Is there a chart of how the job task duties differ

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Is there a chart of how the job tasks/duties differ between RN/LPN/PCT/CNA?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Duties/ scope of practice will vary from facility to facility and state to state and country to country. Your best bet would be to examine the policies and procedures manual of where you are working.

What duties/tasks each position is allowed to do is very different in different places.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

loriangel is right.......it varies.....Is this for school?

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Not for school, I am trying to figure out the difference between the three. I had made the decision to go to school for LPN, work a few years and then do the bridge program. Now everyone and their brother is telling me all sorts of different things, like LPN's don't do anything "more" than PCT, and hospitals are hiring them rather than LPN's and PCT's are paid better. I have also been told not to waste my time and money on LPN, that CNA's do the exact same job and if I want to be a "glorified butt wiper" to go ahead and take the 5 week CNA class. I am starting to think I should have kept my stinkin' mouth shut until I got accepted into a school.

I just want to figure out what I would be doing at each job, and if the time and expense of going straight to RN is justified in the starting pay. Just a little confused and annoyed, hoping for clarity.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Again it really depends on where you are working. LPNs certainly do more than CNAs since they are nurses but in some areas their scope is severely limited.In some areas there is a move towards LPNs just working in LTC with hospitals phasing out the hiring of PNs altogether.

I can do assessments give IV meds, access PICC lines and hang blood.In many places PNs can't do any of those things.

You need to remind those people that RNs wipe butts too.

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Just keep in mind some hospitals (some, not all) are phasing out LPNs or aren't hiring them at all.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

That is not true. Although the previous posters are right, the job description varies based on the facility, state and country. LPNs work under the supervision of an RN or physician. LPNs are trained to assess, but RNs are responsible for (in most cases but again it varies) for the initial assessment. LPNs, like RNs, are trained in administering medications, but in most areas they cannot administer IV medications or hang blood products unless they have received additional training. The pay is better for an LPN compared to a PCT. LPNs are usually given patients who are stable with predictable outcomes.

It is true that the job market is tough for LPNs, now. It's tough for RNs, as well. A lot of places are beginning to phase out LPNs are prefer an all-RN staff. LPNs typically work on LTC settings and clinics, but they can work in other places, too. We have some LPNs working in our fast track ER.

PCTs are responsible for very basic care of patients. Typically, their duties include assisting in patients with their hygiene needs (bathing, AM/PM care, mouth care, denture care, assisting with dressing/undressing), intake and output, feeding patients who need feeding, helping patients with their toileting needs (assisting them to the bathroom or helping to clean up incontinent patients), taking and recording vital signs, checking blood sugars, ambulating patients, foley/colostomy care, etc. They get paid less compared to LPNs especially for the amount of work they do. PCTs are the backbone of nursing! And let me say that the duties of a PCT definitely fall within the duties of an LPN and RN; however, these are tasks that can be delegated to a PCT. Nothing irks me more than an LPN or RN who says that wiping someone's butt isn't their job. :banghead:

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

It really does vary.Where am PNs do not "typically" work in LTC. We have PNs in every department of our hospital except the ICU.Hanging IV meds and blood products is part of our in school training, not special training obtained afterwards.I do not work " under" an RN. I am responsible for my own patients, my own license and my own care decisions. If I make a mistake it's on my head and no one else's.Where I work the PNs outnumber the RNs.

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Where this is @loriangel? Sounds nice!

In my state we are more limited. I can start IV's in certain places only, can barley hang anything of importance, and no PICC lines allowed ever. So we are phased out of hospitals here unless your in a rural setting or you were grandfathered in.

I have worked in LTC and clinic (and I wipe a lot of butts still, a lot of my dressing changes are on the behind and I clean them up very well before starting) and that's mostly where PN's work here. Jail jobs are fantastic IMO but they are hard to come by these days. I have also seen PN's in the hospital sponsored urgent cares as well.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
Where this is @loriangel? Sounds nice!

Ontario Canada.

But scope varies within Canada as well.

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Specializes in L&D.

You can also go to your BON website and see what tasks are OK for RN, LPN, AP.

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What is a BON?

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