LPNs Giving Shots

Barbara Rose · Sep 30, 2000

I did as an LVN and they still do in Texas. What do LPN's do in Canada?

alyciaboo · Sep 30, 2000

i was an lpn here in nj for 2 yrs and yes we did give shots. that is one basic nursing practice, what are you allowed to do? lpns here, for about a year or so, are now allowed to start ivs. on my floor- a telemetry unit- we use lpns for many duties, some basic ones that an lpn cannot due are admissions assessment, push iv meds, receive phone orders from docs and a few more. their limitations are getting less and less though the rn is ultimately responsible.

fireandice · Oct 1, 2000

LPNs in my facility are not allowed to give IVs or IMs. They should be allowed to do it 'coz they were being trained to do it. Why train people, waste their time, not to mention waste money if they will end up not using what they were learning at school?

JulieW · Oct 1, 2000

At my hospital in California, LVNs do everything their scope of practice allows, which includes IM injections.

ktwlpn, LPN · Oct 12, 2000

Originally posted by nikkitodd:
Just curious - do any LPNs out there give shots?

Some of you may be surprised by exactly what LPN's may do...you need to see the scope of practice document for your state...can be found on the web.We are often under-utilized-.Talk to your adminisration-in order to be a valued part of the workforce -and especially now with the nursing shortage -we should be doing all we have been trained to do.In Pa I am not permitted to give I.V. push meds or hang blood..

pickledpepperRN · Oct 12, 2000

Originally posted by JulieW:
At my hospital in California, LVNs do everything their scope of practice allows, which includes IM injections.

Same here. LVNs can do most procedures under the supervision of an RN or MD. The RN is responsible for the assessment, plan of care, and evaluation of that care. In other words the RN formulates the care plan in consultation with the LVN. I have worked with LVNs who are smarter than me and as knowledgeable in their area of experience. This does not mean they have authority under the law. The problem arises with short staffing or floating situations when the abilities of the LVN are unknown to the RN. Most interventions can be assigned to an LVN who must (as does anyone) decline to accept an assignment he/she is not competent to perform.

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[This message has been edited by spacenurse (edited October 12, 2000).]

sparrow · Oct 14, 2000

In West Virginia, LPN's are allowed to do everything except give IV push drugs and take telephone orders and assess patients (these last two are just plain dumb in my opinion - they hear as well as I do and can be just as astute in assessing a patient). No doubt they can be just as compent in delivering IV push drugs when taught. As an RN, I feel they are severely under utilized. I learned more about being a real nurse when I was in nursing school from the LPN's than I did from the RN's!

iris · Oct 14, 2000

I'm an LPN working in an hosp. out-pt setting. I give IM, SC, intradermal and I do phelebotomy. I also triage and assess new pts.

Angiegirl42 · Oct 15, 2000

I am an LPN. I was trained quite thoroughly on the procedures for administering injections in my PN program. Some days I wish I was paid per injection instead of hourly. :-)

meinmein · Oct 15, 2000

I am an LPN orginally licensed in IL currently on a travel assignment in CA. In IL injections were part of the medication curriculum in our school and a responsibility of the LPN on the floor. I've worked in many states and in many different units including the military. And I am always surprised going to a new place at how different each state and each hospital is. You have to be aware of what is in your scope of practice for the state in which you are working. In IL we did not do IV insertions, give fluid or hang blood products. In NM we did nearly all that the RN did in on our Telemetry/subacute unit. Assessments, IVs, all IV fluids(including vasopressors), all blood products, gave any drug in the ACLS protocol in a code situation. We responded to all in house codes, floated to the ICUs and took patient assignments(yes, vents and pressure lines and drawing from central lines and a-lines too). And of course we were trained and worked under direct supervision of the RN and MD. Here in CA, I insert IV caths but cannot give fluid of any kind. As I mentioned, you need to be aware of the scope of practice and remember, the rules are constantly changing.

marcialpn · Oct 15, 2000

Originally posted by nikkitodd:
Just curious - do any LPNs out there give shots?

I am an LPN in Connecticut and we give shots SC and IM. We can also take MD orders over the phone. And with additional training we perform IV management, although we can't do IV sticks. I am also an EMT-I and I can start IVs but can't give SC or IM injections. Can't figure this out. What are some salaries of LPNs?