LPN to RN bridge

[sweetangel82]

Hello everyone. I am taking my first transition class & I must say it is very overwhelming. It's a 5 week class & we have so many things to get done in a short time period. I have an assignment due & wanted to see if I could get anyone's help or advice. I have to create 5 clinical scenarios with different diagnoses & write about what the RN would do & what the LPN would do. I have to compare the roles for the RN & the LPN. I know this may not sound that difficult to a lot of you but I've only worked in nursing homes, Homecare, & hospice. I know what RNs can do that LPNs can't but I'm finding it hard to create 5 of these & know what the physician would order. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[TX.RN.Shannon]

First of all, good luck! School is tough!

These are just some ideas, so go easy on me.

Maybe patient needs PCA--RN has to set up and initiate. Patient needs blood transfusion--again, RN has to initiate.

Could always have a patient that crashes---RN responsible for notifying MD, running a code.

Conscious sedation for something like reducing fracture. RN actually giving meds, LVN helping monitor and record.

Don't know if this helps at all. Just some ideas.

[CrazyGoonRN]

I am not sure if it's the same in other states, but in TN in the LTC setting(I'm not sure about hospitals) only an RN can pronounce a patient as deceased. Once again I'm not sure about other states, but an LPN must be IV certified to place an IV but RN's are already certified as part of their training in school.