Help for new student, please

mtymom · May 19, 2005

Hello everyone. I have a question for all you LPN's out there. I have been reading through the forums for the past few days trying to get a feel of what LPN's do exactly. I find it hard to believe that so many people aren't clear exactly as to what they can and can't do. How can this be? I know it's not the LPN's fault, but this, to me, is serious! You're working in a healthcare setting, I would think that the LPN's duties would be much clearer than they are. I know that it depends on the State you live in, but according to some of these posts I've read, a lot of LPN's just aren't sure.
I would like to ask what is involved in clinicals. I am new to all of this. LPN training in my area starts this October, and I would like to start classes. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a nurse. When I was a bit younger there were candy stripers around, are they still around?
Do LPN's draw blood? What do you mean when you say pass meds? As you can see, I know nothing about this, any help would be greatly appreciated.
I would probably apply at a Nursing Home once I am licensed. Can anyone here tell me what would be expected of me there?
Also, if it turns out that I do in fact like being a nurse then I will continue on to become a RN.
Thanking you in advance for your help.
PS, the whole idea of sticking a needle into someones vein just gives me the willies! LOL!

Hello! I am mtymom and I am an LPN. I live in OK. In OK you have to be IV certified as an LPN to start an IV. LPN's cannot hang blood where RN's can. I worked in a nursing home as charge nurse for the 3-11 shift. Passing meds means that medications are scheduled to be given at certain times in hospitals and nursing homes and at those times you give the meds to the patients or residents. This does not count the as needed meds that you give when the patient needs them. LPN's can't go to the pharmacy at night to get the meds and an RN can. Some RN's even mix the meds. I do know my duties. I hope this helps. Good luck! Nursing is a wonderful profession. :)

Babyblue10 · May 19, 2005

Hello! I am mtymom and I am an LPN. I live in OK. In OK you have to be IV certified as an LPN to start an IV. LPN's cannot hang blood where RN's can. I worked in a nursing home as charge nurse for the 3-11 shift. Passing meds means that medications are scheduled to be given at certain times in hospitals and nursing homes and at those times you give the meds to the patients or residents. This does not count the as needed meds that you give when the patient needs them. LPN's can't go to the pharmacy at night to get the meds and an RN can. Some RN's even mix the meds. I do know my duties. I hope this helps. Good luck! Nursing is a wonderful profession. :)

Thanks for your help. When you go to school to do clinicals, what is entailed? What exactly do you do there? If I get a job in a Nursing Home, what does a LPN usually do there? Sponge baths? Change bedpan? Pass meds? Help residents in and out of bed? Walk with them, take them outside for fresh air? I am trying to get a feel of what I will be spending my time doing while there. I understand about the IV certification. If I do not get IV certified, can I still work as an LPN? I understand it's best to get certified, because the more you know the better off you are, but can LPN's get jobs without having to stick a needle into someone? I know I have a fear of it, but at the same time, I want this real bad, ya know what I mean?

mtymom · May 19, 2005

Thanks for your help. When you go to school to do clinicals, what is entailed? What exactly do you do there? If I get a job in a Nursing Home, what does a LPN usually do there? Sponge baths? Change bedpan? Pass meds? Help residents in and out of bed? Walk with them, take them outside for fresh air? I am trying to get a feel of what I will be spending my time doing while there. I understand about the IV certification. If I do not get IV certified, can I still work as an LPN? I understand it's best to get certified, because the more you know the better off you are, but can LPN's get jobs without having to stick a needle into someone? I know I have a fear of it, but at the same time, I want this real bad, ya know what I mean?

I do know what you mean. I was afraid of the needle thing at first too but now I know that I am doing it to help the patient. You can get a job as an LPN without being IV certified. Most nursing homes don't require you to be IV certified. When you work in a nursing home you usually have CNA's that will do the baths, empty bedpans, help the residents in and out of bed, walk them and take them outside. I tried to help my CNA's with this though because sometimes they might be busy and can't get to it. An LPN's main job in a nursing home is to pass the meds, chart, contact the doctor, and mainly the medical things. Most nursing homes have standing orders for things like Tylenol where you don't have to call the doctor. LPN's also assess the resident in the nursing home. If the resident is sick and you feel they can't be cared for there then you are the one to call the doctor then the ambulance and family to get them to the hospital. You also do the admission assessment

on them when they come in. I think I have been rambling but I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any more questions. :)

Babyblue10 · May 19, 2005

I do know what you mean. I was afraid of the needle thing at first too but now I know that I am doing it to help the patient. You can get a job as an LPN without being IV certified. Most nursing homes don't require you to be IV certified. When you work in a nursing home you usually have CNA's that will do the baths, empty bedpans, help the residents in and out of bed, walk them and take them outside. I tried to help my CNA's with this though because sometimes they might be busy and can't get to it. An LPN's main job in a nursing home is to pass the meds, chart, contact the doctor, and mainly the medical things. Most nursing homes have standing orders for things like Tylenol where you don't have to call the doctor. LPN's also assess the resident in the nursing home. If the resident is sick and you feel they can't be cared for there then you are the one to call the doctor then the ambulance and family to get them to the hospital. You also do the admission assessment
on them when they come in. I think I have been rambling but I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any more questions. :)

OK, now I have an idea as to what is expected of me. I am very clear on what a RN does, but was confused about CNA versus LPN. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to help. It means a lot.

Take care :)