ManNurse01

I am an LVN and I worked in a small town rural hospital, and I have recently graduated and have my RN. The question you ask will have many different answers for many different states. An answer that would most likely be true for all states is that (notice I said most likely, for all you na sayers) an RN is required to do the Initial assessment and write/print a careplan when a pt is admitted, and an LVN/LPN can not do this. However, LVN/LPN can do a focused assessment and chart their findings during the shift. When I worked as an LVN, the RN had to do a full assessment at the start of the shift and I would then do all the patient care and charting after the RN was done. The only other thing I could not do in my rural hospital was hang blood. However, I could monitor the patient getting blood for the RN. These two things were stead fast rules and most of the other common med surg nursing duties, I was allowed to do. There was some debate about IV starting and pushing IV Cardiac drugs ect.ect. but the Laws in my state are very gray on this fact. Now that I think of it my LVN school added an optional IV class at the end of LVN school so we could have a Certificate that said we had additional training to do IV stuff; because, our state board did not say we could or could not do IV stuff as LVN's,-they just said further education is needed (hence the gray area) The main difference is LVN/LPN are skill oriented nurses that do all the same physical tasks the RN does but LVN/LPN can not "technically" delegate assignments, educate patients and can not assess anything "Initially" as they have not taken classes such as advanced medsurge, maternity, ect.ect. The rationale is they did not learn about disease processes on the cellular level and can not detect early changes in patients when needed. However in the real world I have found that some LVN;s are more than capable. As a matter of fact I would rather have an RN trainer/precepter that was an LVN first. Why, they just seem to be more solid especially when it comes to physical nursing skills. I was not glad that I went to LVN school first until I went through the transition program and joined the 2 year RN students. I was shocked at how many did not know how to change a bed with a patient in it, or start an IV, some did not even know how to hook up tubing and start a pump, but after joining thier world it was very clear why. It was an academic marathon that they were running at full speed! They were academic Rockstars. From my experience an examle between LVN school and RN is; in LVN school they teach you how to administer 125ml/hr without a pump allthough they did not teach that in RN school they did teach about what was in those IV bags and how, what, when, and why, you would expect a Dr.'s order for one. It all worked out for the better because we put our ego's aside and they helped me in the classroom and I helped them in Clinicals. Win-Win relationships make Nursing School alot easier. I will however, miss differing to the RN when a tough or difficult call comes up. That being said the last difference between LVN and RN is the payscale because the LVN in a bad situation can say this is above my head and differ to the RN. The RN then has to take responsibility for the outcome! That's why RN's get more money than LVN's

GET'R DONE!

I will be graduating soon with my RN. I was a carpenter prior to going into nursing school. I allready have a job offer (knock on wood) I am an older Male and I am wondering if there is a gender discrimination issue here. Are these jobless new grad rumours true? I have heard stories but have not really investigated, due to the fact I have had my face in a book for the past 2 years. I guess I might be a Handy Man/Nurse in my near future. Possibly a Home Health/Home Remodeler all in one package. How's that sound ladies?

Hey Im into LVN program about 10 weeks, and I sat next to a know it all and she always narrorates what the teachers are saying. Very distracting not to mention very very annoying. I told the the teacher I had a hearing problem and asked to be moved to the front of the room. They knew I did not have a hearing problem; however, they knew of the situation and I believe they were happy to move me because of the way I handled it. The instructors are seasoned nurses, they are trained to be always assessing its second nature for them. My point being, if it is a legitiamate problem they know about it, because they are very observant and always assessing. Trust me they know what's going on in there classroom. Don't know if this helps, but man I know how you feel. Laters

I just purchased a Palm TX for 171.00 + 10.00 for shipping on E-Bay. The guy said it was an open box but un-used and he thru in a new 2gig palm memory card with it. Now I am looking for software. Thanks to all for the info on Programs. Think I am going to go with Davis but I am trying to get the book and software Palm software as a package. Can't find it anyone know where I can get it in a bundle?