I'm doing some research on whether or not LPNs can work in labor and delivery. I am aware that each state is different and I have been to most of their BON sites, used google & bing, searched through their Laws and scope of practice for each state and NONE of them have really answered my questions. So here I am asking you guys to help me out a bit!
Here are the questions I'm trying to find answers to for EACH state...
Can an LPN assist in labor and delivery?
If so, what are the roles of an LPN in the delivery room?
Does an LPN need any kind of continuing education in order to assist in the delivery room?
If anyone has any links that would show me more information on this subject, it would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance for helping me answer these questions!
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
It seems the consensus is that some U.S. hospitals utilize LPNs/LVNs in mother/baby and postpartum areas, but not in L&D.
I think our Canadian LPNs north of the U.S. border might have a wider scope of nursing practice. I think some of them work in L&D. Hopefully one or more of them will see this thread and confirm of deny this.
Back in my day, an LPN could work anywhere in the hospital including L&D. Back in the 1980s where I worked, there was a push for the LPNs who were working in specialty units (ER, critical care, L&D) to go get their RN and the hospital offered tuition reimbursement. At the time, they were told they would no longer have jobs in these places and would be reassigned to a regular floor if they chose to remain LPNs. In the end, they were allowed to remain LPNs and nobody was forced out. However, they were replaced with an RN when they retired or quit. Many LPNs took advantage of this opportunity, some chose to remain LPNs. If I recall, at the hospital where I worked, L&D had an LPN back in the early 2000s and when she retired, she was replaced by an RN. This was in a hospital and state where LPNs were used to the fullest extent of their training.
I would imagine that there are still LPNs out there in L&D but it is the exception to the rule. The LPNs who are still employed in L&D are probably veteran nurses who have been grandfathered in due to their experience and will be replaced by an RN when they retire.
If you wish to work in L&D your best bet is to go get your RN. However, it doesn't hurt to call up the nurse manager of the L&D unit to show your interest in such a position. It may be possible that they use LPNs in some capacity. At the very least, it may give you an advantage when it comes to finding an RN position.
It all depends and plus it's who you know. I lived in Key west Florida and at that hospital they let LPNs work in labor and deliver Med surg. So it's all about who you know
I did a clinical rotation on an OB floor and watched a C-section. We were taught and exposed to everything the RNs were doing with the exception of IV pushes, so I have to think that it's in our scope.
There are several problems, though. For one, it's going to vary by state as to what the nurse practice act dictates that scope is. That, and most hospitals aren't hiring LPNs, let alone on OB floors.
Absolutely zero hospitals in my area hire LPNs, I thought it was so weird we did a rotation functioning in a role we can't work in.
Seasoned RNs have a hard time getting L&D jobs, so I feel like even the luckiest LPN would have a hard time.
In my experience LPNs worked in maternity in all the areas, mother/baby and L&D, a looong time ago, as they retired or died they were replaced by RNs only. I now don't know a single LPN working in L&D and don't think I've seen any jobs posted for anything in Maternity that wasn't an RN at minimum. A hospital near me has one NP. No LPNs though.
If so, what are the roles of an LPN in the delivery room?
Does an LPN need any kind of continuing education in order to assist in the delivery room?
I'm in Upstate NY. I use to work on a High-Risk OB/GYN unit. Occasionally I'd have to float to the Postpartum unit. Then it became mandatory for all nurses to cross-train to all units on that floor. Neither side liked it and many nurses left. It was an entirely different ball of wax coming from Antepartum/C-Section Postpartum going to L&D. After you were trained, you didn't get called to work L&D for weeks/months and be expected to remember everything. Coming from L&D to my unit was way easier (but the L&D nurses would be bored to death). CE credits were general & OB/GYN specific.
This was in the mid 90's. Currently that area is 98% RN (ADN, BSN).
I am an Lpn working in L&D and have for almost 10 years. There are only 7 of us. My job is labor support, RN support, triage, admission, start IV's, set up delivery tables and take them down. We have housekeeping but we restock the room. The OR is where we are most utilized. We are in charge of it and we scrub in for sections. I am in Wisconsin. Our hospital is the rare one where we have scrub nurses (Lpn) and flex nurses (RN baby nurse). They have been trying to get rid of flex for a few years now and I'm sure the scrub is next. What has saved us so far vs using a tech is we can do IV's, program pumps, hang bags and give meds, triage and admit. I have just given notice and will be starting in infusion soon. I will be watching to see how I am replaced. And no Lpn's in post partum. We all had to transfer to L&D years ago, before that we were cross trained. Once we got epic the Lpn was stripped down of what we could do. It is sad.
TheCommuter, BSN, RN
102 Articles; 27,612 Posts
It seems the consensus is that some U.S. hospitals utilize LPNs/LVNs in mother/baby and postpartum areas, but not in L&D.
I think our Canadian LPNs north of the U.S. border might have a wider scope of nursing practice. I think some of them work in L&D. Hopefully one or more of them will see this thread and confirm of deny this.