the same question. and it is a legitimate question!

[Guy84RN]

RN's study more in depth the etiology of disease processes and other conditions. They are expected to recognize and act on potential problems that someone with a lesser education may not. Although Experienced LPN's are capable of this. Rn's are trained to critically think and do nursing diagnoses and on leadership and delegation. RN's are taught to supervise and lead the team. Lpn's are trained to do basic nursing care and RN's are trained to do that as well as trained to critically think, and to critically think you must have the extensive knowledge of the disease processes and conditions learned in RN school. Basically, Lpn's are trained to do more basic care for people, Rn's are trained to treat, prevent, and critically think in any situation, especially life threatening situations. I think both deserve respect and both are nurses but they are totally different in the aspect of expectations and responsibilities.

[Vito Andolini]

I can't think of a single bad LPN I've ever worked with. I wish they would all go back for their RN and get paid what they are really worth.

OP, the answer to your question is a legal one, primarily. As another poster stated, read your state's Nurse Practice Act to learn what the RN does and what the LPN does, from a legal standpoint.

LPN's can and do Charge in Skilled Nursing facilities and other long-term care facilities in some states.

Where I work, they cannot take phone or verbal orders, cannot do physical assessments, cannot push IV meds or hang blood. The nurse on my floor who is the best at starting IV's is an LPN, though! I keep bugging her to go back for her RN, as she will be working another 15 years, at least. She's very knowledgeable, very skilled, a wonderful asset to our ward.

OP, good luck with your studies. BTW, the LPN came about as a "replacement" for RN's during WW 2, I think, when lots of RN's were overseas caring for the troops - or something like that. Anybody know for sure?