How to work with LPNs on telly floor?

[Candy999]

Dear fellow nurses, as a new grad I would appreciate your help.

I am a new grad working on Med Surg/Telemetry. Staffing is an issue and more experienced nurses are leaving.  Now, we have only new grads and travellers with couple experienced nurses for the whole unit. Not so long ago our hospital started hiring LPNs. We have never had training how to work with LPNs.  LPNs are pretty independent, getting their own reports and taking care of their patients independently. The charge nurse usually assigns us LPN's patients that we need to hang IV meds. I am not very comfortable doing this.  So far, I had only had benign meds to administer, but I am sure that in the future there will be more dangerous meds. Technically, I can review LPNs patient info, but it adds to my already heavy patients load.

However, the main issue is that LPNs have never had Telemetry training, but they are taking telemetry patients. I am not sure if they are looking at the monitor at all, because they do not know how to read it. 

My questions is what should I do? If something happens who will be responsible and is there any "smart" way to deal with this issue. Considering that I can not leave at this point.

I would appreciate any advice and suggestion.

[Susie2310]

If I was in your position I would want to review the LPN scope of practice in acute care for my state, and also check the RN scope of practice/Nurse Practice Act and other related BON regulations in regard to LPN practice in acute care.  In my state LPNs' have a limited scope of practice.  LPNs' should be practicing within their scope of practice.

[amoLucia]

Also pull out a copy of their general job description and any job duties they may have at your facility.

[Susie2310]

I would add that I personally wouldn't hesitate to call my state BON to clarify exactly what my responsibilities are as an RN working with LPNs' in acute care (on a tele unit) along with LPN scope of practice in acute care.

[PoodleBreath]

I worked telemetry as an LPN but I also had my ACLS and am IV certified. The monitors were also at the nurse's station and we additionally had an ACLS telemetry unit assistant who did nothing but monitor the monitors and notify RNs/MDs of problems. LPNs did not make any decisions about telemetry patients, RNs assigned duties based on their assessments of what they were seeing, LPNs just carried out any appropriate nursing interventions as ordered by the RN. LPNs also did not administer IV meds, we just made sure they were infusing correctly and monitored for any adverse effects. It was a long time ago though, not sure if things have changed since then.