Do you feel the LVN/Lpn Is being left out in the nursing profession?

[kjmta57]

Alot of the issue lately being brought up in the senate concerns RNs do you feel the Lpn/Lvn is being left out in the issues presented?

[La8dyDi]

Originally posted by nurse110

I AGREE, LPN'S ARE BEING FORGOTTEN. JUST TODAY WE HAD A NURSES MEETING AT OUR FACILITY AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE LPN'S CAN NO LONG CHANGE G-TUBES, SOMETHING I'VE BEEN DOING FOR 8 YRS. WE HAD TO WATCH A VIDEO, (LIKE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT ALREADY) SO WE CAN INSTRUCT THE RN'S ON HOW TO DO IT. THAT BEATS ALL. BEFORE LONG WE WILL BE JUST LIKE THE AIDES. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE.

In my facility we are not allowed to make calls to the physicians or write orders. I have been an LPN for 25 years. Most of the RN's where I work do not have the experience I do but I am treated as if I am not even in the same profession!

[Russ Dowling]

Mimiboop, I agree that it's ridiculous that here in Pa we can't take VO/TOs, however, by doing so you're placing yourself in a very precarious position. If by chance something happens to the patient, you'll be held responsible. In addition, the RN covering you is ultimately responsible for any patients in your care. This means that you BOTH would be subject to disciplinary action. Please don't take my comments as criticism. I just want to make sure you understand the ramifications of doing something because the person responsible for doing it is busy.

[-jt]

yes. Its called the National Federation of LPNs. The website is at http://www.NFLPN.org

But most LPNs dont join it, and none that I have ever spoken to have even known it existed. An organization can only be as strong as the people it represents. If anybody is forgetting the LPNs & leaving them out it is themselves.

As for the ANA, the legislation they are pushing nationally addresses workplace safety, safe staffing and elmination of mandatory OT for RNs AND LPNS & in most of what they are supporting, they use the term "nurse" - not RN.

I find it ironic that people will complain that they cant join an organization that is specific for another group when they dont even make an effort to become part of the organization that represents their own group.

http://www.NFLPN.org check it out.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Jamistlc and Russ have offered some excellent advice. How many nurses (RN AND LPN) are aware of and have read the nurse practice acts that your practice is based on....it differs under each state. You will be held accountable to the practice standards under the state license you are working under.

Here are some points to ponder on after my experience 3 yrs, HHA, 5 yrs LPN and almost 20yrs RN.

What Are Boards of Nursing ( SBON)?

Nearly 100 years ago, boards of nursing were established by state government to protect the public's health by overseeing and ensuring the safe practice of nursing. Boards of nursing achieve this mission by establishing the standards for safe nursing care and issuing licenses to practice nursing. Remember, these standards provide the MINIMUM to ensure safe practice. Karen. Once a license is issued, the board's job continues by monitoring licensees' compliance to state laws and taking action against the licenses of those nurses who have exhibited unsafe nursing practice.

Individuals who serve on a board of nursing are appointed to their position. Your state law dictates the membership of the board of nursing, which usually includes a mix of registered nurses, licensed practical/vocational nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and consumers. Together, they meet often to oversee board of nursing activities and to take disciplinary action on nurse licenses as necessary.

The boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five United States territories--Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands--comprise the membership of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Five states have two boards of nursing, one for registered nurses and one for licensed practical/vocational nurses: California, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia.

---------------

Links to state boards of nursing and websites can be found here. Most have practice acts on line for viewing.

http://www.ncsbn.org/files/boards/boardswebsites.asp

------------------

Miniboop, as a PA RN/ former LPN, here is the direct link to PA LPN

law:http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter21/subchapBtoc.html

scope of practice:

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter21/s21.145.html

and Board interpretations:

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter21/subchapDtoc.html

------------------------

Now, under the definition of practical nursing below (which is similar in most states), LPN'S practice is DEPENDENT on another practioner: licensed physician, dentist or professional registered nurse.

" Practice of practical nursing--The performance of selected nursing acts in the care of the ill, injured or infirm under the direction of a licensed professional nurse, a licensed physician or a licensed dentist which do not require the specialized skill, judgment and knowledge required in professional nursing". PA Practice Act definition.

Many LPN's are functioning at a higher level than this definition; some institutions have expanded to the limit what they expect their nurses to do...others aren't using LPN's at all in their hospitals/facilities.

Because of the dependent status of LPN nursing licensure, this has lead to dissention between some LPN's and RN's. We need both levels of practice in order to provide adequately for our clients. In the hospital and LTC setting, LPN's are practicing under the charge nurse supervision; or if no RN's on duty, under the director of nursing's license in the LTC setting. Otherwise, you function under the Doctor/Dentist's license-----they are the ones ultimately responsible for overall nursing care.

As nurses, we tend to get caught up in our daily routines and practice settings, and fail to promote for ourselves as professionals. That is why only 10% of RNs are members of ANA, don't know statistics on membership of NFLPN. Boards of nursing are only there to guard the public. It is up to each one of use to belong to a nursing group which fights to promote and protect our right to practice. It is extremely difficult/impossible for only one organization (eg. ANA) to advocate for BOTH levels of nursing professionals as each practice has it's own unique needs, without seeming to favor one group over the other.

