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Posted this on the LVN thread but didn't get any replies...

Is it common or possible for an LVN to work in the NICU? I'm clueless as to what is in their scope of practice. If so, what are their limitations? I'm in California by the way.

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Specializes in interested in NICU!!.

does anyone know about lpn's in texas in the nicu?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
does anyone know about lpn's in texas in the nicu?

i live in dfw, texas (the dallas-fort worth area). in the state of texas, basic nurses are called lvns (licensed vocational nurses), while the vast majority of other states refer to them as lpns.

i have never heard of any lvn working in any of the hospital nicus around here. most of the lvns in this area who have hospital employment are doing med/surg, rehabilitation, or inpatient psych. if an lvn in this area has worked in the nicu, it probably occurred many years ago.

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Specializes in interested in NICU!!.

thanks, i just referred to 'lpn's' since i've noticed that the mojority use lpn, i live in texas too, in amarillo♥, and i was just wondering about lvn's working in the nicu. thanks for your reply once again!

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Specializes in M/S, Tele, Sub (stepdown), Hospice.

Thanks for all the replies & discussions....good info!! :redpinkhe

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Specializes in NICU, Peds, Med-Surg.

Hi, when I was an LPN, I worked NICU (from 1994-2000) and LOVED it! Technically, the NICU was an "all RN" unit, (and still is) but there were never enough RN's, so they trained those of us who were interested. It helped that I also worked in regular newborn nursery first. They started us out with the least sick babies, and gradually, we could take sicker babies if they knew we could handle it. We did NOT start IV's, give any IV meds, draw labs, care for babies on vents, but I did occasionally take care of babies on C-Pap, and took care of many many babies under oxy hoods. We could also care for a baby on IV fluids, we just had to get the RN to hang them....

I hope you can work in a NICU---the RNs I worked with were WONDERFUL mentors and really appreciated us being there!

Your chances might be better if you started in a newborn nursery--although many hospitals don't have those anymore....

Or if you could work in mother-baby/ couplet care/ post-partum and prove yourself there......maybe they'd let you cross-tain into NICU.

Some people think mother-baby is a BREEZE, but *supposedly* healthy newborn babies and their Mommies can "go bad", too! :crying2:

Good Luck!:nurse:

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Specializes in NICU, Peds, Med-Surg.

I should add that there are still LPNs working in that NICU, but they have been there for yeaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrs!!!

If we hadn't moved, I probably would've stayed at that job and still be lovin it! I may not've gone back to school,

either! :nurse:

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