Do you know your (LPNs) scope of practice?

allnurses Guide · Dec 28, 2012

Could you be more specific? There are at least 50 different LPN/LVN scopes of practice - I don't think anyone knows them word for word. Usually people focus on a few issues like IV push drugs, assessments and hanging blood.

caringinpractice · Dec 28, 2012

Is anyone else concerned :yes: , in an effort to save money that LPN's are being used as RN's. If that's the case then RN's are no longer needed. The BON guidelines between RN and LPN states that the LPN is supervised by the RN, however in this case there is NO supervison and management is permitting this violation of the BON nursing scope of practice to be allowed....the patient is assessed from the getgo by the LPN and the RN is bypassed in an effort for more pt's to be processed.

allnurses Guide · Dec 28, 2012

Is anyone else concerned , in an effort to save money that LPN's are being used as RN's. If that's the case then RN's are no longer needed. The BON guidelines between RN and LPN states that the LPN is supervised by the RN, however in this case there is NO supervison and management is permitting this violation of the BON nursing scope of practice to be allowed....the patient is assessed from the getgo by the LPN and the RN is bypassed in an effort for more pt's to be processed.

As I mentioned to the OP there, there are at least 50 different Scope of Practice laws and just as many separate state Boards of Nursing with their own rules and regulations. If a facility is tasking the LPN with those things that are within that state's LPN Scope of Practice they are not "being used as RNs". "Supervision" doesn't always mean there is an RN present at the time. Home health nurses are an example of that. Some LTCs require that the RN needs to be reachable by phone.

In any case the trend you are seeing is out of the norm at this time, due to the job market RNs are being hired to replace LPNs because they aren't paying them much more than the LPN. Lastly, I don't think your concern will get a lot of agreement here in the LPN Corner.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Dec 28, 2012

As a practicing LPN, I am acutely aware of my own scope of practice, which I believe is prudent for any LPN who is practicing should be aware of. It not only varies by state, but by specific units, skilled care, home health, etc.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2012

OH boy here we go.... :eek:

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2012

You are a recent NCLEX LPN, in April, I believe....you should know your own scope of practice......Is this a homework question?

The LPN scope of practice varies state to state and facility to facility.

agldragonRN · Dec 29, 2012

Yes I do and everyone should so one can protect their license/livelihood.

Just because your job says, "yes you can do it" does not mean that it is under your scope of practice.

KRODD · Dec 29, 2012

Care to venture any guesses guys?

I meant this as a General scope of practice

Ie. stable patients or patients with predictable outcomes!

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Dec 29, 2012

Sounds like you are upset with an LPN? Or you are an LPN that has been asked to do something you feel not in your scope?

hfullerCNA · Dec 29, 2012

Why can't we all just get along? Instead of arguing, why don't we just direct this person to a link that shows all 50 states Scope of Practice for an LPN?

allnurses Guide · Dec 29, 2012

Why can't we all just get along? Instead of arguing, why don't we just direct this person to a link that shows all 50 states Scope of Practice for an LPN?

We're trying to obtain more information from the OP because his questions are vague and missing quite a bit of pertinent information. There seems to be an issue with assimilating the answers already given due to the follow-up post asking about the "General scope of practice" when there is no such thing as a "General scope of practice". Several people advised him to check the LPN scope in his home state. It wouldn't be productive to provide such a link to a page that has all 50 state Scopes of Practice if it exists because I'm sure he can figure out how to do that himself. Being able to communicate clearly and pro-actively learn how to research your own questions are important in nursing.