LPN's just glorified nurse aids in LTC? Huh?

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I recently had a couple of nurses tell me that LPN's are just basically glorified aids in LTC settings.

I though that LPN's did mostly the same work as RN's in the LTC setting.

I know that everyone needs to be a team and pitch in and get whatever needs to be done, done. But LPN's as glorified aids? Why go to LPN school then?

What are typical LPN duties in a LTC setting?

In Canada they are called "Registered Practical Nurses":o

Well, i've looked over this thread twice, i'm still not finding where someone said that an LPN is in charge of/over an RN.

We're well aware that the RN "outranks" LPN, and we're also well aware that the P in LPN stand for practical. Some of us learned this in the first week of school, after hearing "and there's always people there to point this out to you".

None of this means that LPNs are glorified aides (the Orig. Topic).

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I haved worked in LTC for several years. I can't even begin to recall all of the times that I have been the charge nurse with an RN on call at home. In my state their is really no limitations to what an LPN can do. I just interviewed fo a department head job, and at this facility our ADON, MDS, Marketing and Admissions are all LPN's. Chances are, someone needed to "feel" important when they made that statement. Let's face it, regardless of who is "in charge" we all need to be there for it to work.

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Okay, I'll put my two cents in.

I'm a charge nurse in LTC. Things are starting to change now, but for the past year I was the only nurse on my wing. That wing has 59 residents with various levels of acuity. I have one CMT who does the majority of the med pass. I do a med pass of my own at 4pm and 8pm to patients that have g-tubes, and for the meds that the CMT isn't allowed to pass...and a few pills in between that are time specific. I do several tube feeds, and a dozen flushes per 8hr shift. I have an average of 8 breathing treatments to be done twice a shift, and a number of treatments. There are all the flow sheets (treatment, behavior, pain, ADL's) and daily charting (new admits, readmits, antibiotic, skilled, incidents) along with anything that comes up during the shift. I round the the physicians when they come in, otherwise, when one of the four physicians we deal with calls back with orders from the problems that dayturn called in, I take those off. I do my glucoscans...I think I just have 10 of those now. And of course, there are the falls, the phone, the families, the visitors. Public relations is a big part of LTC.

When I have the time I'll catch a call light. If I'm in the area I'll answer an emergency light or get an alarm that's going off. I also try to feed a patient when I can, but that's a rare occurance. I also have 10 primary care patients that I'm responsible for doing a weekly full assessment on, and keeping track of labs and ppd's.

I'm not a "glorified aide". I have my own duties for which I am responsible, but I'm not above taking someone to the toilet or helping one of my four aides clean, change or transfer a patient.

I've never been asked to work the floor as an aide. In those instances when we're that short staff, the CMT is pulled to the floor, and another nurse called in to help with the med pass. There are a couple of nurses who will volunteer to work the floor on occasion.

Hmmm ~ must have been in a talky mood. I'll stop now.

Chel

This describes the responsibilities that LPN have in my facility in Virginia. (Recently moved form VA to SoCAl). We have LPN's who are unit managers. Whoever said that LPN's are Glorified aids is ignorant. LVN's are a untaped resource out there at times and especially with the nursing shortage. I dont see how and why some hospitals are doing away with LPN's. We have the ability to help the RN's out and work together to make our jobs easier.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

This is the way it is a my facility!

What is this nonsense?

I thought that LTC was one setting where LPN's even charge the units.

I know I did when I was an LPN in LTC, has this changed?

I remember the RN's and LPN's being interchangable in LTC, one charged and one passed meds. Some days the RN passed meds and I charged, it wasn't uncommon, especially if the RN wasn't familiar with the floor.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

I agree 100%

The schooling for some isn't nearly as long or expensive.

Becoming an LVN first affords the opportunity as a nurse, while going back to school (if one chooses to), which at some schools, also increases the odds of getting accepted to RN school.

Granted i know none of that is what this thread is about, but it's a problem to me when LVN education and title is refered to "as a waste of time".

