DeVonna32RN-BSN

That's not good! Does anyone know why? Just curious.

Oh my!! LYNDAA, I thought I was having flashbacks reading your post!! Very annoying, I agree!! I get irritated when one doctor decides he doesn't want to use Dr. X as his consultant on the case, BUT he wants you to call and cancel the consult and provide an explanation to Dr. X........ OR: When you have a patient that is crashing and burning.......the hospitalist didn't consult the intensivist or cardiologist when the patient was transferred........but then at when the patient is going into cardiac distress and needs to be emergently intubated @ 0100, no one wants to accept the patient...........ummm the last time I checked, if the patient dies, SOMEONE will be held responsible........and IT WON'T BE ME!!!!

Well Said Maremma!!!! I couldn't agree with you more!!!

So awesome!! I am getting ready to start a adult/gero ACNP program. Do you have any pointers or advice you don't mind sharing?

You are definitely not tripping!! However, I really feel like tripling in an ICU is unsafe. I worked at a hospital where it is not uncommon for the whole day shift staff and night shift staff to be tripled for weeks at a time.

That is sooooo unsafe!! However, I have experienced the very same thing in several places I have worked at.

Ok, so there was a topic I commented on a few weeks ago and I forgot the name of it. Anyways, one of the members on this site messaged me on facebook and asked if I knew what certifications an LVN could test for. I have put together the following list. As far as I could tell during my research, they are all legit. So to all of my fellow LVN/LPN colleagues, I hope you find the list interesting!! national federation of licensed practical nurses - IV Therapy and Gerontology developmental disabilities nurses association - Developmental Disabilities (DDS) prepared childbirth educators, inc. - Clinical Labor support Specialist (CCLSS) prepared childbirth educators, inc. - Certified Labor Doula (CD) prepared childbirth educators, inc. - Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC) prepared childbirth educators, inc. - Certified Prenatal/Postnatal Fitness Instructor The International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) certificate is offered by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) (http://americas.iblce.org/announcing-future-requirements) According to the IBLCE, "Beginning in 2012, all first-time candidates [to be certified as a lactation consultant] will be required to have completed the following education and clinical practice experience prior to applying for the exam: 90 hours of pre-exam education in human lactation and breastfeeding and ...be a [LVN]...Or have completed both of the following general education requirements:8 general education courses of one semester, or equivalent, in length [and] 6 additional continuing education subjects, and Clinical breastfeeding practice hours." national association for practical nurse education and service, inc. (napnes) - Certified Long-Term Care (CLTC) napnes - Long-Term Care re-certification napnes - Pharmacology Certification Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) www.nbchpn.org (The National Board for Certification of Hospice & Palliative Nurses): Hospice & Palliative Care The American Board of Managed Care Nursing (www.abmcn.org): Certified Managed Care Nurses (CMCN) The Certification Board of Urologic Nurses & Associates (www.suna.org): Certified Urology Associate The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (www.ncchc.org): Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP) Best Regards!!!

Dear Downsouthlaff: First of all, I would like to say I encourage you to do what you feel is BEST for you. I get sooooooooo irritated when society acts as if a LVN/LPN is not a nurse or as if those programs are not worth pursuing. I too, went the LVN route due to similar reasons. It was easier for me to stair-step my way through school since I had to put myself through school. I worked as a certified nurse aide & certified medication aide in longterm care for 6 years before completing a vocational nursing program. As a LVN, I gained a vast amount of knowledge and experience in geriatrics (which is our largest patient population in and out of the hospital), psychiatric nursing, and I have worked in every area under the medical-surgical nursing division. The 6.5 years working as a LVN were PRICELESS. I had experience as a fulltime hospital staff nurse, agency nurse, and longterm care nurse. There are skills and thought processes you will gain as a LVN that will benefit you tremendously as an RN. vocational nurses usually have impeccable hands on skills. When I completed my BSN, I didn't necessarily have to focus on learning patient care and figuring out my time management....I already had this is place. I was able to transition into critical care and progress very quickly in learning how to function as a RN.......I wouldn't trade it for anything. As long as there are sick people; there will be a need for ALL types of nurses. You have to make the decisions that are right for you; and not based off of what "the latest talk is about." I feel nursing as a profession should stop being so divided.....it is very common to hear talk about getting rid of LVNs or wanting all nurses in the hospital to BSN based..........I say, "Enough Already." We should be focused on encouraging others to join the profession. However, to each its own. If you desire to gain your RN, then do that; but if you have a plan on how to get there and still be in the field....then go for it! Male nurses are needed in all phases of nursing. Best Regards in all of your future endeavors!!

