RN vs. LPN scope of Practice

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I am an RN who will be working in the Southern Tier area with in the next year although I do not and will not be living in NY. I have never worked in NY state before. I do have a NY license. I was wondering the difference in the RN vs LPN scope of practice. Can LPN's take t/o's? V/O's? Do IV push meds? TPN? Access TLC's, PICS, POC's and such? Hang Blood? Do admissions/24hr assessments? These things were not allowed by the LPN's in the last state I worked. What are the differences? I will need to know what I can and can not delegate. Thanks in advance!!

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Specializes in Psych.

I am a nursing student, so I am not sure about the exact scope of practice for LPN's, but I do live in the southern tier area. So PM if you have any questions about the area.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
I am a nursing student, so I am not sure about the exact scope of practice for LPN's, but I do live in the southern tier area. So PM if you have any questions about the area.

Thanks for replying! I will probably PM you in the future. I don't really know where too much is in the area. I can find Lourdes Hospital and the Oakdale mall and thats about it. I just got lost trying to get home ( I live in PA) from Vestal the other day. :lol2:

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

NY Nursing regulations available online:

http://www.nysed.gov/prof/nurse.htm

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Thanks, Karen!!

If anyone else was interested, here is what I could come up with on the site. (Taken from the site Karen listed above)


  1. What tasks are LPNs prohibited from performing? It is not possible to provide a comprehensive and exhaustive list of tasks that LPNs are prohibited from performing. In general, however, LPNs may not conduct a nursing diagnosis and may not conduct the assessment phase of the nursing process. In particular, LPNs may not:
    • perform triage services,
    • administer IV-push medications,
    • perform blood transfusions until satisfactory completion of a transfusion training program meeting criteria specified by the DOH and the SED and only when a registered nurse or a physician or other person authorized by law to manage transfusion reactions is immediately available on-site.

[*]Can a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) supervise medical assistants in giving allergy shots? No. Medical assistants are non-licensed personnel who may not legally administer medications to patients, by any route.

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