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Hi

You mentioned not having any LPN's at your job. I've heard for years that LPN's will eventually not exist. I've also heard that some states want to train CNA's a little more and let them do meds. Have you heard any of that? Arizona hasn't done it yet.

It's nice to know that you like us.

RavenC

LPN

My previous place of employement in Canada was INCREASING the role of LVNs in the hospital setting when I left. Another facility at that time was attempting to eliminate all LVNs and have an "all" RN hospital :uhoh21: . Funny thing, this was done to entice Canadian RNs back to the city. It hasn't worked out they way they thought it would. When I started working in this hospital, I was a housekeeper and at that time they were fazing out nurses aides and replacing them with LVNs, at that time it seemed to me that Canada was behind the US in relation to utilizing LVNs in the hospital setting. I do feel that the lack of LVNs in the hospital setting in the US has to do with the almighty dollar.

I work in Michigan, I border hop to work. Most of the RNS that I have talked to that work agency at different hospitals tell me that most hospitals do not have them. I don't think LPNs will ever be entirely eliminated in Michigan. I hope hospitals in this area realize what a valuable source of skilled NURSES LPNs are and bring them back!!!

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I have worked in LTC as a LPN. LPN's in Florida pass meds, assessments, administer meds through IV's, and much more. The RN and LPN's duties as a charge nurse are the same. At my facility, a RN was not present at night. We take telephone orders, call doctors, and anything else that may arise. LPN's take care of midline and central cath's. We can give TPN if a RN is present IN THE FACILITY. We did not do it at the facility I worked at, but it is within the scope. The scope of an LPN in FLorida is different than some states. An LPN would not be used as an aide, unless it was an emergency situation. If that was the case, the RN would to. We have LPN's that make 20.00 an hour and up. Starting out at 16.00 with no experience. Last time I checked, CNA's were not making 20.00 an hour. (even though they deserve it to). The pay is different because we do different jobs!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Do you honestly think that a person can become an LPN in three months?? Have you ever seen what LPN's are responsible for?? Have you ever worked with an LPN?? When have you seen an LPN try to "outrank" an RN? Please, give your fellow nurses a little more credit. Remember, we're all in this together. :rolleyes:

CrazyPremed

HELLO............no 3 months is no where near long enough. I didn't make it up.

Roll your eyes all you want....the licenses mean different things and we are trained in different ways.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
THis is a grand example of a prevalent attitude and I attribute it directly to ignorance-Ignorance of the LPN's education and scope of practice. ...If you go to that website you'll see that they help you find ways to get credit for all of your previous accumulated professional experience, career licenses and certifications-they want to help you earn credits through "non-traditional" methods...No one is going to become an LPN in 3 months.....Sheesh-most LPN programs in this area are 18months-ADN is 2 years-By your logic I could say "Gosh-I don't think I'd want someone with so little education taking care of ME in an acute care setting...."

Spare me...they "find ways to get credit for all of your previous accumulated profession experience???" ...right...lots of non nursing experience? The LPN programs in this state are 11 months...not long enough...

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

ps...some states use med techs...we're not allowed to use them here in Massachusetts. I'm not sure how long they go to school, but with the sick people we're getting these days and all the ASSESSING that comes with it......I'm taking my vitamins so I can stay healthy when I'm old. By the time I need care someone will be able to hand out meds after a week long class

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
HELLO............no 3 months is no where near long enough. I didn't make it up.

Roll your eyes all you want....the licenses mean different things and we are trained in different ways.

3 month LPN program....

Still haven't found this yet..............:rolleyes:

Can we please have a link to this 3 month program? Thank you.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
ps...some states use med techs...we're not allowed to use them here in Massachusetts. I'm not sure how long they go to school, but with the sick people we're getting these days and all the ASSESSING that comes with it......I'm taking my vitamins so I can stay healthy when I'm old. By the time I need care someone will be able to hand out meds after a week long class

Vitamins are best derived from food.

Take too much or too many vitamins could cause a health problem.

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