Scope of practice

[kfbris, BSN]

It is nearly impossible for a new grad to get a job in the Dallas area. I moved here 9 months ago and have

[Sour Lemon]

Are you from Texas? It seems LVNs have a pretty wide scope of practice compared to other states. In any case, what were you hoping to accomplish by starting this thread? I'm genuinely curious.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

We have a pretty wide scope of practice in Texas. More things here than what I could do in Iowa. If you look at the Scope of Practice of LVN's on the board's website, you will see that it is pretty wide open.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

Well there is what the typical RN thinks the scope of practice for an LPN, and then there is what the state says. Read the law in Texas. Nursing school is rubbish about teaching LPN scope and the NCLEX is even worse.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

In any case, what were you hoping to accomplish by starting this thread? I'm genuinely curious.

I could be wrong, but I sense a bit (a lot?) of sarcasm in the OP.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

The only caution I would give is to make sure that if you have not done something, to become trained on the procedure first. Pretty much the only thing we aren't suppose to do is Admission Assessment. Anything else is what the facility decides you don't do.

Actually Alex, around here, that is not the case. At least has not been my experience here in Texas.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

When I first started working as an LPN it was at a hospital in a state that has one of the largest scope of practice for an LPN, especially those who earned extra certifications post graduation (IVs, etc). In fact, if one did not get these certifications they were not likely to find a job.

One place would hire LPNs with the condition that they became IV certified within 6 months of employment. We had an LPN come from The Midwest and the difference between what she was allowed to do in her home state versus the new state that she just moved to was a complete culture shock. She grew into her role just fine.

And as another poster stated, what you have been taught about the LPN scope in nursing school is most likely a complete load of BS and will result in a lot of "eye rolling" responses from those who have actually worked in this profession for years. I went through an LPN to RN transition program at a school that had an LPN program/a bridge program/and an ADN program. The open lab time was open to all. We heard a group of first year RN program students discussing the difference in our roles and then one came over an asked us "You guys aren't allowed to do (fill in the blank for various issues), right?"....um, wrong. The state allows for a lot. The facility can either allow us to work within that scope or further tie our hands and run their RNs ragged. Their choice. Any hospital that didn't allow their LPNs to do their own IVPs always wondered why they couldn't keep their RNs. Then they later decide to change their policy and retention was much higher. Another one wanted RNs only to take verbal orders. The LPN would have to call the doctor with an RN ready to grab the phone for the order after describing what the issue was. That was always fun working shifts at that facility, especially if the order given now needed clarification and doc had already hung up.