I don't belong to the NFLPN because it has not shown me that it has any kind of clout at all.

As Jt and Jenny P have stated on many occasions, an organization is only as strong as the MEMBERSHIP participation. Professional groups DON"T get outside funding, they provide services based on their membership dues.....so if they have few members, they can only provide minimum services unless membership is 100% active( LOL).

Karen

[-jt]

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't belong to the NFLPN because it has not shown me that it has any kind of clout at all.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

well how is an organization supposed to have any "clout" if it doesnt have any members??? People have to get involved because the MEMBERS are the clout! : )

If LPNs are feeling left out, they can do something about it by getting involved & controlling their own professional destiny. Visit the NFLPN website. Theres lots of interesting stuff there & it looks like some exciting events coming up for LPNs nationally. There are also statewide LPN organizations.

NFLPN Constituent State Addresses:

Gregory Howard

Alabama Federation of LPNs

2803 7th Avenue

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Ann Fultz

Kentucky State Association of LPNs

2340 Griffith Street

Ashland, KY 41101

Elaine Taylor

North Dakota LPN Association

468 6th Avenue, N.E.

Valley City, ND 58072-3149

Office: 701/845-3129

Irene Bruns

Colorado Federation of LPNs

1444 North Foote

Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Office: [phone]

Faye Norton

Louisiana Federation of LPNs

1030Hickman St.

West Lake, LA 70669-3110

337/436-2400

Helen Greenlee

Ohio Federation of LPNs, Inc.

120 Melwood Ave.

Dayton, OH 45408

Brother Francis X. Smith

Connecticut LPN Association, Inc.

85 New Park Avenue

Hartford, CT 06106-2184

http://www.clpna.org

Janie Brown

Maine LPN Association

Post Office Box 3893

Portland, ME 04104

Rosa Hewitt

Oklahoma Assocation of LPNs

318 W. Osage

Nowata, OK 74048

Linda McCreary

LPN Association of Florida

Post Office Box 47454

St. Petersburg, FL 33743

Office: 941/262-0151

Charlene Hall, LPN

Maryland LPN Association, Inc.

151 Smith Avenue

Westminster, MD 21157

Thelma Glover

South Carolina Federation of

LPNs, Inc.

1821Gadson St.

Columbia, SC 29201

Jean Anders

LPNs of Idaho, Inc.

306 S. Terrace

Salmon, ID 83467

Francis Butler

LPN Association of New Hampshire

567 Washburn Road

Alexandria, NH 03222

Mary Barbour

Virginia LPN Association, Inc.

1618 Trailridge Road

Charlottesville, VA 22903-4034

http://personal.cfw.com/~gkirk/VLPNA.html

Jane Pond

LPN Association of Illinois

730 E. Vine Street, Suite 105

Springfield, IL 62703

Office: 217/522-8026

Priscilla McCorkle

New Mexico LPN Association

1220 Traver Street

Clovis, NM 88101

Carolyn Kaiser

Wisconsin Association of LPNs

One South Pinckney Street, Suite 725

Madison, WI 53703

Office: 608/256-5299

Cherie Oetker

Iowa Federation of LPNs

7 S. 14th Street

Marshalltown, IA 50158

James Sweet

New York Federation of LPN

Post Office Box 601

Newtonville, NY 12128

Office: 518/783-6955

Hilda Glass

Individual Member Representative

1204 Fargo Street

Marion, IN 46952

Dorothy Zook

Kansas Federation of LPNs

Post Office Box 922

Hesston, KS 67062-0922

Patricia Beverage

North Carolina LPN Association

Post Office Box 11407

Durham, NC 27707

Office: 919/596-8202

Michael Jacobs

Military Member Representative

20 Emerson St.

Rockland, MA 02370

James V Blackledge

Mississippi LPN Association, Inc.

318 Buffalo Hill Road

Ellisville, MS 39437

Office: 601/763-5151

National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses, Inc.

893 US Highway 70 West, Suite 202

Garner, NC 27529

919/779-0046 * 800/948-2511 * Fax [phone]

email:

Charlene Barbour, Executive Director -

[email protected]

Kristie Newton, Membership Services Director - [email protected]

Diana Mills, Convention Services Director -

[email protected]

http://www.NFLPN.org

As far as collective bargaining, LPNs have that too. SEIU/AFL-CIO is the largest union representative of LPNs & healthcare workers in the country (excluding RNs).

[JillR]

This is taken right from the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Codes relating to the pracise of Nursing.

Standard of practice for registered nurses.

1. GENERAL NURSING PROCEDURES. An R.N. shall utilize the nursing process in the execution of general nursing procedures in the mainenance of health, prevention of illness or care of the ill. The nursing process consists of the steps of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.

(a) Assessment. Assessment is the systematic and continual collection and analysis of data about the health status of a patient of a patient cumulating in the formation of a nursing diagnosis.