I am sooooo sick and tired of registered nurses that talk down to/about, and disregard LVN/LPNs as nurses. True their scope of practice is limited, focused based vs comprehensive, and primarily technical.........HOWEVER, they are nurses!!! LVNs, can be trained to do whatever their representing hospital deams appropriate or feel can be done within there scope. There has NEVER been anything in the NPA that specifically says LVNs are not to administer blood products. I worked 6 years as a licensed vocational nurse and during those 6 years I worked full-time at 2 different hospitals in different cities. The first hospital I worked at, LVNs could not give medications via PICC/CVC lines, could not administer any IV push medications and only monitored blood administration; but we could drop NGTs. The second hospital I worked at as a LVN was in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and my clinical practice was very diverse and different: I could draw blood specimens, administer IVP medications, discontinue PICC/CVC lines and even SPIKE MY OWN BLOOD!!!! Yet, I could not insert NGTs!!! Prior to being able to complete these task, I had to complete a specialized IV therapy certification class. With all due respect, each nurse is a different nurse with a different practice.......as nurses, we MUST know the guidelines and focus of our NPA in our state. I worked with many RNs (associate and bachelor degree prepared) who were unsafe and did know what they were doing. As a LVN I had a broader knowledge base and understand of nursing than MANY RNs that I worked side by side with!!!!! I learned that in many situations, RNs or those in and educational role, will make certain statements in an indirect way to keep LVNs "in their place." I cannot stress enough the importance of LVN/LPNs KNOWING and READING their NPA for themselves. If you have questions, contact your BON and clarify via them - take legal classes or do continuing education concerning your NPA. Yes, there is a difference in the scope or perspective of nursing practice between LVNs and RNs; however, there are very few technical skills that LVNs cannot perform. TO ALL LVNs: STAND TALL, PROUD, & KNOW YOUR WORTH!!!!!! As nurses we should bond together, not tear each other down because of varying educational or practice levels!!! There has always been a nursing shortage and it only getting worse -- THEREFORE we need ALL nurses (LVNs, RN-ADNs, RN-BSNs)!!!!!! The Standards of Nursing Practice (217.11) applicable to LVNs (as well as RNs) includes the following standards that specifically relate to medication administration: The Board's position, therefore, is that LVNs are educationally prepared to administer medications and treatments as ordered by a physician, podiatrist, dentist, or any other practitioner legally authorized to prescribe the ordered medication. LVNs may also administer medications and treatments ordered by PAs and APRNs as established under Position Statements 15.1 and 15.18, relating to nurses accepting orders from Physician Assistants (PAs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), respectively. As with other practice tasks, the Board cannot provide a list of medications, routes of administration, or other specific information that may be relevant to determining whether or not a task is within the scope of practice for a LVN. What is within the scope of practice for one LVN may not be within the scope of practice for another LVN. The following documents on the Board's web page may be helpful for a LVN concerned about his/her scope of practice for administration of medications or other nursing practices. 15.27 The Licensed Vocational Nurse Scope of Practice The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is authorized by the Texas Legislature to regulate the nursing profession to ensure that every licensee is competent to practice safely. The Texas Nursing Practice Act (NPA) and the Board’s Rules and Regulations define the legal scope of practice for licensed vocational nurses (LVN). The LVN scope of practice is a directed scope of practice and requires appropriate supervision. The LVN, with a focus on patient safety, is required to function within the parameters of the legal scope of practice and in accordance with the federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies, procedures and guidelines of the employing health care institution or practice setting. The LVN is responsible for providing safe, compassionate and focused nursing care to assigned patients with predictable health care needs. The purpose of this position statement is to provide direction and recommendations for nurses and their employers regarding the safe and legal scope of practice for licensed vocational nurses and to promote an understanding of the differences between the LVN and RN levels of licensure. BSN-CCRN, LNC Ranger College School of Vocational Nursing 2003 University of Texas @ Arlington 2009 Texas Tech SON: ACNP Program 2014 Medical-Surgical/Neuro ICU Arlington Memorial Hospital