Health Professional

[Seddie]

I work in Ohio as a "Health Professional" at a school I am a LPN. Our district has no RN on staff my supervisor has no medical training. I am concerned with the liability this holds...any thoughts? Anyone else in my position or similar situation?

[OldDude]

Since I practice in Texas this might not be much help for you but it might be a springboard for you to gather other info. If you worked in a Texas public school, and there was no supervising RN on staff for the District, your LPN license would not be relevant to your employment. Under those circumstances (where a RN is not employed by the district) each campus principal is responsible for the health services provided by their staff. So, if you find out this is the case in your state, and I think this is where you're heading with your post, be careful as to how you represent yourself while at school. Don't jeopardize your license by representing yourself as a LPN and risk practicing outside of your licensure scope. I hope this helped a little.

[jhlpn]

Find out what your state requires as far as having an RN supervisor. Your board of nursing or department of education should be able to help you.

[Seddie]

Thanks this was very helpful. To my understanding as long as I don't identify myself as a "nurse" or engage in the practice of nursing I'm safe. I am hired as a Health Professional and not a nurse. Although to me this is still a major liability. Its all in wording but if it come down to it I'm pretty sure I would still be held liable. Ugh. Love the Job but I'm very apprehensive.

[jhlpn]

Do you have a malpractice type insurance for yourself?

Thanks this was very helpful. To my understanding as long as I don't identify myself as a "nurse" or engage in the practice of nursing I'm safe. I am hired as a Health Professional and not a nurse. Although to me this is still a major liability. Its all in wording but if it come down to it I'm pretty sure I would still be held liable. Ugh. Love the Job but I'm very apprehensive.

[amoLucia]

Do you have a malpractice type insurance for yourself?

My first thought, too.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Thanks this was very helpful. To my understanding as long as I don't identify myself as a "nurse" or engage in the practice of nursing I'm safe. I am hired as a Health Professional and not a nurse. Although to me this is still a major liability. Its all in wording but if it come down to it I'm pretty sure I would still be held liable. Ugh. Love the Job but I'm very apprehensive.

You are licensed as an LPN. The BoN will hold you to that standard regardless of what the school calls you. Private school?

You must be an RN/BSN to be a school nurse in an OB public school regardless of title and hold a temp or permanent pupil services license as a school nurse.

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Teaching/Educator-Licensure/Apply-for-Certificate-License/Pupil-Services-Licenses