LPN Practice Questions for NC LPN's

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

Given that I am new to North Carolina (have lived here now for just a year), I am trying to understand the scope of practice for the LPN level. I would love to hear from North Carolina LPN's that work in the acute care setting.

Please share with me the following:

1. Are you permitted to complete a shift assessment on your patient? If so, where do you document that assessment and is it called an assessment?

2. Are you permitted to update and implement/evaluate the plan of care for your patient? Or, does the RN have to update the plan of care?

3. In your hospital, does the RN have to sign off on your nurses note?

4. Are you permitted to do IV push medications? If so, are there any restrictions on the types of IV push medications you can do?

5. If you are permitted to push IV medications, does your hospital require any specific training or competency for you to do this? Is there an annual update requirement?

6. Can you take verbal orders, report and transcribe and sign off your own orders?

Thanks so much for your feedback. It is appreciated.

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

Was kind of hoping that we could get some response from any of the NC LPNs to these questions ... no takers?

[mhull]

Check out the BON website, it has a great area for what you can and cannot do. I work in an ER and the specific questions you asked sounded like "floor" questions. I have never worked the "floor" so I really can't help you much. I know we have be a witness for blood administration (with an RN or MD), give IV pushes (my hopsital lets me push almost everything except Digoxin, BON says no to thromblytics), etc. Let me know if I can help more.

http://www.ncbon.org/prac-inscope.asp

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

Check out the BON website, it has a great area for what you can and cannot do. I work in an ER and the specific questions you asked sounded like "floor" questions. I have never worked the "floor" so I really can't help you much. I know we have be a witness for blood administration (with an RN or MD), give IV pushes (my hopsital lets me push almost everything except Digoxin, BON says no to thromblytics), etc. Let me know if I can help more.

http://www.ncbon.org/prac-inscope.asp

Hi Michelle and thank you for your reply. We are having many questions about LPN practice as far as what they can do and what they can not do and I am heading a committee on LPN practice in my hospital. Have been to the website, but some of the practice related information seems unclear and I was interested in hearing from LPN's in actual practice.

The biggest question I have is whether LPN's can update the care plan and when they do a shift assessment, if an RN is co-signing this or not.

I appreicate your feedback.

[mhull]

I honestly don't know about the careplan. I have only worked ER so we really don't have care plans. Let me know if I can help anymore (or any less as in this case).

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

I honestly don't know about the careplan. I have only worked ER so we really don't have care plans. Let me know if I can help anymore (or any less as in this case).

Michelle - thanks for your reply, I do appreciate your offer to help.

Ok .... waiting on some other NC LPNs to help answer this question. Any faculty out there that might shed some light on this topic?

[FamosAmos RN]

Does anyone have a list of things specifically that a LPN can and cannot do in N.C. ? I have been to the NC BON website but an still not totally clear. Thanks.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

These are helpful:

http://www.ncbon.com/content.aspx?id=858

http://www.ncbon.com/content.aspx?id=892

http://www.ncbon.com/content.aspx?id=344

http://www.ncbon.com/content.aspx?id=674