Do LPN's have to give baths like CNA's do?

[Tricia76]

Just wondering if LPN's do some of the same things CNA's do

[CoffeemateCNA]

They CAN do the same things.

Doesn't mean they actually do them.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

Every once in a while I see LPNs help change a resident (I guess to do skin assesments) and @ one of my jobs, the nurses will help feed the residents at meal times. But bathing? I haven't seen an LPN do that before, at least at none of the facilities where I've worked.

[Tricia76]

OK because I am finding that training to be a CNA is not for me and I was thinking about LPN but not sure..I just love the medical field but can't make up my mind what I want to be ..I love taking care of babies so something in that area you know what i mean?

[CoffeemateCNA]

Don't check out just yet.

1) CNA class is nothing like the real world

2) CNA class is nothing like the real world

3) CNA class is nothing like the real world

:)

What part of class are you having a tough time with or not enjoying?? I've never heard of anybody who jumps for joy and says "Oh, I can't wait to go to work and change poopy adult diapers and shower old people." Those things seem so bad now, but I promise, you will get used to it. It just takes time. Pretty soon all of the fears and insecurities will go away.

I hated a major portion of CNA class. I thought I was going to die during my first bed bath.

Give yourself an opportunity to work as a CNA before you totally decide it's not for you.

Nurses have very, very difficult jobs too. It's just a different type of challenge than being a CNA. I dare say that some nurses have even more unpleasant and gross tasks than us.

Picture changing a dressing on a wound filled with Pseudomonas or catheterizing a 450 lb. man that won't sit still and you can't find his pee-pee hole.

[Tricia76]

Well ok Coffee..lol but I need to give it some thought

[redraccoon, BSN, RN]

Depends on where you are. But yes, they can be required to.

And they certainly should know how to and be willing to do so

if needed.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

Not in LTC they don't. They just pass meds and do treatments. Some of them do miss the CNA stuff so they'll help pass trays, feed people a little bit, and maybe help you get someone on the toilet. But there's no way in hell they have time for bathing people.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

EVERYONE gives baths, but as you move up the ladder you will do it less often.

[caliotter3]

If one works in home health doing shift work, CNA typical duties, including bathing the patient, as well as LPN duties during the shift. CNAs or HHAs are rarely assigned to the same patient when an LPN is working there. The LPN just adds their duties to the licensed nurse duties.

[nursel56]

EVERYONE gives baths, but as you move up the ladder you will do it less often.

Yup, as above. I would strongly advise people considering nursing as a career not to divide tasks up in your mind and make a decision based on that. A nurse does all those things to one degree or another, at one facility or another, or at one specialty or another. I would hope it wouldn't come as a shock to someone who decided to be an ICU nurse because of it's complex high-techy nature, that many ICU nurses bathe and do mouth care, etc. on their own patients.

Also, we can't pick and choose LTC, or OR or anything for that matter anymore because the job market precludes that at least for the time being.

[mspee-wee]

ok because i am finding that training to be a cna is not for me and i was thinking about lpn but not sure..i just love the medical field but can't make up my mind what i want to be ..i love taking care of babies so something in that area you know what i mean?

maybe being a nicu nurse or pediatrician will be the best job for u then