Role of the LPN

Specialties Private Duty

Published

Specializes in Psych/Addiction/School.

Are LPNs allowed to do assessments in their home visits of personal care clients?

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Specializes in Psych/Addiction/School.

clarification: as a LPN supervisor the role is managing personal care assistants (PCAs) and their clients and one of the duties is to make 3 month home visits to do assessments on the clients and supervise the PCAs on things like hand hygiene. what are your thoughts on this?

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Those supervisory visits are completed by the RN supervisor at my agency.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
clarification: as a LPN supervisor the role is managing personal care assistants (PCAs) and their clients and one of the duties is to make 3 month home visits to do assessments on the clients and supervise the PCAs on things like hand hygiene. what are your thoughts on this?

Medicare rules require RN. Almost no state permits LPN to do assessments

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LPN's in our hospital do assessments. They are just not permitted to do the initial assessment. Not sure if its the same for you.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

LPNs in my state can gather data and do assessments, but they can't do initial or admission assessments.

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Specializes in Psych/Addiction/School.

Thank you so much for your responses. I just recently received an email from the Board of Nursing in my state and they said that the LPNs are not allowed to do assessments, they can evaluate but not do assessments. Finding this out I am considering resigning from my position to protect my license. Both the director of nursing here and my former manager who was an RN told me I could do the assessments and not to worry. The director just hired a new manager so I will train her then give my resignation. The sad part is I love my PCAs and my clients, they have been so wonderful, I will miss them dearly.

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A former (LVN) co-worker did admission assessments for one of her agencies, but they were signed by an RN. She was quite proud that her "skill" in assessment was valued by the agency. My thoughts were that it was her "gullibility" that was truly valued.

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Specializes in Psych/Addiction/School.

At my other job I am not able to do assessments, I can assist with gathering information but that's about it. Thank you again for all of your advice.

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