LPN Challenges

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are a few of the most crucial individuals in the nursing care field. They assist the RNs with their tasks and make their job a lot easier and improve the quality of services. However, LPNs do face certain challenges once they make an effort to execute their jobs. A few of these challenges are the effects of the legalities of nursing. LPNs are restricted with what they are should do, which sometimes make challenges for an LPN who needs to rely on the RN for a lot of things.

LPNOne of the difficulties for LPNs, particularly in this tight job economy, is locating a spot to work. Many hospitals restrict their employment to registered nurses alone, which is frustrating for LPNs who wish to operate in acute care settings. Some hospitals do hire LPNs, usually in roles which have less authority and therefore task-oriented.

LPNs will find jobs in nursing homes, however they don’t have the authority, and they will still work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Again, the LPN might be reduced to roles like medication nurse or treatment nurse rather than getting full care of the patients. Some centers, like dialysis facilities only hire RNs to operate the dialysis machine and care for patients. For many LPNs, this lack of diversity in job possibilities could be a challenge.

LPNs are frequently restricted with what they are able to do because, legally, they are bound with the task of delegation. An LPN cannot assess, identify or evaluate care since this is the job of the RN. Sometimes, this is often frustrating to have an LPN who may have heard what must be done and can’t really get it done. An LPN may even disagree with their supervisory RN, and can be powerless to alter the duties they’re assigned to accomplish.

This concern is surmountable, though you can’t alter the laws and regulations regarding patient care, however, you can cultivate a good working relationship with the RN, to supply the very best care for that patient. Simply because an LPN is assigned a particular task it doesn’t mean that she or he can’t do anything like when a patient is getting breathless. When the assigned RN does nothing or ignores the problem, the LPN can assist the patient. Despite the fact that LPNs are technically beneath the RN within the chain of command, they are able to still impact a patient’s care.

In certain situations, an LPN with two decades of experience will discover that the new grad nurse is their supervisor. This can be a challenging situation since the LPN likely knows a little more about patients, their diseases and just how to perform than an RN who has limited experience. Again, it’s a legal anomaly that needs the RN to delegate towards the LPN. If the RN doesn’t have a good deal of experience, an LPN must understand how to approach the problem.

Communication between your RN and LPN is essential towards the proper care of the individual. An LPN who assumes that the RN knows what they’re doing can harm the patient. An LPN must be a good communicator along with a nurse who understands how to manage people. Good communication will resolve this issue and will improve the quality of the health care.

Difference between LVN and LPN

There are different health care workers in a certain hospital or clinical site. They have different jobs and responsibilities to help patients recover. This includes Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN). Many are confused with the two. Some think that they are just the same. However, they might be correct. They may just differ with their names, but not on their functions. Here we will be discussing further the two courses.

LPNs are nurses who have passed the academic requirements to acquire their license with the next phase within their profession as being a Registered Nurse (RN). LPNs are usually found working under a doctor or RN’s supervision in hospitals or treatment centers. They can also provide home healthcare and practice in nursing care facilities. LVNs are also nurses who passed the state’s educational requirements and the exam to get a license as a registered nurse. LVNs perform their nursing responsibilities in a variety of hospitals, nursing facilities, physician’s clinics, and surgical centers.

LPN and LVNNursing programs today that provide LPN/LVN training possess a moderately intensive listing of subjects which are needed for certification, for example communications, critical thinking, dosage information, drug reference and interactions, ethics, along with other areas. In Texas, the academic needs for that title of LVN require students to accomplish 20 contact hrs every 2 yrs, along with a specific (once-off) two hrs of contact in Ongoing Education for LVNs who are employed in Emergency Rooms and Forensic Evidence Collection. California requires 30 contact hours of Ongoing Education, every 2 years, for license renewal.

The rest of the 48 states have different requirements in terms of continuing education and also the title given by these states is LPN. Some states, for example New York, require LPNs to complete three contact hours for infection control every 4 years. Yet others, for example Florida, require additional study in Prevention of Medical Errors, HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence, to acquire the LPN title. Essentially, the academic requirements of both LPN and LVN are extremely similar, as well as their responsibilities are consistent.

Actually, the only variation between the two is the state where the course is being offered. In Texas and California, the academic needs are identical, however the title is LVN whereas, other states with similar educational requirements, give the title of LPN. Both jobs require no less than a high school graduation certificate, or GED, just before entering nursing school.