should a RN be a med tec for a LPN

[nowim clean]

My wife is a RN at a ltc facility and sometimes they will have her med tec when she does it is for a LPN, now I understand a LPN is never to be over or supervise a RN, so shouldn't the LPN be the med tec. My comes home and tells me how the lpn questions everything she does. I know as a RN even if you work as a med tec you are held to the level of RN, and where does the LPN come in to questioning the RN about treatment that was given? Thoughts please and I hope I hear from both LPN and RN.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I'm not sure I'm getting the bumping yourself down to LPN duties. Don't you all pass meds and take care of patients?

Guess I didn't say that right. Not really bumbing down, but into a different position. When we have a third nurse or extra nurse, 1 RN normally takes desk duties and acts as the charge/ supervisor. (we always have at least 1 RN on duty for all shifts) If there are 2 RNs..one would have to take a cart BUT lets say that the LPN might not be able to work the carts (I worked with one that sprained her ankle and really couldn't call off) I bumped myself from the desk and took her cart. LPNs are able to do just about everything the RN can, I just did the RN duties and cart.

What I'm trying to say is that nothing is beneath us or them...there shouldn't be an us or them in LTC

[debRN0417]

I have seen LPN's who are Unit Managers and RN's working the floor as the "charge nurse". It sounds weird, but in that case the Unit Manager was "in charge of the unit duites" but the RN was "in charge of the unit"...clear as mud???? The RN preferred the direct hands on care and did not want the unit manager duties. The LPN was not "supervising" the RN, the RN basically reported to the ADON, and the LPN reported to the RN and they really consulted each other ....it sounds crazy but it worked. However, that being said to satisfy the legalities of the whole thing...the LPN was actually the one who knew everything that was going on and exactly what to do about everything ( all the unit manager stuff and a great deal about the residents). The RN was very knowledgeable and professional as well but was really only part-time,and the LPN was better at "being in the charge capacity" because she had been there 100 years and ran a tight ship. The RN would do the assessments, though, and they both worked together to take care of their residents and had a great unit.