Is this within my scope?

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I have a question about LPN "scope of practice". Is it in the scope of practice of a Licensed Practical Nurse to be the first one to do an assessment on a client being received to a group home? I was told to do a head-to-toe assessment on a client who is coming for the first time on my shift. I am aware that RN does all initial assessments but what exactly does this mean? I will receive this patient and she will come the following day to do the initial assessment. I was told LPN receive and do assessments on clients all the time in the nursing home. I have never done this and I do not want to do anything outside of my scope of practice. I have contacted nursing board for a possible answer but was basically told to figure it out on my own. Please any advice.

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I have a question about LPN "scope of practice". Is it in the scope of practice of a Licensed Practical Nurse to be the first one to do an assessment on a client being received to a group home? I was told to do a head-to-toe assessment on a client who is coming for the first time on my shift. I am aware that RN does all initial assessments but what exactly does this mean? I will receive this patient and she will come the following day to do the initial assessment. I was told LPN receive and do assessments on clients all the time in the nursing home. I have never done this and I do not want to do anything outside of my scope of practice. I have contacted nursing board for a possible answer but was basically told to figure it out on my own. Please any advice.

These things do vary from state to state. In some cases, the LVN's initial assessment can be accepted if an RN co-signs it. In other cases, there is a certain amount of time to complete an initial assessment and an RN arriving the next day to do it might be fine. There are probably many more variables, as well.

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Thank you so much for responding. How do I figure out what the laws are about this for my state? I would like to know as much as I possibly can.

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I'm in the state of Georgia

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You would search for LPN Scope of Practice on your state's BON website. It will be laid out for you there.

In my last state, I was allowed to do first assessment as an LPN, and did it daily. I was also allowed to educate, admit, and discharge.

Once I moved to my new state, none of these things were allowed.

It's up to the individual nurse to make sure they know their scope of practice in the state they're licensed.

Good luck!

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Okay thank you so much. I will sure look up this information again. BTW which state was it that allowed all that? Just curious

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Okay thank you so much. I will sure look up this information again. BTW which state was it that allowed all that? Just curious

Missouri

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

In Oregon an LPN can do almost anything except hang blood and give IV push meds. My son is a resident care manager in a SNF who does everything but sign off on the MDS---he does assessments, care plans, wound rounds, and participates in state surveys among other duties. He is continuing his education because he eventually wants to be a nurse anesthetist, but for now he is getting lots of nursing experience (he started out as a floor nurse).

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Put your question in writing and send it to your Board. Keep a copy of the reply and provide it to your employer for them to incorporate it into their policies and procedures. If you do not get an answer, ask the RN to countersign the following day to cover yourself and make a note to yourself each time you do this. No cooperation from the RN? Consider finding a new job.

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The board of nursing basically said to look in scope of practice and figure it out. So nothing to incorporate into policy and procedures. I was hoping for that smh What do you mean by countersign. I work at a group home with a real basic documentation system called therapservices the company basically made what we are to document. I was asked to do a head-to-toe assessment but it'll be the first one ever done. I'm not sure if it makes it a initial assessment or not. So stressed I just want to know what my scope is and practice it

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A google search found

Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia

Rule 410-10-.02. Standards of Practice for Licensed Practical Nurses

(1)The practice of licensed practical nursing means the provision of care for compensation, under the supervision of a physician practicing medicine, a dentist practicing dentistry, a podiatrist practicing podiatry, or a registered nurse practicing nursing in accordance with applicable provisions of law. Such care shall relate to the promotion of health, the prevention of illness and injury, and the restoration and maintenance of physical and mental health through acts authorized by the board, which shall include, but not be limited to the following:

(a)Participating in patient assessment activities and the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the delivery of health care services and other specialized tasks when appropriately educated and consistent with board rules and regulations;

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My state Board provides answers to nurse questions regarding scope of practice. As a matter of fact, I seem to remember that on the website, they list a separate office to send such questions to. Often the Board will also write a position paper and publish that position on the website. One example that I remember reading in the past was about the RN responsibility to oversee the use of unlicensed assistive personnel. I find it unacceptable that the OP's Board said for her to "figure it out". Send them a written request anyway. Nobody will remember talking to you on the phone. Let's see if they send you a written reply over a signature to "figure it out".

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