What More Responsibilites Do RN's Have?

[mammaoftwo]

I keep reading that RN's have a lot more responsibilities (and may have even posted that myself after listening to others) than LPN's do. What are the additional responsibilities?

I read that LPN's do almost the same thing that RN's do but for a lot less pay. I have even had nurses (RN's) tell me that. Is this true?

As I am about to make my final decision regarding LPN school vs. RN school, I really need some answers.

Many thanks for your replies and blessings to all. :)

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

My facilty do not realy use LPNs. The few ones we have are very limited in what they do do. They get the easy patients. They do not do admission, discharge, patient teaching. They don't get patient on bipap, trach, vent, or patient on morphine drip. And if their patients condition change, the RNs take over. Last night one of the LPNs patients was ordered to be transfer to tele. for cardiac monitoring, I was the one that endorse the patient to tele. There are so many other things that LPNs do not do at my job. However, in the the nursing home the difference is not much at all. Salary wise, the difference is $12 bucks/hr. $34.50/$22.39 base

In New York, we do vent patients and trachs, but we don't do most of the other things you mentioned. We can administer blood products through the facility, but it is not mandated by NYS. Of course, no IV push, except heparin or normal saline, and we do hang potassium (much to my dismay).

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

The classic statement of the difference between the RN and the LPN is that the LPN learns HOW, but the RN learns HOW and WHY.

Critical thinking skills are not unique to registered nurses. You can't run a household and raise children without critical thinking skills.

I was taught that in so many words as well. In school, my professor said that the LPN's role is "what you see, then what you do, with alittle of why" and that the RN gets more theory. I admit that I don't always see it that way, but that was because I have seen some wacked out RN (not saying the nurse is wacked out because they hold the title RN, but because they were incompetent nurses from the jump) do some wild things.

We were taught critical thinking in our scope of practice as well, just keeping in mind that we were taught within our specific scope of practice. You are right, critical thinking goes across the waters, so to speak.

[pepperann35]

Around here LPNs are being phased out of the hospital setting, mostly LPNs work in staff nurse positions in the LTC setting. There used to be LPNs in management roles in LTC but that seems to be going away also. I was a LPN for awhile in LTC and did everything an RN could do in that role (staff nurse), but as a RN supervisor in LTC I did a lot of things for the LPNs that they couldn't do such as abt IV's, PICC flush, initial assessments, pronouncing deceased residents, etc. Depending on where you went to nursing school, there are certain things that aren't taught to LPNs in all schools, such as critical thinking skills, etc. In this area, it seems the LPN classes are more skills driven. Hope this helps!

I am a LPN in LTC. I am the night shift supervisor. I can do all of the above mentioned things.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

It all falls to what do YOU want. In SC LPNs with extra training hang meds to central lines, start and maintain peripheral lines, monitor but not hang blood and blood products. I learned a whole lot from LPNs and taught a whole lot back to new RNs. By state law LPNs can only gather information and report it to the RN (in other words can't assess). That's straining at straws IMHO. What do YOU want. My biggie is RN's advance as far as they can, ladder wise and pay wise. In SC LPNs can only be a 1 or a 2. RNs can be up to a 5. I worked with some fantastic nurses......of all shapes sizes, accents and titles.

[pepperann35]

It all falls to what do YOU want. In SC LPNs with extra training hang meds to central lines, start and maintain peripheral lines, monitor but not hang blood and blood products. I learned a whole lot from LPNs and taught a whole lot back to new RNs. By state law LPNs can only gather information and report it to the RN (in other words can't assess). That's straining at straws IMHO. What do YOU want. My biggie is RN's advance as far as they can, ladder wise and pay wise. In SC LPNs can only be a 1 or a 2. RNs can be up to a 5. I worked with some fantastic nurses......of all shapes sizes, accents and titles.

Wow, thanks for that info. I did not realize things were that different in other states!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I can add that LPNs (at least in New York City) also do a great deal of teaching in the clinic setting. At times, if a patient is newly diagnosed for diabetes, for example, an RN is supposed to do the initial teaching, but because they are usually occupied doing other things, we have to check their A1c. If it is below 9, an LPN can teach them...higher, they want an RN, even better if she is a certified teacher for diabetes management. It really does depend on the location and the facility that makes or breaks what an LPN is allowed to do.

[jjjoy, LPN]

In places where the LPN role and RN role aren't very different, I don't see why one would choose LPN over RN except for the accessibility and affordability of the program and the time to start working. I could see if LPNs had less responsibility than nurses. Then, one might choose LPN over RN because they didn't want so much responsbility. But that's not the case in most places.

It just seems strange... go to school for a year less and get less pay... but don't have significantly less responsbility? If LPNs can safely handle their own assignment of patients that parallels an RN, the only difference being that the RN signs off on the initial assessment and hangs blood products, then what exactly is the supposed difference between the two levels of educational preparation such that the LPN is significantly restricted in pay and job opportunities?