Group Forums >> LPNs ARE NURSES TOO! >> RNs arent the only ones with management positions?
RNs arent the only ones with management positions?
142 posts back to top |
Posted over 5 years ago I see here that alot of LPNs are Directors of Nursing at Nursing homes, Assisted living facilities and Home care agencies? does anyone else see this? |
|
39 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago Yes i do. Also in some hospitals they funtion in other ways in management such as infection control. |
|
Account Removed
0 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago I have seen many LPNS as assistant DONs. In most states there are regulations that there has to be at least one supervising RN in LTC. An LPN cannot supervise an RN. Assisted living is different, you may see an LPN as DON there. |
628 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago The Nurse Practice Act in every state states that LPNs cannot supervise RNs. A nursing home I once worked in got an LPN as DON just after the state shut it down and forced the owner to sell it to a chain. The chain then hired one of the few remaining nurses (an LPN) to run things because no RN would touch the place. She tried to get me to come back to work there (I was still an LPN at the time), but since I was the one who'd anonymously reported the Dante like conditions to the state in the first place, I decided to stick with the job I'd just gotten in home health :D |
|
142 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago i see here that alot of LPNs are Directors of Nursing at Nursing homes, Assisted living facilities and Home care agencies GO LPNS!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^ |
|
142 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago LPNs are Teaching too!!!!! advanceweb.com From LPN to Educator In 1995, Coleman's affection for nursing and a desire to help train others interested in healthcare led her from the doctor's office to the classroom, when a teaching opportunity for a medical assistant became available. The transition from nurse to educator was smooth and successful — so much so that Coleman was recently named Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Career College Association (VCCA). The award is quite an honor, especially when considering that VCCA is comprised of 20 private colleges. An instructor at the Lynchburg campus of National College, Coleman also served as medical department chairwoman before being promoted to her current position as director of healthcare education. "I was working full time at a practice that specialized in internal medicine and cardiology when a teaching position came available for a night course in anatomy and physiology," explained Coleman. Coleman applied and was hired for the position. After the first night of teaching, she was hooked. Coleman stayed on staff at the doctor's office for 5 more years, but changed her schedule from full time to a more flexible status, enabling her to spend more time at the college. "I teach in a career college and, while we don't have a nursing program, we have a medical assisting program, which is how I'm able to teach [as an LPN]," explained Coleman. "It's a 2-year associate degree and it's very similar to nursing, but with a different type of certification. Our students are primarily trained for ambulatory care settings like physician offices and clinics handling both direct patient care and administrative duties." "Working in the medical field is not just something you do," she said, "it's who you are and what you believe. Alleviating your patients' pain, helping them through crisis situations and developing medical plans are the most rewarding things you can do. This is what I tell my students. This is what I believe." |
|
142 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago Advanceweb.com New-grad LPNs often find themselves holding supervisory positions sooner than they expect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By Joe Darrah Once new grads grasp their practical nursing diplomas, their expectations begin to rise. With just a licensure exam standing in their way, their dreams of becoming nurses are that much closer to coming true. While many facilities are developing more sophisticated orientation programs to ease the new-grad-to-new-nurse transition, employment opportunities for LPNs are becoming more demanding as the nursing shortage pervades all areas of healthcare. And with more opportunity comes more responsibility, even for new grads. Green Hills, an assisted living facility medication-pass training program for the facility’s nursing aide staff LPNs are needed for charge positions and sometimes hold administrative roles. New-grad LPNs can be assigned supervisory positions in acute care, assisted living and home care where nurse’s aides are employed. ‘I’M AN LPN; I CAN LEAD’ Christine Kline, LPN, also knows what it’s like to be thrust into a leadership position soon after taking a nursing job. A member of the June 2005 graduating class Kline, 41, earned her LPN by July of that year and took a job as a med/surg staff nurse that summer. At Reading Hospital, all LPNs are responsible for assisting RNs with delegating tasks to nurses’ aides and patient-care technicians on their units, Kline said, adding that this duty provides a sense of authority as well as clinical management. ‘YOU’RE AN LPN; YOU CAN LEAD’ Also sensing a need to refine LPN responsibilities when she joined Green Hills, Kline initiated a staffing change that called for LPNs to be designated “unit supervisors” to oversee nursing aides. Kline knew that their practical nursing education helped prepare them for such responsibility, so she assigned Melanie Hartzell, LPN, and Wendy Weitzel, LPN, 10 aides each, the total number of support staff on the day and evening shifts. As supervisors, Hartzell and Weitzel are responsible for delegating assignments, overseeing med passes and documentation, and ensuring that aides sign off all completed tasks. |
