Many of the LPN duties will vary based on the facility and state regulations which oversee the functions of a licensed practical nurse. Have you ever heard the quote, “Behind every successful doctor is an exhausted nurse”? This is extremely true because of the wide range of responsibilities that are taken on by these health care professionals.
After completing the required education and training a licensed practical nurse can find employment in a number of different environments. The location that a person is employed at will have an impact on the duties and responsibilities which are undertaken by the individual. In all cases an LPN will follow under the direction of a physician or RN.
Typical LPN duties include:
- Obtaining and monitoring vitals
- Accurately documenting health history and patient complaints
- Alert physician to any results requiring attention
- Laboratory specimen collection including phlebotomy, urine, and many others
- Bedside testing or POC testing, such as EKG, blood glucose, Coumadin levels
- Assist in examinations, procedures, and surgeries
- Coordinate care with other practices
- Obtain pre authorization for procedures and medications
- Train and educate patients in conditions and therapies
- Injections
- Intravenous placement and monitoring
- Prepare patients for procedures
- Medication distribution
- Assist patients in daily hygiene routines
- Management positions
- Perform limited radiology and other imaging studies
- Complete physician orders for treatments and first aid, such as dressing and cleaning wounds or performing an enema
- Address messages and telephone calls from patients, family members, and other professional services
- Order and stock supplies
These are just a few of the many things that a licensed practical nurse may be asked to do. As a student, an individual will be provided with a strong base of health care knowledge. It is up to the individual to increase their education and skills to advance in position and professional abilities which will increase their LPN duties.
Nurses who work within a physician’s private office will typically have a wider range of responsibilities than those found in a hospital setting. This occurs as a result of the smaller office having limited personnel when compared to larger facilities such as a hospital or multi practice location. There is also a large difference between practice types in what a licensed practical nurse will be expected to do. To illustrate this, consider the differences between a specialty office like gastroenterology and a primary care practice. An LPN is also regularly employed with home health care groups as well.
The large difference in LPN duties and work load is a major contributing factor to why an individual prefers one setting to another, just as a person gravitates to one area of practice over another.
A LPN that is applying to a position will typically be provided with a written guideline of the requirements for the position. It is important to fully review these expectations to prevent misunderstandings or being placed in a position that has responsibilities a person is not willing to perform. As has been discussed, there are a number of different LPN duties that can be required of an individual. Also, many of the duties given to an LPN are similar to those which might be used if you decided to further your career as an RN or by joining an online RN to BSN program.