What do RN's do that LPN's can't?

[bear94, BSN, RN]

I'm leaving my job at a big ER to work at a smaller one close to home. The staffing on a daily basis where I am going to work is 1 RN, 2 LPN's, and a tech (float RN and house supervisor RN available when help is needed). I'm curious to know what kind of patients LPN's usually take care of on their own, as the ER I worked in previously didn't have any LPN's. I tried to look up comparison lists of an RN's scope of practice and an LPN's scope, but came up short. What I have gathered from research on here is that LPN's cannot start IV's, administer IV medication, or hang blood products. Is that all that LPN's are not permitted to do? Or are the things I listed even correct? I live in Illinois if that makes a difference.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

You may need to simply look up the scope of practice for the RN and then the scope of practice for the LPN if you don't find a comparison table. However, the other thing to keep in mind is that facility policy can be much more restrictive than scope of practice.

[bear94, BSN, RN]

You may need to simply look up the scope of practice for the RN and then the scope of practice for the LPN if you don't find a comparison table. However, the other thing to keep in mind is that facility policy can be much more restrictive than scope of practice.

Thank you for the suggestion! I tried doing that also. I found material, but it was a little hard to fully understand. Also, I'm aware facility policy can greatly vary! At the big hospital I have worked at, LPN's were classified no differently than CNA's.

[Archerlpvn, LPN, LVN]

I think That in literally every state an LPN can start a peripheral IV line, with or without a certification on an adult patient. Now whether or not an LPN can administer medications or certain solutions through an IV access is completely state dependent. In my state of Oregon, we can place peripheral IV lines and administer many medications and solutions via infusion, and IV push through peripheral lines and central lines and Same with WA state. Other states like California, allow LVNs to administer natural solutions with no medications via infusion, but not direct push, through peripheral IV lines on adult patients with an extra certification, they can also transfuse blood and blood products via PIV, but cannot touch central lines for any means. It really varies a lot! Oh and RNs in every state perform comprehensive assessments, whereas LPNs at most can perform focused assessments. Some states don't even allow LPNs to perform focus assessments. Some states like California call it "data collection." That's another major difference.

[jdstga]

Hi, I have been a LPN for about 15 years in two states (MA/NH) and have worked Med/Surg, LTC and out patient ambulatory.

On my Med/Surg floor I could hang blood, load & operate PCA pumps, start/maintain IV lines push most IV medications, daily dressing changes, wound care, caths, EKGs, bladder scans and more. The biggest difference we found on the floor was I could take, write and carry out the verbal order however I could not sign off the order in the chart (paper chart days) I could not be change nurse, but having an RN charge nurse allowed me to take admissions, and complete head to toe assessments.

It the LTC setting I could be charge nurse/supervisor, maintain and pull PICC lines, take,write, carry out and sign verbal orders, administer medications scheduled and PRN and complete head to toe assessments just no blood products because not something LTC usually does.

Now as an ambulatory care nurse I can triage both in person and on the phone, along with the other things mentioned.

I did need to take extra classes, get certified in the IV, blood products and triage.

[Archerlpvn, LPN, LVN]

Hi, I have been a LPN for about 15 years in two states (MA/NH) and have worked Med/Surg, LTC and out patient ambulatory.

On my Med/Surg floor I could hang blood, load & operate PCA pumps, start/maintain IV lines push most IV medications, daily dressing changes, wound care, caths, EKGs, bladder scans and more. The biggest difference we found on the floor was I could take, write and carry out the verbal order however I could not sign off the order in the chart (paper chart days) I could not be change nurse, but having an RN charge nurse allowed me to take admissions, and complete head to toe assessments.

It the LTC setting I could be charge nurse/supervisor, maintain and pull PICC lines, take,write, carry out and sign verbal orders, administer medications scheduled and PRN and complete head to toe assessments just no blood products because not something LTC usually does.

Now as an ambulatory care nurse I can triage both in person and on the phone, along with the other things mentioned.

I did need to take extra classes, get certified in the IV, blood products and triage.

What state would allow an LPN to pull a PICC line? Everything else is pretty standard in a state with an expanded LPN scope of practice.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

It is going to depend on the state. In my state, LPNs are not allowed to start peripheral IV lines or to administer IV medications and blood products. We do not do the initial admission assessments either.

In my state, we may become IV certified after having worked as a LPN for a time and taken the class for it.

[Archerlpvn, LPN, LVN]

It is going to depend on the state. In my state, LPNs are not allowed to start peripheral IV lines or to administer IV medications and blood products. We do not do the initial admission assessments either.

In my state, we may become IV certified after having worked as a LPN for a time and taken the class for it.

so LPN's are allowed to have an expanded role in IV therapy in Iowa with additional certifications. Does that not include the ability to start a peripheral IV line? That would be ridiculous.

[Nursejessi660]

I am an LPN in the state of Missouri a lot of our differences come from knowledge base and Venous access. We do pretty much anything with an Peripheral IV except hang blood products, mix medications in an i.v. solution and push medications with an additional certification (which if you have became a nurse after 1995 is mandatory before taking the NCLEX). When it comes to PICC lines we can not pull or draw blood from a PICC line. On ports we can not access or de-access them but once accessed we can use them. I have been in supervisor positions in LTC. We are allowed to do quite a bit unlike from what i understand other states can do.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

so LPN's are allowed to have an expanded role in IV therapy in Iowa with additional certifications. Does that not include the ability to start a peripheral IV line? That would be ridiculous.

I have not looked into the exact nature of what the certification allows.

[bebbjo]

Every state varies. In the state of Wyo a LPN is not allowed to do IV's of any sort unless IV certified. If you are basic iv certified you are allowed to place an INT and allowed to hang fluids on it and also allowed to pull the INT. You need advanced IV certification to administer meds via central line or PICC and are allowed to do central line dressing changes and administer fluods, antibiotics and so on. However a LPN here even advanced IV certified is not allowed to DC a PICC or Central or midline, can not administer blood, blood products, chemo drugs, and a few others. Not allowed do any iv on someone under 5, not allowed to DC an INT on someone under 12.

After reading some other posts that they are allowed to do IVS wit out training so it certainly depends on your state.