Scope of practice

[LA_StudentNurse]

I am not sure whether this question has been asked and answered. But, I have noted that the LVN/LPN scope of practice varies greatly state to state. Example: here in Calif LVNs are relegated to LTC, home health, private duty, med offices. Virtually no acute care jobs are available to LVNs.

What say you? What are you authorized to do and where are you authorized to work in your state.:redpinkhe

[mlclove]

In Pa we can work pretty much where ever and do almost everything. The one thing we cannot do is push iv meds and I don't think we can do pic lines, but otherwise we're able to do everything an RN can.

[nursel56]

As an LVN in California you aren't prohibited from working in an acute care hospital. Or limited to only LTC, private duty, and MD office. The reason there aren't many LVN jobs in acute care hospitals is that they have phased out hiring them.

If you're thinking of moving, just got to the web site of that state's RN/and or LVN/LPN Boards, such as the http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/ Hope this helps!

[LA_StudentNurse]

As an LVN in California you aren't prohibited from working in an acute care hospital. Or limited to only LTC, private duty, and MD office. The reason there aren't many LVN jobs in acute care hospitals is that they have phased out hiring them.

If you're thinking of moving, just got to the web site of that state's RN/and or LVN/LPN Boards, such as the http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/ Hope this helps!

Ah, you want me to work--search the boards, etc. ...thought it would be enlightening to see what other LVN/LPNs are doing in other states. Clearly, there appears to be a difference.

[kat7ap]

The Texas LVN scope is fairly wide open. It basically makes it up to the employer to decide what LVNs are permitted to do in that facility. For instance in one hospital I work at LVNs do basically all their own IV pushes and hang blood products, draw from PICCs, etc. On my floor, generally the only thing we can't do is the initial assessment. The other hospital I work at doesn't allow LVNs to do any IV pushes (which we rarely get anyway) or draw from a PICC and we can't actually pierce the bag of blood but can witness and monitor.

[nursel56]

Ah, you want me to work--search the boards, etc. ...thought it would be enlightening to see what other LVN/LPNs are doing in other states. Clearly, there appears to be a difference.

Not really. . . .the main reason I posted that way was because I thought that if you believed LVNs were "relegated to Home Health, LTC" etc., and also used that as an example of a difference in Scope of Practice from state to state, it wasn't entirely accurate. When I reply to people I tend to include more info than not, with an eye towards whoever else might be reading my reply to you.

Sorry if you misinterpreted my intent! I'm sure you'll get many interesting replies! :)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I am licensed in three different states. My original licensure is from California, and I am also licensed in Texas (my state of residence) and Oklahoma (location of the school that I currently attend).

Out of the three licenses, I would say that California has the most restrictive scope of practice. The scope of practice in Texas is wide open, and the Oklahoma scope of practice is even more open.

For example, some of my classmates in Oklahoma are employed as LPNs in local hospitals in higher acuity units such as the ER, OR, surgery, med/surg, ICU, postpartum, and so forth due to the state's generous scope of practice. An LVN in Texas can still land a hospital job in units such as acute rehab, long term acute care, med/surg, and psych.

[LA_StudentNurse]

I am licensed in three different states. My original licensure is from California, and I am also licensed in Texas (my state of residence) and Oklahoma (location of the school that I currently attend).

[...] An LVN in Texas can still land a hospital job in units such as acute rehab, long term acute care, med/surg, and psych.

3 states...have you been involved with travel nursing? Which state do you prefer to practice in?

Keep warm and healthy :redpinkhe

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

3 states...have you been involved with travel nursing? Which state do you prefer to practice in?

Keep warm and healthy :redpinkhe

I've never done any traveling.

I prefer to work in Texas because of the wide open scope of practice, the reasonable cost of living, and competitive pay. California pay rates are competitive, but the cost of living is sky high in many parts of the state. Oklahoma has a low cost of living, but the LPN pay rates are deplorable. Meanwhile, I can have the best of both worlds in Texas.

[dixeechicken]

I'm in Central California and I work as an LVN in an ER. I'm able to do everything except push IV meds and deal with central/PICC lines. I start IV's, I give PO/IM/SQ meds and I'm able to do all other patient care. Our department is the only one in the hospital that employs LVN's.

[Music in My Heart]

here in Calif LVNs are relegated to LTC, home health, private duty, med offices.

There is nothing in the LVN scope of practice that relegates LVN's to LTC, HH, etc. That is the decision of the employers.

Virtually no acute care jobs are available to LVNs.

We have several LVNs working on our unit here in Northern California and I've got a buddy who works as an LVN at the Shriner's hospital in Sac. While I agree that there are relatively few acute-care jobs for LVNs, there are many more than "virtually none."

[LA_StudentNurse]

I'm in Central California and I work as an LVN in an ER. I'm able to do everything except push IV meds and deal with central/PICC lines. I start IV's, I give PO/IM/SQ meds and I'm able to do all other patient care. Our department is the only one in the hospital that employs LVN's.

What you describe is all within the LVN's scope of practice. I have seen a few acute care jobs for LVNS in Calif but they state the LVN must have had 3 years of acute care experience within the last 5 years.

:redpinkhe