usmalenurse

I decided to go back to school at 38 for my RN. I was an EMT and CNA and had worked in the ER for 7+ years. It took me a total of 4 years to get the preregs and complete the RN program but I worked full time nights in the ER while going. I would think you could easily get the preregs out of the way in 1 year if you can devote more time to your studies than I could. My hospital experience certainly helped me get a spot in the program a little quicker and the experience definitely helps in both the classroom and the clinical areas. As for the math...it is not that difficult, I had to take a couple of math classes because it had been so long since I had any dealings with fractions, etc. that were on the placement tests. Good luck... Charles

Our ER is staffed with 5 nurses per shift and all are RNs so if an LPN is pulled to help cover the unit they are never alone. We've been told that an LPN cannot assess the patient but the patient is assessed initially by the triage nurse who is an RN so I don't think this is an issue. Our med-surg/telemetry unit is usually the unit we have to pull from and approximately 30% of the nurses are LPN's so we don't always have the luxury to be able to demand that an RN be the one that goes to the ER. It's just frustrating when you are told you "can't leave the ER staffed with only 4 nurses" but then you are told you can't let them use an LPN when that is sometimes the only option on weekends or holidays when part-timers aren't available. Then you're told by another person that "sometimes you just have to do the best you can and if all you can send is an LPN then they can either use the LPN or be short-staffed." I don't know of any specific policies that address this issue in our facility except they will not hire an LPN for an ER staff position. Thanks for the replies and look forward to more... CEH

Would like any info regarding liability or role functions of LPN's that are pulled to work in the E.R. Our E.R. is short-staffed from time to time (what else is new?) and occasionally LPN's are pulled to the unit to help. We have conflicting opinions regarding this issue from administration (again, what else is new?). One V.P. (E.R. is one of her departments) says we are absolutely not to utilize LPN's in the E.R. and must pull RN's only. The other V.P. (whose departments are being pulled from) does not have a problem with LPN's being utilized in the E.R. We have several top notch LPN's that do a great job in the E.R. but I am concerned over the conflicting viewpoints and would like to know if anyone has any experience in the area. Specifically, the liability issues that we supervisors face if we do let LPN's go down to the E.R. and what role the LPN can play in the emergency room.... ie: take bed assignments or prn help only. Thanks, CH