LPN Job Duties

Published

Hi I am hoping to start nursing school this coming fall and I have been researching about LPNs and what they do. I see that it's more common for them to work in nursing homes and long term care facilities. If you work in those places do you change diapers? I plan to bridge to an RN program later but due to my financial situation it's just not possible right now. I would prefer work in an office or hospital setting. Will I be able to get a job in one of those places? What will the pay be like? TIA for all responses! I live in Oklahoma City if that matters.

Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.
...Some people are unbelievable. 

this is almost ironic

look at NOADLS years of experience which is a reference to Revelation 13:18

clearly a non believer

Up Vote Up Vote ×

NOADLs posts are all about how he is above changing briefs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

OP, I suggest you change your avatar and your user name. Allnurses is not private and future/current employers or peers may recognize you and that isn't always a good thing.

Re: Changing diapers....... briefs, please, would you like it if your nurse came in and said, lets change your diaper?

I have worked as a CNA, LPN and RN in a variety of settings and basic care is always part if that. No one is "too good" or "above" basic care. Your roles may change, and basic care may not be a part of your daily assignment, but basic care may be potentially a task you will need to perform.

Nurses who feel they are "above" that, in the work place may find themself at a direct disadvantage with co-workers. There is no respect for laziness, or someone "too good for basic care".

NOADLS apparently enjoys causing a fuss, and is not to be listened to. Personally, I feel that this poster(no adls) is probably not having a good work environment, if they "just watch" while others work.... sad

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

NOADLs, I can't imagine someone being as heartless as you seem to be. I was a CNA for five years before I got my LPN license and have been a LPN for 18 years. Not once have I *ever* felt I was too good to change a soiled brief or give a resident a bath or shower. Shame on you. What goes around comes around.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Please stop with the name calling. We encourage lively debate but debate the topic instead.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
OP, I suggest you change your avatar and your user name. Allnurses is not private and future/current employers or peers may recognize you and that isn't always a good thing.

Re: Changing diapers....... briefs, please, would you like it if your nurse came in and said, lets change your diaper?

I have worked as a CNA, LPN and RN in a variety of settings and basic care is always part if that. No one is "too good" or "above" basic care. Your roles may change, and basic care may not be a part of your daily assignment, but basic care may be potentially a task you will need to perform.

Nurses who feel they are "above" that, in the work place may find themself at a direct disadvantage with co-workers. There is no respect for laziness, or someone "too good for basic care".

NOADLS apparently enjoys causing a fuss, and is not to be listened to. Personally, I feel that this poster(no adls) is probably not having a good work environment, if they "just watch" while others work.... sad

I never said I had a issue with changing someone if necessary. I would just prefer it not be a daily thing. I was just wondering if the LPNs in nursing homes job duties consist of changing diapers or briefs on a daily basis. That wasn't my main question anyway. Most ppl just only responded to that part.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for responding everyone. I'm new here and I didn't realize that this question would be a problem. I wasn't looking to start conflict and meant no harm calling a brief a diaper.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Thanks for responding everyone. I'm new here and I didn't realize that this question would be a problem. I wasn't looking to start conflict and meant no harm calling a brief a diaper.

Understand that part of nursing is basic care; you will learn those aspects in your studies; a BIG part of nursing etiquette is to make sure you are preserving your patients dignity-you are dealing with humans in their most vulnerable state, even more so when working in vulnerable populations, what you see in Long Term Care (LTC).

Sometimes on AN you will get a wave of posters who want to be nurses, but then make an off the cuff remark about "changing diapers" or "not wanting to deal with poop"; they have no realm of reference and thing that nursing is "dealing" with undesirable things, and get hung up on it and don't realize it's a small part of what we do.

LTC, you will have occurrences of dealing with poop-especially if you have to give a suppository to help your residents have proper bowel movements, vomit because they are sick, and even wounds -ignoring changing or even cleaning up of failure to follow plan of care due to "yucky" smells or cleanings are grounds for neglect and jeopardy of your license btw-to confused residents that know they urinated, but decide to remove their brief and you might have to chase them down and put another one on them (it happens *shrugs*) is a small, small part of nursing; it's like second nature; depending on your facility you work in, you may find yourself assisting with more care; some places, not so much; you can never tell; it's best to anticipate those small aspects when you are working in a bedside position, or even as a supervisor-I STILL change briefs and help with cares as a supervisor.

I also suggest that you at least change your pic for anonymity; nursing is a VERY small world and some of your comments about not wanting to deal with poop got the backlash that it did; those posters can be your potential instructors and bosses; you don't want to make or break your future in this business with such an "innocent" misstep of your words.

Best wishes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Some LTC care facilities have different expectations of their LPN's. Some expect you to change diapers, some don't. Pick one that doesn't make you change diapers as there are a lot of them out there that won't expect that of you. And even if other nurses do pitch in, remember that if you aren't expected to, you don't have to. That's CNA work IMO.

LPN's and RN's are too good to change diapers. We have CNA's to perform those tasks as we are responsible for more important things which CNA's lack the training to do.

As a nurse, I never feel too good to help anyone. I have assisted in changing diapers in a nursing home as an LPN. A true nurse will help others who are helpless no matter what. True team leaders pitch in and help other staff as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for your feedback and I will take your advice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I have a charge nurse with her BSN. She still changes briefs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
Some LTC care facilities have different expectations of their LPN's. Some expect you to change diapers, some don't. Pick one that doesn't make you change diapers as there are a lot of them out there that won't expect that of you. And even if other nurses do pitch in, remember that if you aren't expected to, you don't have to. That's CNA work IMO.

LPN's and RN's are too good to change diapers. We have CNA's to perform those tasks as we are responsible for more important things which CNA's lack the training to do.

A good nurse is never above changing a brief.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion