LPN Job Duties

[Hoping2BeANurse]

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.

[pookyp, LPN]

Every time I see noadls post I pay it no mind. I think he/she says these things to rile you guys up. And yes, there are ppl that are like in the workplace. You can sometimes smell them from a mile away.

[Biosciencegeek]

Every time I see noadls post I pay it no mind. I think he/she says these things to rile you guys up. And yes, there are ppl that are like in the workplace. You can sometimes smell them from a mile away.

Amen. We have new nurses that come in (from other states) and the very first question they ask is, "Like,do I need to help with changing briefs or peri-care, and if so, how often? I'd rather not if possible." First off, use your grown up voice in the workplace and don't talk like a valley girl! You are supposedly educated. Second, WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?! From that moment on, they are a walking "bulls eye" with the CNAs. Sad it has to be this way, but we have enough work to do with our patients. I'm sorry everyone, but this subject grinds me worse than anything else. When I'm licensed, there's no question that I will get right down there with the CNAs and do what it takes. In my state, you HAVE to be on the CNA registry through an accredited program before you can even apply to nursing school. LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN, it does not matter. It should be that way everywhere. Period.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Every time I see noadls post I pay it no mind. I think he/she says these things to rile you guys up.

Your point is salient and right on the mark. It would be great if people ignored or failed to acknowledge outrageous posts from the negative attention seekers. However, we're just feeding their egos and giving them the attention they crave with each outraged response we bestow upon them.

While some members are getting fired up, the attention seeker is probably laughing at the screen.

[duskyjewel]

In my state, you HAVE to be on the CNA registry through an accredited program before you can even apply to nursing school. LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN, it does not matter. It should be that way everywhere. Period.

I completely agree with you.

[daydreamgapeach]

I am an LPN and I also work with RNS and Tech's on a busy high acuity neuro unit. I am not too good to change a diaper, give a pt a bedpan or assist them to the bathroom. Our RN's do the same things. we help our techs out because they are busy too. Also, just as the other nurse stated, we must assess our pt's skin and how can you do this if you don't do some hands on care? You mentioned the CNA telling you what the skin condition is. Do you get your lung sounds from the respiratory therapist or do you listen to them yourself? We are responsible for our own pt assessments and cannot take anyone elses word for it. It's our license. Furthermore, if you are too good to change a diaper or clean up a pt, then you are in the wrong business. How would you feel if you were the patient and your nurse felt that she/he was too good to change your diaper and the CNA was too busy to come right then? I guess you would lay there in your dirty diaper for a while. I appreciate the techs/CNA's that work with me and I am not too good to help them out. We work together as a team.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

How would you feel if you were the patient and your nurse felt that she/he was too good to change your diaper and the CNA was too busy to come right then? I guess you would lay there in your dirty diaper for a while.

Plenty of patients lay there in soiled briefs for a period of time while their nurses spend ten or fifteen minutes hunting down a tech/CNA to perform the clean-up. It's not right, but it happens far more than we'd prefer to admit.

[SDALPN]

CNAs are nursing assistants. That means they assist the nurse with nursing tasks that a less trained person can do. But they are still nursing tasks. They still require supervision. But in the end, its still the nurses responsibility. Just bedside they are less trained, doesn't make them less of a person. I was a CNA before becoming a nurse and that has made me a better nurse. If the CNA does a bad job at cleaning the pt, you are still responsible if there is skin breakdown. Sometimes that means going behind the CNA and doing the job right. And its obvious when we work with nurses that don't want to do tasks like that. Those nurses aren't well liked and don't hold jobs long.