lpn's in ER

Specialties Emergency

Published

I have been an Lpn for 17 years. I used to work in the Er in Western NY untill I moved by New York City. I was the first LPN in the ER back home and helped to write what they could and couldn't do. At first the RN really gave me a hard time untill they learned my skills and what i was like by the time i left the ones that gave me the hardest time actually would rather work with me than some of the newer Rn.........anyway I must of showed them that LPN could work in the ER cuz after I left they created 4 positions for LPN's instead of my one. I would just like some feedback on how all of you feel regarding LPN'S in the ER. I am going to be going to move to the Greenville are in S.C. and was wondering if anyone from that area knows if they have LPN's in the ER's or if not any ideas on how to approach the hospitals about trying LPN's in the ER as I really love ER and miss it.

countryair

Specializes in Hospice.

:D I'm an LPN, I work OB/ER (we have such a small hospital that when there are no OB's I do ER) which is 80% of the time. I work along side our docs, PEMT's, RN's. I have my ACLS, PALS, and NRP certs........so what's the problem? I don't know about the other states requirements, but as long as I can do the job, then I deserve to be in the position.

Hopefully 2004 RN

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I have put this in other posts. The barter system. As an LPN whenever I need to have a RN cover something for my patient I always ask them if there is something I could do for theirs. This is what works for me. I do not work in the ER, but I do get floated there once in a while (I am a Med/Surg float pool nurse). Usually the ER is short staffed that night so they are happy to see me. I take all the same type of patients the RN's do. When I have a IV push usually the resident or NP will give it or I ask the charge nurse. The charge nurse does not take patients, but covers my RN tasks for my patients if the other RN's are busy.

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.

I have worked Level I Trauma ER, and worked in the Trauma bays with no problems, during a contract assignment. I was even asked by the Head of the ER dept. what I was going to do, when the hospital didn't renew my contract, and started not having travelers anymore. I told him I would move on. He was floored, because he thought I would say I would come on staff! During this tiime the hospital was canceling all contracts with travelers who's contract was beyond August. Mine ended in August...so I was the ONLY one NOT cancelled.

I can understand RNs being overwhelmed and not wanting to take on the added responsiblity of covering for LPNs. But if there are no RNs to cover...what would they prefer??? NO one...an inexperienced RN or an experienced LPN, who could take some of the load off?? In the ER where I worked...NO one had a problem with me handling the pts. I did! We worked as a team...and everyone was treated as such...a TEAM MEMBER!

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fab4fan - couldn't agree with you more. We had LPN's in our Er and it's not just about pushing a med or two. An RN has the ultimate responsibility over the care a patient receives. As you all know your own patient load is quite enough. Things get signed off for an LPN who may be perfectly capable but not infallable just like the rest of us. Where does that leave the RN (license jeopardy). I don't agree with LPN's in the critical care setting. I know some absolutely wonderful LPN's who I would let care for me ANYTIME. However the reality is folks they do not carry the same responsibilty as the RN and it is another stress we don't need. Incidently there are been multiple articles written on this subject regarding decreased mortality rates with an all RN staff. Sorry guys. I say this to all the good LPN's I know. GO BACK TO SCHOOL! I did it and it was a sacrifice. If you are driven you can do it!

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.

Hmmmmmm...let me add this up! I go to school (already working toward a degree in something totally different now)..but I'm just go with this for a min..:).

Go back for RN....now I need experience, and now I will have to add more responsiblity(in some people's mind anyway). So I do my one year stint as a full time employee somewhere so I can travel, working at a pay rate less than I make now.

Hmmmm now after I get my one year experience I now will be considered a "green traveler' by hospitals, and agencies as I have NO experience traveling as an RN, so I will still make less money than I do now...at least for the next two contracts! Now let's say this take two years for me to do. I have now went at least three years or more.....making a lot less than I do now...all the while being expected to do more than I do now....for less money! After having spent a whole lot of money so I can make less during these years...:chuckle.

Hmmmmm yeah...that makes sense to me.... NOT :rotfl: I think everyone should do what is best for them, and let anyone else do what is best for them!

You want to be an RN...you do just that! If you want to be an LP/VN you do just that! And if you want to be an LPN and you're given the opportunity to work in critical care areas...go for it! And those who disagree....will continue to do so! If you run around trying to please others...you will end up pleasing no one...not even yourself...:cool: But if you're lucky you will find those who are willing, to work side by side with you to provide excellent care. Or maybe perhaps even find a place where you can use the skills you're are capable of doing to the fullest!

