How to deal with nasty LPNs.

[arabella205]

Hi, I am fairly a new RN. In our floor we do team nursing. Usually in one team there is an RN, LPN and CNA. We usually get 6-8 patients per team. RNs usually do IVs, assessment, blood, orders; LPNs PO meds and CNA do the patient care. There are times that we don't get CNAs and we have to do patient care ourselves. If that happens I always try to delegate those jobs to LPNs because they usually have alot of free time (I usually help out after I finished all my RN responsibilities). Some of these LPNs have been there for a long time and they refused to do pt care (they only want to do PO meds) and they are usually pretty rude when I asked them. I am not a rude person and I tend to ask nicely. How do I deal with these people. I mean they can't just be giving PO meds and that's it, and I can't be spending half of my shifts doing patient care, while I could be using that time to do my RN responsibilities.

any advice? write them up? talk to my manager? be more in your face ***** myself?

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

Try all three.

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

as an LPN I would suggest talking to the LPN, suggest you split the pt care in half, passing meds & doing total pt care is unreasonable for anyone.

[RN1982]

Agree with that. Split the patient care btw you and the LPN.

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

i would attempt to talk to them first and tell them that they too are responsible for the patient's personal care and you'd like to either split it with them or approach that as a team as well. it is very unfair for you to have an 8 pt assignment and be doing primary care with the only exception of PO meds.

if they still don't improve, then i would involve my manager and make a complaint. i dunno how far you'd get getting in their faces if they're already disgruntled--it might make it worse.

[Batman24]

I do some patient care every single shift and I'm an RN as well. The LPNs shouldn't be refusing to do patient care but they also shouldn't be asked to do their job and the CNAs entire job when down one person. You need to take on some patient care as well. You could split it 50/50 or even 4 patients to 2 but it's only fair you help out as well when down a person.

If they continue to refuse to do patient care after that plan is in place then I would talk to your manager. They need to help out. No doubt about that.

[RN1982]

Do the LPNs have any other responsibility besides passing meds? Do they do assessments? They shouldn't be expected to do ALL the patient care of 6-8 patients.

[VAJenny]

Ya know things like this happen when ppl have been working somewhere for a long time. I would definetely talk to the LPN's if you are comfortable with that. They have to remember--we are all here to take care of patients--

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Why do you ask? Tell. If they answer to you as a part of your team give them their assignments. If they give you a hard time write them up for insubordination.

[dionnedillon]

no, u should not split it 50/50, if they are only doing po meds, have them do the bulk of pt care and u assist or take 1-2 of the easier pts. what a lot of people dont understand is that the rn is the catch all person, u have to be responsible for all other aspects of the pts care and they do not, u cannot be bogged down by doing pt care as your other duties will not get done. You as the rn will be held responsible, they will not.

[RN1982]

I can't believe that all the LPNs do is pass meds. They must have other responsibilities other than passing meds.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I can't believe that all the LPNs do is pass meds. They must have other responsibilities other than passing meds.

If that is all they do it is probably for more than just one "team" of patients.