LPNs Supervising RNs

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Specializes in LTC.

I am a "mature" RN who left the field of long term care after nearly 30 years. After several years off,I decided to return and took a job with an agency. My first day back was with a LTC facility and my job was to pass meds. I find that my direct supervisor, who was the unit charge nurse was an LPN. Back in the day, this would never have happened. I have always had great respect for LPNs but their area of practice was not equilivant to mine. I found it quite uncomfortable to digress to a young woman who frankly didn't know what she didn't know. I refused to carry out an order that I felt was a detrement to my patient. I felt I was within my scope of practice. My question is: Has this happened to any one else or has things changed so much that we now have LPNs supervising RNs.

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I am a "mature" RN who left the field of long term care after nearly 30 years. After several years off,I decided to return and took a job with an agency. My first day back was with a LTC facility and my job was to pass meds. I find that my direct supervisor, who was the unit charge nurse was an LPN. Back in the day, this would never have happened. I have always had great respect for LPNs but their area of practice was not equilivant to mine. I found it quite uncomfortable to digress to a young woman who frankly didn't know what she didn't know. I refused to carry out an order that I felt was a detrement to my patient. I felt I was within my scope of practice. My question is: Has this happened to any one else or has things changed so much that we now have LPNs supervising RNs.

That is unacceptable! LPN's are not equal and will never be to RN's and I would never work under an LPN EVER!!! I worked too long and too hard to be an RN and that to me is demeaning. Not only that, but LPN's should not be in supervisory roles especially in LTC. They are just there to give meds and do treatments and help the aides when needed.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

LPNs get the same exact education RNs do. Part of the scope of practice is different. They didn't learn anything different from what an RN would learn in school. I have a friend who is in an LPN program, her nursing books were the same as mine when I was in school. Yes, LPNs can supervise RNs. We are in a day and age where we need to stop thinking that LVN/LPNs are below those of us who are RNs.

Lady J, I find your post to be rude and demeaning and IGNORANT and I AM AN RN. I find it quite disturbing that after all this time, LPNs are still looked down upon as pieces of dirt in nursing. If you look at any LPN program, their books are the same as any RN program. They have to take A/p, pharmacology, microbiology. Their scope of practice is not that different than an RN's scope of practice.

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Specializes in LTC.

Lady JR, thanks for the reply. I agree with you completely. As a prior Supervisor I would never allow an LPN to charge. I was hopeing that this was not a new practice due to the RN shortage. This LPN also told me that ther are allowed to supervise Skilled Units ?????

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Specializes in LTC.

I have been an LPN for 14 years, much of it in supervisory positions - charge, currently weekend house supervisor, etc. While it's true that our scope of practice is slightly different, LPNs can and do make fine clinical decisions and in LTC have quite a bit of autonomy. I'm a nurse, I just happen to have different initials behind my name, for now.

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It is a violation of the nurse practice act for a LPN to supervise the clinical work of a RN, however there is nothing to legally stop a LPN from supervising the administrative work of a RN. Whether or not you actually consider a LPN to be a 'real nurse' (ANA doesn't), they are nonetheless an extremely important component of the healthcare team. Perhaps you should look at whether or not the role of charge nurse at your facility is one of clinical leadership or of (more likely) administrative leadership.

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LPNs get the same exact education RNs do. Part of the scope of practice is different. They didn't learn anything different from what an RN would learn in school.

While I can understand why LPN schools might want to ramp up their programs to be more similar to RN programs, isn't that doing a disservice to the LPNs who will feel cheated at having studied the same content and yet NOT receiving the same license? LPN training SHOULD be different (*clearly* different) than RN training or else there should be no difference between LPN and RNs in practice.

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Specializes in LTC.

Michigan RN thanks for the input. Could you please explain to me the difference in the scope of practice between RNs and LPNs. In my day they passed certain meds did some treatments and were always under the supervision of an RN. I just want to know what has changed since I retired from Nursing some years ago. And please understand I have no beef with an LPN. They are very valuable and I have the greatest respect for their talents

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LPNs get the same exact education RNs do. Part of the scope of practice is different. They didn't learn anything different from what an RN would learn in school. I have a friend who is in an LPN program, her nursing books were the same as mine when I was in school. Yes, LPNs can supervise RNs. We are in a day and age where we need to stop thinking that LVN/LPNs are below those of us who are RNs.

Lady J, I find your post to be rude and demeaning and IGNORANT and I AM AN RN. I find it quite disturbing that after all this time, LPNs are still looked down upon as pieces of dirt in nursing. If you look at any LPN program, their books are the same as any RN program. They have to take A/p, pharmacology, microbiology. Their scope of practice is not that different than an RN's scope of practice.

I disagree. RN's are taught more deeper assessment and leadership skills. I am an RN also and still wouldn't ever work under or for an LPN, end of story. LPN's don't have to take all the classes you listed, I know this because I was an LPN before I got my RN and yes there scope of practice is different. That is why we are called RN's and they are LPN's.:D

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Specializes in LTC.

SOP differs from state to state. In MO that means I can't do IVP meds nor hang blood.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
Michigan RN thanks for the input. Could you please explain to me the difference in the scope of practice between RNs and LPNs. In my day they passed certain meds did some treatments and were always under the supervision of an RN. I just want to know what has changed since I retired from Nursing some years ago. And please understand I have no beef with an LPN. They are very valuable and I have the greatest respect for their talents

It depends on the state. Some states allow LPNs to start IVs and give IV push meds.

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Specializes in LTC.
I disagree. RN's are taught more deeper assessment and leadership skills. I am an RN also and still wouldn't ever work under or for an LPN, end of story. LPN's don't have to take all the classes you listed, I know this because I was an LPN before I got my RN and yes there scope of practice is different. That is why we are called RN's and they are LPN's.:D

I took every single one of those courses in LPN school.

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