Roles/responsibilities of LVNs???

caliotter3 · Mar 16, 2011

I would have a down and dirty talk with your immediate supervisor. Your questions are very appropriate and you need answers.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2011

So, my hospital is starting to hire LVN's on the floor. Yesterday I needed to cover an LVN for the first time. She can't take orders, note orders or push IV meds. I was with her patient all night! Mama mia! What are the roles and responsibilities of LVNs? And what are my roles/responsibilties as the RN? What happens if she makes mistakes or doesn't let me know what's going on with her patient while I'm with my 4-5 other patients? I just need to understand. Thanks ya'all!

The LVNs can't do an initial assessment as we can only do health data collection. We can start IVs but we can't push IV meds or hang medication. We can hang blood, nutrients and electrolytes. We can't draw from the picc-line. That's all I can remember, maybe someone knows something I don't. LVNs can note & take orders in the nursing home but it may be different in the hospitals.

As the RN it's your responsibility to know everything that goes on with the patients even if the LVN doesn't tell you. It's your responsibility to follow up with the LVN. It's also the LVNs responsibility to report to the RN. As a LVN I try to make it easier on the RN by reporting EVERYTHING to the RN. If I give a PRN medication I let the RN know and the effectiveness of the medication. Anything I report to the RN gets charted that I reported to him/her with full name and title. I had a RN that didn't want to receive report from me because I am "just a LVN". Well since our patients don't have IVs, picc-lines, don't receive transfusions, there really isn't anything that she can that I can't other than the initial assessment. Everyone is a team CNA, LVN, & RN. We need the CNA to help with the basic nursing care & ADLs. We need the LVNs to help with PO medications and we need the RNs to take the lead and do what LVNs and CNAs can't do. We all rely on each other.

If you're having to be in your LVNs patients the whole night then there must be something else going on that the LVN can't handle. The acuity may be too high and should be assigned to a RN instead of a LVN. Speak to your supervisor as it seems from what little you're saying is that there was more going on with the patients that is beyond the scope of the LVN. Good Luck

Oranges3420 · Mar 18, 2011

Wow: great reply. Thanks for the response. I'm going to talk to my manager about it tomorrow! I think you're right: they are assigning her patients with way too much going on!

laughing weasel · Mar 18, 2011

Like every other job there are gonna be people who know their stuff and those who should not be trusted with water pistols.