Help :) Writing an essay on RN/LPN differences

[FinderKeeper]

HI guys,

I am writing a comparison - contrast essay on differences between RNs and LPNs. So far, I used education, responsibilities, pay and job outlook for the contrast part. Any ideas on what else I might include that distinquishes RNs from LPNs? How these two nursing paths contrast?

Thanks :) :monkeydance:

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

you are going to find a lot of different answers on here. you may need to narrow this down to just your state. the lvn scope of practice is very narrow in some states and very wide in states such as mine , texas. i will include what a lvn cannot do in texas and then after that everything else is left up to facility policy.

* cannot spike blood- lvn's are able to monitor while infusing

* cannot pronounce death- never really figured this one out

* there are certain iv meds we cannot push

* change out a existing g-tube

* initial assessment hospital setting only- lvn's may continue to monitor after rn has done initial assessment. lvn's always do the initial assessment in ltc.

i may have missed some but not many .. texas has a wide open practice for lvn's.

hi guys,

i am writing a comparison - contrast essay on differences between rns and lpns. so far, i used education, responsibilities, pay and job outlook for the contrast part. any ideas on what else i might include that distinquishes rns from lpns? how these two nursing paths contrast?

thanks :) :monkeydance:

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

there are some things here that are incorrect. in the hospital they are not allowed to do the initial assessment but after that they can do a ongoing assessment. however, in ltc they always do the initial assessment and care planning ....uggg i'm up to my ears in care plans. ive got news for you there are plenty of school nurses that are lvn's . like my school there are 5 elem, 1 middle school and one high school. the rn works at the high school and every other school has a lvn. is your teacher really telling you that adn's are unable to work in public health and home health. it really amazes me how uneducated a lot of teachers are about employment as nurses. there are many adn's that work in public health and home health. there are many adn's that work in management...my don has a adn....

the following is from my notes from our first day nur 101 lecture.

lpn:

9-12 mo in length

basic, direct care.

0 assessment, 0 careplanning

cannot admit pt into hospital setting

able to do nursing skills, but cannot do advance unless has advance skill certification.

supervised by a rn.

nclex-pn

rn:

diploma- (very few programs compared to years ago, none available in state of maine), typically 3 year hospital based program. a lot of clinical experience. receives a certificate, not a university degree.

trained vs educated

adn- typically 2-4 years to complete.

began early 50's based on research of mildred montang, more than a lpn, but not 4-5 years.

bedside nurse.

nclex-rn

baccalaureate rn:

4 years in length. 1909 university of mn first. used to be 5 years in length.

has more sciences, liberal arts, humanities, nursing, statistics vs adn.

uses critical thinking skills more effeciently.

mgmt, leadership, nursing education discussion, more mobility options, more writing diversity.

nclex-rn

differences adn vs bsn: adn 'typically' unable to work as a public school nurse, community/home health, and typically unable to supervise.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

your instructor may just be uneducated on the role of the lvn. of course they can assess. you don't think we have rn's waiting around to do our assessments in ltc do ya. in a lot of facilities having a rn in the building more that 8 hours is a miracle. now in the hospital they are generally not allowed to do the initial assessment ,but after that they can do the ongoing assessment.

in fl, my professor said in the first minute of our assessment lecture, "lpns may not assess. that is one of the biggest differences between lpns and rns." i believe they also can't start ivs in florida.

[FinderKeeper]

Thanks, guys. I am checking out montana board rules. very interesting. Essay is due 10/17, will see how it goes. Meanwhile, AP is the theme of my life right now. Trying to understand the three intercellular connections...urghhh....Saladin's books are quite difficult to read....