What Floors Can Lpn Work? Helppp!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2007

In 2007, it is an absolute rarity to see an LPN employed in the ICU, or any critical care unit for that matter. The critical care units include the ICU (intensive care unit), NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), PICU (pediatric intensive care unit), MICU (medical intensive care unit), SICU (surgical intensive care unit), CCU (cardiac care unit), and a few others. The LPN's scope of practice is supposed to entail caring for stable patients with predictable outcomes, and critical care patients are regarded as unstable. However, there were many LPNs in critical care units in the 1970s and so forth.

Regarding hospital employment, LPNs can be found in med-surg, day surgery, postpartum, psych units, skilled nursing units, telemetry, and some rural emergency departments. Many hospitals have stopped hiring LPNs altogether, but this is purely regional. Most of the new grad LPN opportunities are found in non-hospital based settings such as nursing homes, rehab, home health, hospice, dialysis, and outpatient clinics.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2007

hello,

first thing when you post in all caps it is regarded as shouting. like the commuter said lvn's are a rarity in the icu. there are lvn's in er but it is my personal opinion that one needs experience first to build clinical and assessment skills. anyway, i have a friend that works in a cardio clinic and follows him to the hospital on rounds. most of the lvn's i know works in ltc, home health, rehab or hospice.

hello everyone!! i was wondering if any of you nurses can help with info.... i will be taking in november nclex-pn and was wondering what floors are we as lpn's are able to work on? i was interested in cardiac floors, icu and even the er.... 1) do you guys know if lpn's are able to work on these floors? 2) if so will it be too overwhelming to start with? 3)and salary base pay? i am trying to get as much info as i can...beacause it seems that trying to do so outside internet its not helping....and since many of you are already in the field, who best to ask!!! any advise is well received!!!! thank you all!!!!!

NARCAN · Sep 12, 2007

thank you so much for your reply!!! :idea:

kat7ap · Sep 13, 2007

My hospital hires LPN's in med/surg, telemetry, oncology, and mother-baby. However a portion of hospitals (especially depending on your area) don't hire LPN's at all any more or have LPN's in very limited numbers. Good luck - I think working in a hospital is the best place for a new grad to start.

neennernurse, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2007

I worked Telemetry right out of nursing school, as a GPN. Now in the ED, in "fast track"area. and main ER when short staffed I have found that hospitals trying to achieve "Magnet" status. Dont tent to hire LPN's. I had to leave my previous employer for that reason. Most LPN's in my area, work in Long Term Facilities, Rehab, Physicians offices, Home Health, and Hospice, and Psych.

You will have to remember our "pracitice act". That is why some hospitals dont hire LPN's. I know when i worked telemetry, I had a patient on heparin drip or any other continous IV , with protocol, I would have to have the RN titrate the drip for me, after getting the results.

Salaries are different depending where your living, and years of experience you have.

mississippi_lpn · Sep 15, 2007

I agree with the other ladies except I live in a small town in MS and here the lpn's are not phased out, LPN's can work in L&D, med surge, pediatrics, any floor in the hospital, except critical care. U can make more money in LTC, Home health, Hospice, Personal care Homes. It depends on where you want to work, Here you can work in mental health facilites and it pays well, Dr. offices. Pretty much in this town you have your choice of where you want to work. Thanks, Shirleyjt2003, LPN

I work in home health and i love it, i also work part-time as a charge nurse in a personal care home and i love it, i have worked in urology clinic and liked it. Pay is well in home health and personal care homes. I think med-surge is a great place for a new grad to start, you will learn all kinda of new things. : )