Help! New LVN instructor(for new school) needs advice

P_RN, ADN, RN · Feb 8, 2006

Libra I'm not sure about California practice acts but here LPN is not an independent practice. They would be asking you to take the responsibility of supervising students.

It would seem they are asking too much of you. If they are just starting up, wouldn't they have to presented a plan of education to the state board? This sounds to iffy to me.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Feb 8, 2006

Who told you "the board ok'd it" I'd want to see it in writing.

Have you read your practice act recently--it will tell you what education standards and instructors credentials are.

CA LVN regs:

http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/pdf/vnregs.pdf

See page 36 if you qualify.

School should be telling YOU what they expect, setting up hospital relationships and have formal guidelines in place NOT expect you to do the work.

They've hired you as unable to attract RN..

? due to shortage

? due to amount of money they have to spend for startup

? due to amount of money they are WILLING to spend

Could be the start to a great relationship. Do you want to advance to RN role? Will the school offer you some monies to go for degree? All things to consider as INSTRUCTOR requires RN degree per regs.

If they are purchasing new equipment for skills lab, any electric simmulation manequin that supplier might have training available?

What textbooks have been selected-should have instructors outline to guide you. A Lot of work ahead getting a new program off the ground. If you have 5+ years LPN experience, strong assessment and clincal skills, broad med surg background, should help you to handle skills lab.

Might want to take teaching course or read up on adult learners to help you.

Good luck!

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Feb 8, 2006

question (and i may be opening a can of worms here): do lpns/lvns usually teach in pln programs? where i'm from (ny) almost all schools (even adn) require at least a ms. like me, you may be able to take advantage of the educator shortage, by possibly not having the 'strongly preffered' credentials. i was hired at the 11th hour, b/c they had no one to teach. i'm 10 months away from my msn in nursing ed. but honestly, they are taking a chance by taking me. but it sounded like it was me, or no one. is this the case with you?

and i agree, they need to tell you what their expectations are of the students. while the course objectives may not spell it out, someone should be able to tell you that the student will be able to do x,z and z by the end of this semester/quarter. you need to see how many patients they are expected to successfully handle by the end of your time with them, what meds they can/should be able to give, and what they've already mastered in clinicals and what they've learned in lecture.

are there other instructors you can talk to? i've been fortunate, my co-faculty members have been very supportive, and have taken me under their wing. one of my grad school classmates is also teaching at my school, and we compare notes. not necessarily comparing students, but the over all strengths/weaknesses of the group.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Feb 9, 2006

Yipes! This new LVN school in No. California wants me to set up and run a skils lab and to supervise students on the floor.

This is LPN program they are hired for, not RN.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Feb 10, 2006

This is LPN program they are hired for, not RN

But the point was most schools of any nursing programs usually require at least a BSN and most require a MSN.

110freeway · Nov 27, 2011

Although this thread was posted years ago, I feel bad for Libra, who was merely asking for some pointers from other educators out there--which she did not receive at all.

Upon looking at all those whom replied to her question, it appears as if they are all involved in nursing education one way or another.

I feel bad for whomever their students are, for I truly believe that an exemplary educator is one who shares their knowledge and expertise--i.e not one to discourage another.

I recently hired a new instructor--an LVN instructor actually. She is the only LVN in a staff of FNPs, MSNs, and mainly retired Chief nursing officers.

I am quite impressed by her instruction methods. I think the fact that she is the lowest ranking, makes her work harder, whereas, the other instructors have an air of "self entitlement."

Either way, if there is one advice I can give to future nursing (and other) instructors, it is this: if you are truly passionate about education...then educating others will come to you naturally. Trust yourself!

sahrdh · Dec 1, 2011

I'm in Tennessee and it is REQUIRED that you have to be one level up to teach a nursing program i.e. LPN taught by ADN, ADN taught by BSN, BSN taught by MSN

I agree, sounds a bit iffy to me.

MSNRN2B · Jan 5, 2012

Here in Ok it is the same, minimum is ADN with plan for BSN and prefer MSN.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jan 8, 2012

Although this thread was posted years ago, I feel bad for Libra, who was merely asking for some pointers from other educators out there--which she did not receive at all.
Upon looking at all those whom replied to her question, it appears as if they are all involved in nursing education one way or another.
I feel bad for whomever their students are, for I truly believe that an exemplary educator is one who shares their knowledge and expertise--i.e not one to discourage another.
I recently hired a new instructor--an LVN instructor actually. She is the only LVN in a staff of FNPs, MSNs, and mainly retired Chief nursing officers.
I am quite impressed by her instruction methods. I think the fact that she is the lowest ranking, makes her work harder, whereas, the other instructors have an air of "self entitlement."
Either way, if there is one advice I can give to future nursing (and other) instructors, it is this: if you are truly passionate about education...then educating others will come to you naturally. Trust yourself!

Thank you for sharing your concerns, but no one was trying to put down this poster merely because she is an LPN.

Rather, members were inquiring if it is actually legal for an LPN to teach in an LPN nursing program. They were cautioning her to make sure this is legal in California by double checking with the Board of Nursing in California. I know that in North Carolina (according to our Board of Nursing regs) it is not legal for an LPN to operate in this role.