In VA, what can a RN do that an LPN can't

[Wannabeeinscrubs, ADN, LPN, RN]

In your experience, while working in VA, what can a RN do that an LPN is not allowed to. I know all states are different, but have heard that VA is pretty open, vs. California which the LPN's scope of practice is very limited.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Did you review the Virginia BON website? Virginia Board of Nursing Guidance Documents

Much is facility-specific, but look at 90-23 in the link I provided:

Decision-making Model for Determining RN/LPN Scope of Practice, adopted by the board September 24, 1996, revised November 18, 2003, revised September 11, 2012

Where I have worked in Virginia, LPNs could not push meds, do initial assessments, or hang blood.

[as2633]

It's hospital and unit dependent. At my facility, LPN's weren't allowed to take doctor's orders or push meds.

[ak2190]

In my facility, they cannot push meds, hang blood, or tpn, or do initial assessments.

[VANurse2010]

Virginia gives broad latitude to facilities for LPN scope of practice. I'm not aware of any enumerated list of can/can't do procedures for LPNs in Virginia.

[Wannabeeinscrubs, ADN, LPN, RN]

That is what I am learning, every facility has their own rules.

[KellyRN2013]

Every facility has their own rules but there is a scope of practice for LPN's in Va. A lot of hospitals do not hire LPN's anymore. Pretty much a LPN can't perform an initial physical assessment, can't push IV meds, can't hang blood or chemo, can't assess port a caths and that's pretty much it. I was a LPN in VA before obtaining my RN license and I worked home health and did everything the RN's did except admit and discharge the patients but I dealt with PICC lines, medi balls, wounds, wound vacs, IV lines, removed sutures, suctioned trachs, removed IV lines, drew blood from PICC lines, administered injections, drew blood, etc. I did a lot in home health so it's pretty much just reading the scope of practice and then each facility has their own rules BUT you have to make sure its still within the scope of practice in VA!

[VANurse2010]

Every facility has their own rules but there is a scope of practice for LPN's in Va. A lot of hospitals do not hire LPN's anymore. Pretty much a LPN can't perform an initial physical assessment, can't push IV meds, can't hang blood or chemo, can't assess port a caths and that's pretty much it. I was a LPN in VA before obtaining my RN license and I worked home health and did everything the RN's did except admit and discharge the patients but I dealt with PICC lines, medi balls, wounds, wound vacs, IV lines, removed sutures, suctioned trachs, removed IV lines, drew blood from PICC lines, administered injections, drew blood, etc. I did a lot in home health so it's pretty much just reading the scope of practice and then each facility has their own rules BUT you have to make sure its still within the scope of practice in VA!

There are no rules that say an LPN can't access ports or push IV meds. It's up to the facility and the RN delegating (whether directly or abstractly as a director/manager).