Tentorio2002

LPN stands for Licensed Practical Nurse. We are licensed nurses who provide bedside care to the pt much in the same way as a Registered Nurse, but we have a smaller scope of practice and are not allowed to perform some tasks (transfuse blood, perform some IV pushes, perform the initial assessment, and hang high risk medications, among other things). We work under the supervision of a doctor, dentist, or RN. Hope that answers your question, feel free to email me if you have more :-)

I live in Tennessee, and work at a large teaching hospital in Nashville. I have asked how it is that LPN's can circulate there, and the answers I got varied from "that's the way its always been" to "anesthesia does the meds and assessments for the most part". My understanding is that since all the charge nurses are RNs, the CRNA's are RNs, and there are loads of attendings and residents running around, its ok. I've never been asked to do anything outside my scope either scrubbing or circulating. Thanks for all the encouraging words everyone, it is much appreciated.....you're right, its getting better every week

I'm a new grad LPN working as a circulator/scrub in a large teaching hospital. Most days I feel like I've bitten off more than I can chew for my first job as a nurse, and I constantly feel inadequate. I'm in month 3 of a 6 month orientation period, but some days I don't tink I'll make it that long. I'm really just venting.....any positive thoughts are appreciated.

For people who have dedicated their professional lives to performing a role of compassion there seems to be an awful lot of petty snipping in this thread. Instead of bragging about how much money has been made, how about bragging about how many lived have been saved or how many have been made comfortable while dying? Maybe this is an overly altruistic look on things, but a little humility mixed with genuine concern can go a long way. Ok, my turn to be attacked I guess

Hey all, I'm currently an LPN student working as a tech (they call us Care Partners) at Vandy, and there are opportunities for LPN's in places other than the TVC (clinic). Vandy uses LPNs in subacute, neurocare, utilization review as well as in the OR to scrub/circulate. Granted the majority of LPNs are in the clinic, but there are other opportunities available.

I'm currently a fist quarter LPN student and this very topic was addressed the other day in class. Our instructor informed us with the nursing shortage being what it is, and with it only getting worse, LPNs will be utilized more than before. The TN state board of nursing recently ammended the nurse practice act here for LPNs to allow them to administer IVP meds, as long as certain criteria have been met (no chemo, titrations, must be iv certified, etc...). I think this is evidence of LPNs being given more responsibility, a larger scope, and hence more job opportunities. Regardless of this, there will always be a place for LPNs..... Good Luck!

During my time in the ER, I worked with LPN's and RN's both......I always thought it was kind of interesting that the majority of the LPNs could run circles around the other nurses.

Sounds like my job as a tech in the SICU, with the exception of the impaction removal. I was always taught that digitally removing an impaction can potentially cause a vagal nerve reaction, not something you want with a pt who has cardiac issues. Being a CNT before becoming a nurse will not only help with your knowledge base, but it will help gain the respect of the techs you will work with as a nurse. People who work their way up have a better appreciation for their non-licensed co-workers, and vice versa. That's been my experience anyway. Good luck in your pursuits! --D

sounds like a bad place to be i think sometimes nurses forget why they got into it in the first place glad you didn't best of luck

If you're currently in school you might want to try to get a job on that floor now as a PCT/CNT/CNA or whatever they're called where you're from. Oftentimes Nurse Managers will hire from within, even a new grad. That's the route I'm taking anyway. I'm currently working in SICU at a level 1 hospital, and normally they require "x" years of experience, but I've been promised a job there on graduation........just a thought good luck