Published
Have you used the website's "search" abillities?
There have been many threads on this subject. The difference between LPN and RN has been hotly debated......over...............and over.............and over........well, you get the picture.
Search the site with "LPN vs RN" and other such things and you will get more than you bargained for. You'll get a direct link to that thread thanks to Brian, the guy that runs this place.
You might want to check the nurse practice acts for your state. It might be available online. It is in Tennessee, at least. Those should give some guidance about the difference in scope of practice for lpns & rns. You might also want to check with a hospital in your area for their policy on which functions lpns are allowed to perform. This isn't all-inclusive, but it's a start.
Good luck in your educational pursuits!
Joy
I think it all varies state to state. I live in KY and the only things i can't do ( I am a LPN) are, hang blood and runs of KCL, push drugs, draw blood from a central line, and do the initial assessment on a new patient. I know in IN LPN's can push drugs. So try and find out about your state.
You should have received the "Purple Book" when you applied for licensure in West Virginia. This book is very specific. It deals with criteria for determining scope of practice for Licensed Nurses and guidelines for determining acts that may be delegated or assigned by Licensed Nurses. This includes LPN's and RN's.
The LPN code is on their Website. When you entered the BSN program were you not required to purchase the Code and Legislative Rules for Registered Professional Nurses? If not you can call the RN Board and request a copy of the Code.
The Purple Book and the LPN and RN Codes should help you with your papers. Good Luck!
It is interesting to read how different states handle this issue....here in Texas the LPN is hardly limited by the state at all...he/she can work ICU, Labor and Delivery, ER, etc...anywhere IF hospital policy provides for this.
In my ICU I work side by side with LPN's who do the exact job I do....no restrictions. Hospital POLICY says they cannot do charge or spike blood (go figure)
But in our ICU we have a policy they can do whatever they are qualified to do...so if they have taken the balloon pump course, they can do IABP's et just like an RN.
So....the state and the facility define the differences in scope of practice. Good luck on your paper! :)
In Ohio, LPN's cannot push IV meds except saline or a hep flush. They cannot hang blood, TPN, flush a central line. Once they have their IV card from the Ohio Board of Nursing then they are permitted to start IV's on adults in the upper extremities only. They ARE allowed to fo the initial nursing assessment on a new admit.
slinkeecat
208 Posts
I finally went back to school after 12 yrs of being an lpn, I am getting my bsn. I have to write a paper about the difference in scope of practice for lpns and rn's. I hate my life!! LOL The reason I went back to school is because When I moved from fl to wv the lpn is severely limited than in fl. In fl I could do more. In wv lpns cannot take a telephone order. It is in the LPN practice act. How insane!!!!! I want to ask for everyone's help and get some input about this. I feel I am not the first person to ask this but I have been on this site looking and I cannot find a thread that discusses this topic. I would truly appreciate your thoughts on this. thankyou for your help. Thank you!!!