What is a typical day like for an LPN?

[PaddyCake]

I am currently accepted into an LPN program starting in January. I was wondering if some of the LPNs on this board would share with me what a typical work day is like for them. I have an idea in my mind, but would really like to know what to expect. Thanks so much for sharing the good and the not so good!

[mcox]

I am a LPN working on a Med-Surg unit on night shift 7pm-7am. We work 12hr shifts. We do everything the RN's do with the exception of pushing a few cardiac drugs and pushing IV Ativan. All of the pts have to be accessed by a RN every 24hrs. We also do a shift head to toe assessment every shift. We do all of our own IV pain med pushes, hang and transfuse blood, start and maintain PCA pump infusions. We also put in all of our own orders, new admissions, call the dr, pass meds, bath total care pts etc. Night shift is responsible for checking all orders and for preparing all the MARS (medication records) for the next day. We usually have 5-7 pts and we do primary care nursing which involves doing EVERYTHING for those 5-7 pts. We also have daily cleaning assignments and have to do narcotic counts in our accudoses weekly. It is very stressful and demanding. I have been a nurse for 12yrs and I've worked at my current job for 6yrs. I am very confident that I could be a RN on my floor if I was to return to school.

Michelle

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

Well you can expect long-term care. We are trained to do everything that a RN can do minus IV push meds, transfusions. We have the knowledge yet not the legal authority to do so. At least thats the way in PA. Equal responsibility less, pay that about sums it up. Sorry but you should of went for your RN I wish I would of. I am planning to for this very reason. Little Pretend Nurse, thats what LPN stands for. RN means real nurse.

SHAME ON YOU!!! What a horrible answer! ARE you serious?! PN means practical nurse. We have practical knowledge and the skills to apply it. I have known many LPN's who know more than RNs when it comes to direct patient care. LPNs are trained differently. You can't compare the two and say one is better, they are DIFFERENT not better. How do you go to work every day feeling like you are a pretend nurse? What garbage!

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

Now to answer the original question...

Being an LPN is great! I work in LTC and it's rewarding and fulfilling. Our floor is rehab and acute care and believe me I use all my skills and more. I hardly ever sit down, I walk on the floor and get right into the day. It's giving medications, charting, obtaining lab orders, working with the doctors and wound care team on their rounds. Patient care directly and side by side with the CNA's. We do treatments such as wound care, bandaging, taking care of infections etc. And we talk to patients and families and educate them about their conditions and treatments. We hold hands, listen to stories, try to comfort. We feed those who can't hold a spoon anymore, get them an extra blanket when they are cold, give hugs when they cry. We sit by the bedside of the dying and hug the ones left behind. I know there's more, but I just got home from work and I'm dog tired. Got so angry at the one who said pretend nurse, so I had to write this....does it sound like pretend to you? Nope it's real nursing. And the RN's at my facility? They watch us do our job. That's how I see it. Now you decide. want to work? or Watch?

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

Well you can expect long-term care. We are trained to do everything that a RN can do minus IV push meds, transfusions. We have the knowledge yet not the legal authority to do so. At least thats the way in PA. Equal responsibility less, pay that about sums it up. Sorry but you should of went for your RN I wish I would of. I am planning to for this very reason. Little Pretend Nurse, thats what LPN stands for. RN means real nurse.

Don't paint us all with the same brush, thanks very much. I work in acute care and have performed some amazing skills and caught changes in patient's conditions through thorough assessment. I have the respect of my coworkers, LPNs, RNs and managers alike for being a good and caring nurse.

I am a REAL NURSE.

[Sparrowhawk]

SOme of the attitude may come from the fact a lot of us are stuck in LTC/Drs offices.

I am NOT a pretend nurse thank you VERY much.

[LFalcon]

I am a LPN working on a Med-Surg unit on night shift 7pm-7am. We work 12hr shifts. We do everything the RN's do with the exception of pushing a few cardiac drugs and pushing IV Ativan. All of the pts have to be accessed by a RN every 24hrs. We also do a shift head to toe assessment every shift. We do all of our own IV pain med pushes, hang and transfuse blood, start and maintain PCA pump infusions. We also put in all of our own orders, new admissions, call the dr, pass meds, bath total care pts etc. Night shift is responsible for checking all orders and for preparing all the MARS (medication records) for the next day. We usually have 5-7 pts and we do primary care nursing which involves doing EVERYTHING for those 5-7 pts. We also have daily cleaning assignments and have to do narcotic counts in our accudoses weekly. It is very stressful and demanding. I have been a nurse for 12yrs and I've worked at my current job for 6yrs. I am very confident that I could be a RN on my floor if I was to return to school.

Michelle

I was curious.. what state do you work in?? it sounds like your scope of practice is large and sounds great!! I'm in LPN school so just wondering... :)

[LFalcon]

I'm in LPN school and doing clinicals in a very large hospital. I see LPN's and RN's everywhere. They seem to have very distinct duties as do the PCT's.. but all are so nice, hardworking and extremely respectful of each other. As an LPN student the RN's are very sweet and are wonderful at teaching and working with us.

While I was doing my rotation in the LTC facility I only saw LPN's/CNA's. The LPN's spent allot of time passing meds, doing skin assessments and working on the wound care team.

I do plan on continuing and going to RN school, but I will be proud to be an LPN.