Licensed Practical Nursing Program, Duties and Responsibilities
LPN nursing is also known as licensed practical nursing. It is the exact same as LVN, or licensed vocational nursing. There is no difference in the names. Some states refer to it as LPN, while others call it LVN. They can both do the same things. 6 month LPN to RN Programs offer an accelerated pathway for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to transition into the role of a registered nurse (RN) in a short timeframe.
The licensed practical nurse works under the supervision and direction of a registered nursing, or RN. It is the RN’s responsibility to ensure that the LPN does their job correctly, whether or not they have an assigned task. The LPN would talk to the RN first if they have any questions or concerns. This is the first person to contact in a chain-of-command. The LPN will then speak to the next person up the chain, which could be a supervisor or a director, if the problem is not resolved.
The LPN looks after a patient. It may seem like a simple idea, but think about all it involves. Personal hygiene is included in the activities of daily life (ADLs) for patients. The LPN will take care of the patient’s needs if they are unable to do so themselves, for example, cleaning their hair, feet, or genitalia. It is also an excellent time to assess the skin of the patient and their circulation. You could also teach them how to properly do it while you help. Not everyone is familiar with proper hygiene techniques.
The LPN also has a responsibility to teach. The nurse will be doing this almost constantly. LPNs educate about disease processes and preventative measures. They can teach about medications the patient is taking or those that they are prescribed but don’t know. The LPN’s pharmacology class in school will teach the student about possible side effects, contraindications and the safe dosage that one should take. The LPN is able to teach patients about these important topics. The LPN teaches about home care. The average hospital stay is only a few days, so it’s important to know what to do with wounds or tubes when they leave the hospital. Some tubes are used to drain fluids, while others act as a conduit for fluids to be injected into the body. To minimize the risk of infection, correct technique is taught.