Nurse distinction in nsg homes..rn and lpn

[RNOTODAY]

How does it work in most LTC/nursing homes re: a RN and an LPN.

I mean, assignment wise, do they make a distinction between the two?

Like, do LPN's take charge and RN's take an assignment?

I am curious, because at the nsg home I take per diem shifts at, there is no distinction btwn the two. But I heard another Rn say its not like that elsewhere....and I am wondering how different it can be.

This is a new world to me, and I want to know if this place is good, or bad!!!

[pepperann35]

How long have the LPN's been doing that? And where are you?

It is changing here. Within the past two years a lot of stuff LPN's were doing in LTC has been taken away by DON's trying to bring their facilities more in line with the legal scopes of practice. Since LPN's can not assess it's impossible for one to truly be charge and they are slowly being replaced with RN's as positions (and RN's) become available.

I am a supervisor (LPN) in Florida. We do assessments,in fact I do many of the admission assessments and check over all of the admissions when I am there. I have been an LPN for 18 yrs.

[pepperann35]

It is very interesting to here what LPN's can and cannot do in different states and facilities. Thanks for the info.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

1. State Board of Nursing regulations determine scope of practice --see link on grey toolbar at top to find your state regs if you have not read them recently.

PA state BON licensure regs for LPN's are restrictive too compared to Texas, Fla, Ohio.

2. State Board of Health regs determine who can be an Administraor Director/Assistant DON of long term care facilities and SNF's in most states.

PA restricts title to RN.

3. SNF's that accept Medicare and Medicaid funding must also follow those regulations requiring RN coverage certain # hrs/day.