RN student assigned to LPN???

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So I started med-surg clinicals last week and when assigned to my nurse I notice on the name tag that the nurse is an LPN as did most of the other nurses on the floor. The only RN I saw was the charge nurse. It seems strange to me that I am going to school to be an RN yet I am assigned to an LPN at clinicals. I don't understand how I am supposed to learn what an RN does if I'm not assigned to one. At previous clinicals I was with an RN. My question is besides pay what is the difference between an LPN and RN... The LPN I was with hung blood, started an IV, gave meds IV push and performed assessments on all the patients.. same as I have been taught to do.

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That's about everything an RN does. Usually LVNs can't push drugs, I think it depends on the state. It sounds to me like you're learning everything you should be learning as a student. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

You can learn more from a good LPN than a poor RN. The differences at the bedside are negligible. The other stuff (leadership and management) comes later in upper level courses.

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Specializes in labor & delivery.

We are always assigned to an RN, but I end up following the LPN because the RN's don't want to be bothered. I figured out very fast that I would learn more following the LPN, and they have been very willing to teach me. All the things I expected to learn, I'm learning from the LPN's--foleys, passing meds, tube feedings, dressings, charting, etc. In our program, once you finish block 2, you can sit for the LPN license exam. They have to do a lot of the same things an RN does. I wouldn't be too concerned. Best wishes!

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I am also an RN student and have been assigned to both RNs and LPNs and in my experience the LPNs have been much nicer to me, more caring toward the pts and happier to answer questions than the RNs have been. The RNs seem annoyed to have a student assigned to them. It's like they have forgotten that they were in our position before. I wouldn't worry if you are following an RN or an LPN. You'll still learn a lot from the experience:nurse:

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Like there is any real difference on how nice someone is based on title.

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I didn't say that it was based on their title. I just said in my experience it seems that the LPNs are nicer.

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It shouldn't matter, whether you are an RN or LPN student--the LPN still has more experience than you do and is defintely qualified to assist you

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When I started working at the hospital I was oriented by LPNs, they were very good. Just because they are LPNs, doesn't mean they don't have the knowledge. Here in IN, there are a few things LPNs can't do, but otherwise they do everything an RN does.

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I was assigned to an LPN yesterday and she was amazing! She was so nice and helpful, and she really knew her stuff. Even though I am in leadership clinical, she was definitely more than qualified to help me learn what I need to know. There were only a few things she wasn't allowed to do, like IV pushes, so I had to grab my instructor for those, but other than that, I was very happy with my nurse. She is going back to school to articulate into the RN program next fall. I wish her the very best!

Oh, and never underestimate the value of a good aid. As far as basic skills go, (like taking blood glucose or vitals or making a bed with a patient in it, etc.) you can learn a lot from them.

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Unless the nurse you are assigned to is very poor in conveying to you what you need to learn, I would not worry about it. It is better to be working with an LPN than to not be in clinical at all because your school can not find clinical placements where RNs are available to watch over students. To be quite honest about it, many of the RNs I worked with while in clinical placements could have learned a lot from the LVNs that I worked with. I did learn more from the LVNs at work than I ever did from anyone at clinicals. It just turned out that way.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

lpns learn the same principles of nursing that all rn students learn. when rn students are in clinicals they are doing basic nursing and not making nursing management or delegation decisions. those decisions are made with your clinical instructor because you practice under their license.

i don't understand how i am supposed to learn what an rn does if i'm not assigned to one.

what you should have learned by watching and observing this lpn was how to do these basic nursing procedures and follow good nursing technique. "you can learn something from anyone." (ucsd practical guide to clinical medicine: a few thoughts before you go -
http://meded.ucsd.edu/clinicalmed/thoughts.htm
)

i hired and worked with new grads as a manager. in school you will learn about leadership, prioritization, problem solving and delegation, but you will have little to no chance to practice it. that will come with your first job as an rn. it is stressful and you really don't want to rush into it. hospitals will not allow students to do these things since there is huge liability involved, mistakes are likely to happen, patient safety is a real concern and you need very close supervision.

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