(b) Planning. Planning is developing a nursing plan of care for a patient which includes goals and priorities derived from the nursing diagnosis.

© Intervention. Intervetion is the nursing action to impliment the plan of care by directly administering care or by directing and supervising nursing acts delegated to LPN's or less skilled assistants.

(d) Evaluation. Evaluation is the deternination of a patients progress or lack of progress torward goal achievemnt which may lead to modifications of the nursing diagnosis.

2. PERFOMANCE OF DELEGATED MEDICAL ACTS.

(a) Accept only those delegated medical acts for which there are protocols or written or verbal orders

(b) Accept olnly those delegated medical acts for which the RN is competent o perform based on his or her education, training or experience

© Consult with a physician, dentist or podiatrist in cases where the RN knows or should know a delegated medical act may harm a patient; and,

(d) Perform delegated medical acts under the general supervision or direction of a physician, podiatrist, or dentist.

3. SUPERVISION AND DIRECTION OF DELEGATED NURSING ACTS.

(a) Delegate tasks commensurate with educational preparation and demonstrated abilities of the person supervised.

(b) Provide direction and assistance to those supervised

© Observe and monitor the activities of those supervised; and,

(d) Evaluate the effectiveness of acts performed under supervision.

Standards of practice for licenced practical nurses.

1. PERFOMANCE OF ACTS IN BASIC PATIENT SITUATIONS. In the performance of acts in the basic patient situations, the L.P.N. shall, under the general supervision of an R.N., or the direction of a physician, podiatrist or dentist:

(a) Accept only patient care assignments which the L.P.N. is compentent to perform:

(b) Provide basic nursing care

© Record nusing care given and report to the appropriate person changes in the condition of the patient:

(d) Consult with an R.N. or a physician in cases where an LPN knows or should know a delegated nursing or medical act may harm a patient: and

(e) Perform the following acts when applicable;

1. Assist with the collection of data

2. Assist with the development and revision of a nursing care plan;

3. Reinforce the teaching provided by an RN,physician,podiatrist, or dentist and provide basic health care instructions

4. Participate with other health care team memebers in meeting the patients needs.

2. PERFORMANCE OF ACTS IN COMPLEX PATIENTS SITUATIONS.

(a) Meet standards under sub (1) under the general supervision of an RN, physician, podiatrist, or dentist.

(b) Peform delegated nursing or medical acts beyond basic nursing care under the direct supervision of an R.N. physician, podiatrist, or dentist. An L.P.N. shall, upon request of the board, provide documentation of his or her nursing education, training or experience which prepare the LPN to competently perform these assignments.

3. ASSUMTION OF CHARGE NURSING POSITION IN NURSING HOMES. In assuming the position of charge nurse in a nursing home the LPN shall:

(a) Follow written protocol and procedure developed by an approved RN.

(b) Manage and direct the nursing care and other activities of LPN's and nursing support personnel under the general supervision on and RN, and;

© Accept the charge nurse position only if prepared to competently perform this assignment based on his or her nursing education, including education, training or experience or active involvement in education or training for resposibilites not included in the basic LPN curriculum.

So, as you can tell by reading, in the state of WI, the LPN's do not and cannot do the job of an RN.

[kcsun3]

There is also another national organization for LPNs besides the NFLPN:

American Licensed Practical Nurses Association

1090 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1200

Washington, DC 20005

[phone]

I don't know anything about them personally, but thought I would pass the info along to those who might be interested.

Steph

The Student Nurse Forum

http://kcsun3.tripod.com

[night owl]

kcsun3,

Well I visited the ALPNA website and it sure doesn't look like it's a website for LPN's! Registered nurse all over it. Are you sure the P stands for practical??? or does it stand for professional? gotta stand for professional at that website. I consider myself a professional nurse after all of these years even if the books say NOT! I'm a professional practical nurse. How's them apples... a PPN AND d@mn proud of it!!!

[kcsun3]

Nightowl,

What is the url for ALPNA? I could find many references to the organization itself, but no website when I searched via Yahoo. As I said, I have no personal experience with them, but now you have me curious *g*

By the way - PPN - love it!

Steph

The Student Nurse Forum

http://kcsun3.tripod.com

[night owl]

kcsun3,

www.alpna.org

~ night owl ~

[La8dyDi]

You go Night Owl! "P" stands for professional! LPN's are Just as "Professional" as any other nurse. RN, BSN, whatever! Professional is how we percieve ourselves, and conduct ourselves.

I resent the fact that just because we are LPN's we are not considered professional nurses. We have chosen nursing as our "profession". after almost 25 years as an LPN, I consider myself quite "professional!"

Diane

[La8dyDi]

You go Night Owl! "P" stands for professional! LPN's are Just as "Professional" as any other nurse. RN, BSN, whatever! Professional is how we percieve ourselves, and conduct ourselves.

I resent the fact that just because we are LPN's we are not considered professional nurses. We have chosen nursing as our "profession". after almost 25 years as an LPN, I consider myself quite "professional!"

Diane