LVN's/LPN's How does coverage work on your floors???

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 30, 2009

I am an LVN in California, busy surgical floor. Been there for 7 years total (4 as a CNA, 3 as an LVN) The charge nurse covers me for my piggy backs and pushes. They tends not to give me Direct admits or ER admits because the admission assessments need to be done and I cannot do them.
Just curious, because this past weekend I had a charge nurse who I have only worked with once before, and she was a real jerk about the whole thing!

When you ask about coverage, do you actually mean assignment distribution? It sounds like it to me when you speak of the situation; it seems that your question is more of what can be assigned to an LPN. If your scope of practice or policies do not permit you to do direct/ER admissions and cannot do piggybacks and pushes, then, the charge nurse is wrong. Or, it could be the way your floor practices, moreso than what is actually allowed. An example is this: I work in the OB-GYN clinic and while I know that I am allowed to administer Rhogam to patients, my clinic would prefer that I don't, which is different from the BON and policy and procedure. Maybe something happened where these particular RN nurses decided that they would prefer to do it themselves. I think that what frustrates some of the RNs is that they have a great deal of responsibility and feel that when they see the LPN, they see another nurse, but one that is limited in their scope. It doesn't make it right, for sure, but this is the vein I get. Maybe getting a bit more specific about what the charge nurse was gripping about can help us answer you better.

Experience has taught me to review policies and procedures and keep copies of them handy when needed. I have also contacted the BON and asked them for copies of their rulings on certain things and have them in a handy place at work. I have no problem in stating to anyone that I am not legally allowed to perform a task and if they are angry, there really isn't anything I can do about it without risking myself.

pink2blue1 · Jul 1, 2009

No, I know what my scope is and what can be assigned to me. But this charge nurse really had a problem covering me> I mean she had an attitude. USed the F word with me because one of my patients needed IV dilaudid twice the whole 12 hour shift. Said she hated being charge. Asked me when I was going to get my RN ( am currently working on it and it's really none of her business) She was just horrible. All the other charges I work with have no problems covering me. I also do not ask for any help from the RN's or the charge, other than my pushes. Anything that is IN my scope, I do independently. If I am asking for hlep it's because I can't get an IV start (I am IV certified) etc. Something that I turly need help with. So I was curious how other hospitals cover their LVN's

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 1, 2009

I had similar issues; one time a nurse asked me if I would administer meds through a central line. Never saw one before, and had a feeling it was not for me to do and she said "Well, I know that LPNs are not allowed to, but they do them" and I said "Well, I'm not because I am not allowed, have never been trained or inserviced". I can agree, her attitude sucked lemons; I mean, even if you are going on for your RN, you are not one today, so, unfortunately, she will have to give. Maybe she was just annoyed with being in charge overall? It does suck because the charge nurse takes the fall for the entire unit. Sorry this had to happen, and of course, best of luck in your studies!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2009

If I had a charge nurse who attempted to make me feel unwanted on the floor because I am an LVN, I would have tactfully called this person's bluff. I might have responded, "You seem upset about having to work with an LVN. Would you like for me to go home right now so you can do all my work for the rest of the shift?"

mama_d, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2009

My charges cheerfully do whatever I need them to. In return, I help out as much as I can with things like putting in orders, helping out other staff, getting hard sticks, etc.

I think I have a less limited scope of practice than you do; pretty much the only thing I can't do that is routinely required is IV pushes and spike blood. Not that it makes any difference; her job is to cover what you can't do, and she should without being a butt about it.

pink2blue1 · Jul 3, 2009

If I had a charge nurse who attempted to make me feel unwanted on the floor because I am an LVN, I would have tactfully called this person's bluff. I might have responded, "You seem upset about having to work with an LVN. Would you like for me to go home right now so you can do all my work for the rest of the shift?"

LOL!! I considered doing this, but I really really need my paycheck. I am afraid she would have said yes LOL!

pink2blue1 · Jul 3, 2009

My charges cheerfully do whatever I need them to. In return, I help out as much as I can with things like putting in orders, helping out other staff, getting hard sticks, etc.
I think I have a less limited scope of practice than you do; pretty much the only thing I can't do that is routinely required is IV pushes and spike blood. Not that it makes any difference; her job is to cover what you can't do, and she should without being a butt about it.

I have heard in California that we are governed by the board of Register Nursing. I did have to get an IV certification in order to even work as an LVN in my hospital. I would have gotten it anyways.

All of the other charge nurses on my unit are fine with covering me. There are certain RN's who will not even be charge because they don't want to cover the LVN. There are only 2 LVN's on our unit. I am always willing to hlep out anyone. Especially since the charge is doing my piggy backs and pushes. I will help with PO meds, IV sticks etc if the charge cannot because she is doing something for my patients.

I am working on my BSN but it most obviously is not happening fast enough! LOL!