How do LPNs View themselves?

agldragonRN · Jan 31, 2009

hey i was just wondering something, guys. do you feel the role of lpns/lvns is to assist the rn in duties and help them out in any way you can, or do you feel more like an independent entity?

in ltc (nursing home), i do the same as the rn. my supervisor is an rn but i am not under staff rns on my floor. i have my own assignment and vice versa. i am working under my own lpn license.

i don't mind helping the staff rns(floaters) on my floor though if time permits.

cheers,

angel

agldragonRN · Jan 31, 2009

hey i was just wondering something, guys. do you feel the role of lpns/lvns is to assist the rn in duties and help them out in any way you can, or do you feel more like an independent entity?

by the way, why are you asking? i clicked on your profile and you are an er rn. is that what lpns on your floor do, just assist you in any way they can? are the lpns working under your license in er? please enlighten me as i am curious as to what lpns do or can do on different floors.

cheers,

angel

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2009

When I was an LPN I always had my own assignments.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2009

In the nursing home setting I feel like a separate entity from the RN. This is because no RN is physically in the building during the "off" shifts (evenings, weekends, night shifts), and nursing home LPNs carry their own patient loads. If an RN is in the building, it is usually the director of nursing, and she stays in the office.

caliotter3 · Feb 1, 2009

I work in home care under my own license. I see myself as an underpaid, undervalued nurse. Some of my clients demonstrate more respect for the unlicensed, uncertified people who work for them. I can't help that and don't care to change their mentality. There's no need for it. When I work in a facility, I see myself as part of the team, but I still work under my own license and make my own decisions about care. I cooperate with RNs and they cooperate with me.

lpnflorida · Feb 1, 2009

For the most part I am autonomous with my own assignment working under my license within my own Scope of Practice. I also help/ assist any Rn who needs help just as they do for me.

kermitlady · Feb 1, 2009

I am a nurse in my own right, working under my own hard-worked for license.

gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN · Feb 4, 2009

:yeahthat:, so many people see LPN's as over paid CNA's. Believe me, in LTC the RN's normally work the 7-3 shift. If you work 3-11 or 11-7 you are on your own. I make decisions everyday that are rarely overseen by anyone. I see myself as a NURSE, a team player, not as an assistant to anyone.

Lovely_RN, MSN · Feb 4, 2009

I only work weekends and there is only 1 RN (the supervisor). When I am on the floor I am the only nurse for 40 patients...I feel very independent.

I have my own license and if I make the wrong decision I will be the one to lose it or be disciplined.

Scope of practice says work under the supervision of an MD, DDS, or RN not under their license....people need to get that straight already. LPNs have their own license we do not work under anyone else's license...:wink2: Also I am not anyone's assistant...CNAs are assistants LPNs are nurses.

For example I sometimes work on a vent unit with an RN. We each have our own assignment and duties to perform. Since that person is an RN I if there is something that needs to be done out of my scope of practice then I need to let them know. In a scenario like that I would do some of their tasks to free them up to do the ones I can't do. That doesn't automatically make them my supervisor and they can't delegate their assignment to me (bet they would love that). There is still a supervisor and only she has the right to give me extra duties.

systoly · Feb 4, 2009

I see myself as part of a team and it is my goal to help out other team members in any way I can. I cannot imagine doing this job without help from others.

PMR1027 · Feb 6, 2009

I work on a subacute rehab unit in new york state- I work under my own license and do weekend and relief charge, on top of my patient load. RN's typically are charge/NM during the week, and are in supervision. The problem in NY is that LPN's are not allowed to assess because the state thinks we are no longer educated enough (And that is DESTROYING our health care delivery system, might I add!) and we do something called "Data Collection" where RN's have to make any and all critical decisions, based on the LPN's findings! (I'm sure everyone can see where that has the potential to go wrong, as well.)