And for those RNs who don't want to work with LP/VNs in critical areas...there is supposedly a shortage going on...so you should have no problems finding a hospital where you won't have to deal with that. :)

:chair:

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.

:chair:...Dang it...now you have done it! You just couldn't stay there could you...???:chuckle

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For the record tiredernurse, I am a LPN and a RN student. When I was working as a nurse extern I sacrificed L-5! I had to withdraw from school because I could not go to clinical d/t my back injury. I have one semester left to complete my RN program. Will be returning in January. In the meantime I am working as a LPN wich I feel will make me a stronger RN. Especially being in the the float pool. So before you go and tell people to make sacrifices, you need to evaluate each situation if you are going to pass judgement! Most of the time when I float to the ER, the nurses are happy a LPN was floated to them and not a CNA!

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I have been an LPN for 2 years, I am 34 now. I just passed my ACLS, I work weekends only & sometimes I am the only nurse on the med/surge unit. I also work in ER every other week. I start IVs, I push meds, do assessments, read ekgs, draw blood from CVAD, PICCs, etc. The only thing my hospital protocol does not allow is for LPNs to start blood transfusions. I'm sure title plays a part when it comes to the hopital's insurance, the state you practice in, & your institution's policy. I am not going for my RN because I dont need the title to care for my patients. It's great if others want to continue their education. For me, experience IS education. We are a small hospital, but all of us pull together for our patients, and that is the goal!

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I just don't get this whole issue. No matter which side you are on theres always gonna be someone who disagrees. i am starting LPN school in the fall. And I understand what limitations will be placed upon me with that title. I am a CNA now in a hospital and I understand the limitations there as well. If you want to do an jobs that are titled by your individual facilities as "RN" jobs then work towards your RN. If your only priority is being a nurse and diong what you love, then do the LPN or RN. I just want to work as a nurse and take care of patients, that's the bottom line. I don't care if someone else thinks I should or shouldn't be somewhere as long as I am performing my job. I work with RNs who think there title puts them above putting someone on the bedpan or help change a gown, that's for CNAs. ANd I've worked with some who never ask you to lift a finger because they don't want to piss anyone off. My whole outlook on this is if we can all do our job to the best of our ability and help each other out this conversation wouldn't even be necessary. Who cares if you are a CNA, LPN,RN, orMD we all have a role to play in healthcare so lets just do it and quit arguing over who is the better nurse. Because in all honesty I have seen some nurses who couldn't even function as a CNA!!!!!!!!

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We have two LPNs in our ER. We work in the evening during the hours that are usually the busiest. We do basically everything a tech does, plus we can give meds (as long as an RN or medical provider has assessed the patient) , discharge instructions, basic teaching (how to give a suppository, when to give tylenol, how to use a nebulizer, etc). The two of us that work in the ER also have a pretty strong EMS background-the other LPN is an EMT-I and I am a paramedic, and we are allowed to practice up to that level as well (actually not the up to the full paramedic scope a lot of things I can do in the field, but not in the ER). It might not work everywhere, but it works well here. We take a lot of the patients that really belong in a clinic rather than ER, we take patients to x-ray, transfer to the floor, and things like that. We do a lot of things that are time consuming so the RN is available for patients who really need ER care.

It may not be as ideal as having two RNs on duty, but it's a lot less expensive. We are both very careful to stay within our scopes of practice and I really think we are more of a help than a hinderance.

Also, we both have ACLS, PALS, NRP, AMLS, PTLS, and PEPP, we've both been through TNCC (but can't certify), and I am working on my Critical Care Paramedic...

Our hospital also doesn't hire people with EMS backgrounds only...they'll allow an RN or LPN who is also an EMT-I or paramedic to use those skills, but they won't hire an EMT-I or paramedic who isn't also a nurse...kind of a strange situation, but it does work well here...

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Originally posted by 4XNURSE

countryair41,

Why not? LPNs/LVNs have at least as much training as any EMTs. We have EMTs working in ERs all the time out here. I've worked with several LVNs that were better nurses than some of the RNs. We all come in to work. You do the job to the best of your practice, and shouldn't have to apologize for anything.

Although LPNs are not officially hired as such in one of the major hospitals by me, if you have and LPN you can work as a tech (a special title that escapes me at this time) in the ER, just as if you had an EMT. The position is one of both patient care and clerical as needed. They are constantly hiring but unfortunately the wage is pretty low, not quite $10/hour. I might do it after I get my LPN but only parttime while I work on getting my BSN. I should have no problem getting a position at a time convenient to my schedule.

Kris:cool:

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