Scope of Practice--RN LPN CNA

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

I'm a new nurse to Florida, but not a new nurse. I've recently endorsed my license and have been wondering about the differences in scope of practice among nurses in FL as compared to my previous state (MO). There, the basic differences in RN and LPN were that RNs could initiate blood but LPNs could monitor the infusion, RNs were required to do admitting assessments and initiate the plan of care but LPNs could monitor and follow, LPNs were required to be directly supervised by an RN or physician, and RNs could give IV push meds but LPNs could give piggybacks (with some limitations) after an IV therapy course. In MO, CNAs are certified but I recently heard someone request a "license" from a CNA here in FL. Are they licensed as nurses are?

I've found the BoN website to be about as useful as a ton of bricks and about as easy to get through. I'd hate to be in the work environment and delegate something that I shouldn't. Can you help me figure out the differences here? Thanks!

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Specializes in LTC/TELE.

I know its a pain in the rear but the BON will be you're best resource.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i would ask your facility for their scope and P&P. finding the FL RN/LPN nurse practice act is rather difficult, the DOH website is as you said, as useful as a ton of bricks.

ALL health care providers in florida are required to hold a license (CNA, EMT, PCT, radiology, paramedic, LPN, RN, etc, etc, etc) and it is public knowledge on the FL dept of health website--so be careful which address you use, bc they might put your home one on there!!

welcome to the (not so sunny lately) sunshine state! :)

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

I'm not currently employed, although have been looking, so don't have a P&P manual to consult. From what I've managed to glean from the "rules" section, it seems that all the limits I'm accustomed to are in effect here as well.

Interesting that CNAs are considered licensed personnel. And thanks for the heads up about the address. I just did a search and discovered my home address there for all and sundry to find! Yikes! Any way to get that suppressed? I'm not terribly keen on having that listed as public information and searchable.

Thanks for the welcome. I grew up here and remember monsoon season very well. It's quite a shock for my family, though, who thought they were coming to the sunsine state!

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
I'm not currently employed, although have been looking, so don't have a P&P manual to consult. From what I've managed to glean from the "rules" section, it seems that all the limits I'm accustomed to are in effect here as well.

Interesting that CNAs are considered licensed personnel. And thanks for the heads up about the address. I just did a search and discovered my home address there for all and sundry to find! Yikes! Any way to get that suppressed? I'm not terribly keen on having that listed as public information and searchable.

Thanks for the welcome. I grew up here and remember monsoon season very well. It's quite a shock for my family, though, who thought they were coming to the sunsine state!

i know for me as a LPN, some of the things i cannot do are initiate or titrate critical drips (such as insulin, levophed, dopamine, etc...) only resume and monitor after the RN checks it, cannot draw blood from a CVC or access an infusaport, cannot do an admission physical (only ongoing assessment and history), cannot push most IV meds except in an emergency, cannot initiate a blood transfusion (can witness and monitor) and cannot be charge nurse (really sad about this one, lol) or follow the assignment of another LPN. it's really not so bad here, actually.... the limitations in other places are much greater.

CNA's are still considered UAPs, i think florida just uses licensure instead of certification so everyone's name is in the database and available to the public and employers, and that way they can track the CEU's/CME's... everyone, regardless of what you do here, has to have them.

as far as getting your address off the database, maybe temporarily put your practice location as where you were previously working? it's better than having your home address out there on the web. part of me wishes the state didnt do that, it's really not necessary. i dont want some yahoo knowing where i live... and actually, if someone really wanted to get me, they could just find where i work too.

what part of FL are you in?

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

Thanks, Allison, I appreciate the info. From what I've read, it doesn't seem any different from MO in terms of scope of practice.

I'm in Jacksonville, looking for a job. :D

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
Thanks, Allison, I appreciate the info. From what I've read, it doesn't seem any different from MO in terms of scope of practice.

I'm in Jacksonville, looking for a job. :D

have you checked out the mayo clinic? they usually have a few openings. we looked at moving there before we came back to south florida.

good luck on your job search!!!

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I am a New RN i work at a dental office as an assistant ive taken nitrous course U of F my boss has asked if I could give Oral injections for local injections and or start laughing gas. I am not sure, does anyone know ?

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here is a link to the florida nurse practice act:

(don't know if the link is active in this format, if not, you can copy and paste into your browser's address pane)

it is a many-page pdf document

[color=#0e774a]www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/info_practiceact.pdf

:nurse:

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