Please help me out with a delegation question

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · Jun 18, 2009

I'm a LPN and I'm able to insert a foley and do sterile dressing changes, delegated or not, among many other things. It depends a lot on the state you are in, as far as scope of practice.

callenRN1507 · Jun 18, 2009

i think lpns are trained to perform dressing changes as well as ostomy care..not sure bout cathetherization though..i think they can do that as well..

yesdog, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2009

This is a great question. My girlfriend just took the NCLEX and she had a bunch of questions regarding who is qualified. She also had questions asking what patient can a nurse take when floating to another unit ie ob nurse floating to a med/surg floor. She also had questions on types of precautions for difference situations ie Cdiff, TB RSV. She had a lot of meds too...that is what scares me!

Saunders (P. 76) says...

Nursing Assistant - noninvasive intervents such as skin care, range-of-motion exercises, ambulation, grooming , and hygiene measures

LPN/LVN - Can also perform certain invasive tasks, such as dressing changes, suctioning, urinary catheterization, and medication administration (oral , subcu, IM) according to the education and job description of LPN/LVN

RN - Can perform LVN/RN tasks and is responsible for assessment and planning care, initiating teaching, and administering medications intravenously.

Hope this helps!

beachbutterfly · Jun 18, 2009

This is a great question. My girlfriend just took the NCLEX and she had a bunch of questions regarding who is qualified. She also had questions asking what patient can a nurse take when floating to another unit ie ob nurse floating to a med/surg floor. She also had questions on types of precautions for difference situations ie Cdiff, TB RSV. She had a lot of meds too...that is what scares me!
Saunders (P. 76) says...
Nursing Assistant - noninvasive intervents such as skin care, range-of-motion exercises, ambulation, grooming , and hygiene measures
LPN/LVN - Can also perform certain invasive tasks, such as dressing changes, suctioning, urinary catheterization, and medication administration (oral , subcu, IM) according to the education and job description of LPN/LVN
RN - Can perform LVN/RN tasks and is responsible for assessment and planning care, initiating teaching, and administering medications intravenously.
Hope this helps!

This clarifies a LOT thank you,God bless~I printed out your answer!!!

g3stalt · Jun 22, 2009

Now my confusion rises from the fact the according to Lacharity book the LPN can not insert the foley.I know that I did some NCLEX questions and I believe I saw in them that the LPN can perform sterile dressing change but I'm also not 100% how valid is this source.

Read the book again because I've read the whole book 3 times and it says LPN can insert foley catheter..Also the performing of sterile dressing is correct, the LPN can do it.. except if it needs initial assessment by RN... Read the whole book again after reading Saunders so that you'll get the whole picture and you won't get as confused....

Innurse78 · Jun 22, 2009

The scope of practice between the LPN and RN is as follows:

ONLY delegate to an LPN- patients that are stable or have a predicted outcome. Never delegate any patient that needs teaching, assessment or evaluation. Those are only in the RN scope of practice here in Indiana.

If you keep those three in mind, you will be fine. :)

perfectly_4given · Jun 22, 2009

here... LPN according to Kaplan can be delegated to take care of patients with a known outcome.

PCA - nonchanging practice

if the patient is stable with a known outcome give them to the RN

RN takes patients who are - new , unstable, need NEW teaching, Complicated procedure, postop(newlely), pre op. for teaching reasons

LPN cannot teach new material but Can re enforce teaching

hope this helps

Innurse78 · Jun 22, 2009

here... LPN according to Kaplan can be delegated to take care of patients with a known outcome.
PCA - nonchanging practice
if the patient is stable with a known outcome give them to the RN
RN takes patients who are - new , unstable, need NEW teaching, Complicated procedure, postop(newlely), pre op. for teaching reasons
LPN cannot teach new material but Can re enforce teaching
hope this helps

Hi,

Just make sure you know your scope of practice STATE nursing Laws regarding the above and don't go just by Kaplan.

pers · Jun 22, 2009

Hi,
Just make sure you know your scope of practice STATE nursing Laws regarding the above and don't go just by Kaplan.

Actually, for the NCLEX going by state laws is a bad idea since scope can vary widely by state! In my state a CNA can insert foleys and administer meds in some cases while an LPN can do IV meds--which would all be big no no's on the NCLEX. Remember, the NCLEX is a perferct world and real world answers will often be wrong.

beachbutterfly · Jun 22, 2009

Thanks for all your great answers,maybe it was another book that gave a misleading information (possibly it wasnt a Lacharity one) it could have been other ones (I have so many) anyway things are much more clear to me ,thank you again for your time!! God Bless!!!!

perfectly_4given · Jun 22, 2009

agreed with pers