LPN/LVN Nursing Home Floor Nurses? RN Charge Nurse?

[downsouthlaff, LPN]

Hi everyone. I work in a nursing home/SNF where we LPNs are the only Nurses present in the facility on 3pm-11pm and 11pm-7am as the RN/DON works 8a-4p. As LPNs we complete all the admits, body audits, med administration, nurses notes, skilled documentation, assessments etc. But I work at a small 90 bed rural facility. I have a friend who I graduated Nursing school with who works at a religion based nursing home at a small city nearby our area. It's a 150 bed nursing home. She works 2pm-10pm as an LPN. So I asked her how she is handling all the stress of the admits and evening shift rush. She said she doesn't, and that her facility utilizes an RN Charge Nurse on every shift and they do admits , body audits, physician orders, make CNA assignments Etc. While the LPN sole responsibility is med administration and skilled documentation and weekly nurses notes. This sounds like an awesome well staffed facility with a less overwhelming workload. Does any other LTC LPNs work at a facility that follows this model and how does it work for you guys?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I started my career as an LVN on the 3 to 11pm shift at a facility whose only RN was the DON. I did my own assessments, paperwork, and so forth.

When I became an RN four years later, I secured employment at a different facility that utilized 24-hour RN coverage in a charge nurse role. I hated it, and so did the LVNs. I assume the other charge RNs disliked the role because this facility had a high turnover rate of charge RNs.

In addition, the RN charge nurse might lack competence in the LTC/nursing home setting, which may create more work for the LVN. Another problematic issue arises if the RN charge nurse is lazier than normal.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Interesting,does an RN have to co-sign the LPN's assessment when they are next in the building? In my state an RN must do the admission assessment.

[Tired nurse]

The states and places I have worked is usually RN supervisor, 1 LPN for 30 or more people some skilled. RNs in LTC are a joke they are the boss who will not work the floor. But insist 1 LPN can do it all. But gives no respect to that nurse because they are not an RN because apparently only high priced RNs are worthy. Such BS.