Scope of practice-LPN

[RadBSN]

Does anyone have a good way to remember what RNs can and can't delegate to an LPN and in general what their scope of practice is? I have a good sense of what an NA can do, but since the hospitals I've been in don't really use LPNs in the acute care setting I'm need a little something to help me remember.

Thanks!

[sheila0313]

Don't delegate what you can't EAT! Evaluate, Assess, and Teach Are you trying to remember for work or the NCLEX? If it's for the NCLEX buy the LACHARITY delegation book.

[RadBSN]

I don't understand what you mean by this, clearly I won't delegate something that I wouldn't be able to evaluate, assess or teach. But, what can an LPN do?

NCLEX-this is in the NCLEX forum, I'm taking it Weds and honestly, don't feel like buying a whole new book. We don't have LPNs in the acute care setting in the hospital where I'm working-also where I did clinicals for the most part.

[sheila0313]

Trust me that's all you need to know to answer the questions, I took my test last week found out today I pass. When I get a delegation question I start crossing off the EAT answers, Example: An experience LPN, under the supervision of the team leader RN, is providing nursing care for a patient with respiratory problem. Which actions are appropriate to the scope of pratice of an experience LPN? (Select all that apply)

1.) Auscultate breath sounds

2.) Administer medications via metered-dose inhaler (MDIs)

3.) Complete in-depth admission assessment

4.) Check oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry

5.) Initiate the nursing care plan

6.) Evaluate the patient's technique for using MDIs

Okay, so the first listening to the patients breath sound is within the scope of pratice for LPNs, so pick this one. #2 administering medications, is within LPN scope of practice. #3 Copmplete in- dept admission assessment, like I said don't delegate what you can't EAT, LPNs can not complete admission assessments in the Nclex world. So get rid of #3. Next, #4 Check oxygen saturation using pulse ox, LPNs should know their o2 saturation values, so that is in their scope of practice, So pick #4. #5 Lpns can not do care plans in the Nclex world, so get rid of # 5. #6 Evaluate the patients technique, Don't delegate what you can't EAT, # 6 is not in the scope of practice for the LPN.

So the answers are 1,2,4

Hope this help, good luck!

[RadBSN]

Maybe the double negative is confusing me, but if you're saying "don't delegate what you can't eat" then you should delegate evaluation, assessment, teaching...

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

Maybe the double negative is confusing me, but if you're saying "don't delegate what you can't eat" then you should delegate evaluation, assessment, teaching...

Those are the things that you can't delegate to a LPN. LPN's generally cannot evaluate, do initial assessment, or teaching. Those three main items are what I saw on the NCLEX for delegation questions. Other than those three things, LPN scope of practice varies greatly from state to state and facility to facility.

[sheila0313]

Yea, maybe it is confusing. Worked for me. But I'll put it like this LPNs and NA can not EVALUATE, ASSESS, and TEACH. Don't give them that patient who requires evaluation, assessment or patient teaching. Give those patients to the RNs! So when you answer the question think I don't delegate a patient who needs to be evaluated to the lpn or na, or I don't delegate the patient who requires patient teaching to the pn or na. That's why it makes scense to me, Don't delegate EAT!

[lavender59]

Search on google the duties or responsibilities of lpn or lvn. You don't have to buy a book.

An lpn cares for stable clients with predictable outcomes.

[RadBSN]

Those are the things that you can't delegate to a LPN. LPN's generally cannot evaluate do initial assessment, or teaching. Those three main items are what I saw on the NCLEX for delegation questions. Other than those three things, LPN scope of practice varies greatly from state to state and facility to facility.[/quote']

That makes sense. Can LPNs do ongoing assessment of a stable client in the NCLEX world?

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

That makes sense. Can LPNs do ongoing assessment of a stable client in the NCLEX world?

Honestly...I'm not sure. In my NCLEX experience, it was pretty cut and dry, that if any kind of assessment was involved, it was not to be delegated and there was another, better, answer choice. Obviously, in the real world, that's not the case and LPNs are able to do ongoing assessments.

[lavender59]

After an initial assessment and plan of care performed by a rn, lvn could continue to do a head-to-toe assessments and report unusual findings to the rn.

[sheila0313]

Yes, that is correct. We were taught that in school.