120 posts back to top |
| Posted almost 5 years ago I just got a job after 3 1/2 months of looking. Then, when it rained, it poured. The day I was interviewed by the Excecutive Director, but already had the job, I walked out to my car, and there were 2 interview offers!! And 2 more on email at home. Amazing. I have been an LVN for 16 years. I have attempted the RN bridge program at our local CC. I did not 'drop out', my father was dx with colon CA, with mets to the liver and lymph nodes. We all know what that meant. I was in the 2nd semester of my pre-reqs, (all the yucky ones!) with a 4.0, and ran to his side to be his caretaker and be a Hospice Nurse to my father, allowing him to leave this place with grace and dignity. It is only him, who makes the following comment really mean something to me. It was when he pulled me down and whispered, "Your'e the best nurse I've ever had", and he made it really mean what it says. That was 13 years ago, and I have gained such experience in varied nursing positions, that I was truly happy in my life as an LVN. My chance to go back to school full-time and just push through it like I was never came around again. I had a lot of responsibilty. I had the opportunity to have my boyfriend, an Internist, train me one on one in many procedures in his office, ones that later, as his practice grew and I no longer worked there, the new NP took care of them. I saw pts. in his office on my own, then he would come in just to talk a few with the pt. and sign the chart. I saw pts. in nursing homes and step-down units, with him as he made monthly rounds. I truly learned in a very interesting way during that time. My assessment skills became fine-tuned. Charting was direct, succint, and get this: only in ONE chart! Of all places, I am back at the first place I ever held a job as an LVN! It has made such a turn-around, and I am glad about that. Now it is sub-acute, and that is just perfect for me studying in the LVN to BSN program. Not too heavy, but it is darn busy. And my title is Charge Nurse of the east wing of this facility. It is a lot of responsibility, huge need for prioritizing, handle mulitple things at one time, in charge of the CNA's, calls to docs, you know the road my fellow I end up on the desk. The hours I wanted, she needed. 4 days a week, 3 off. 8 hour shifts. I can do this. The job is not that hard, as some of the nurses, just as in any place, kind of panic over labs that can wait, etc. I will develop my own rythym, get to know everyone's names, and this place happens to have about 95% Philippino staff, and some of their names I am still learning. I am also supposed to remind them to speak in English around the nurses station, with pts. of course, and they do, but the talking at the station is something they are used to doing; when the Caucasian-English-speaking only nurse shows up. I am actually forcing the rule without trying to. I don't care really, but I would probably hear more about pts., or charting issues, etc., if it was all in English. I'll get used to that subject too. I haven't even gotten my first paycheck, I was actually just kind of thrown in, I've worked 9 days, and just today had my 'paperwork orientation' with the DSD who was gone for a month with Sepsis from a tooth issue. Kind of backwards, but that's cool. I would love for someone to make up a list of all paperwork used for each different pt., and each new order, labs, meds, incidents, etc.!!! Would make my life so much easier, as I have been shown, and I didn't write all of them down. That is my biggest worry for tomorrow when I take it on my own; no more Orientation! So, I'm not a big boss or anything, I am in a position that works out just perfectly for right now. And the pay is very competitive, they now pay more than the Hospital right next door to us. Interesting eh???
Wish me luck....I'm a nurse with a high HR going on here!! Gotta calm down and realize it is not that big of a deal, and the biggest thing.....I used to do this!!!! Well, not sit all day at the desk handling everything, but I was helping the RN chart, OMG the charting....it never ends! Here and then there and some here and oh heck why not here too??? LOL Ya'll know that one!!! Gentle Hugs, and to my fellow pain suferrers, a low or now pain evening I wish for you all. Shauna http://shaunaslifeinpain.blogspot.com |
123 posts back to top |
| Posted almost 5 years ago http://nursinglink.monster.com/benefits/4352-10-reasons-to-choose-an-lpnlvn-license 10 Reasons to Choose an LPN/LVN Licence
Nursing education can sometimes seem long, arduous and difficult to face when you are first making decisions about your career. However, if you have a desire to go into the field of nursing, there is a path, that is, perhaps as arduous, but at least, less lengthy. If your current life circumstances keep you from devoting too many years to a nursing education, if you have completed a high school diploma or GED and are over 17 years old, consider a Licensed Practical/ Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) certification and licensure. Here are 10 reasons this could be a reasonable path for you: 1. You can receive the education you need to take the LVN licensure exam with 12-18 months of classes. The kind of care an LVN learns to provide, include basic bedside care, bathing, lifting, mouth care, caring for wounds, administering injections, delivering simple procedures and measuring the vital signs of temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure. State laws refer to this as direct patient care and “data collection.” The LVN observes and collects information about the state of a patient’s condition so that the RN and physician can respond to that data with an assessment and diagnosis. Some states allow LVNs to start intravenous lines and attend to patients who need ventilator care. Often times, the LPN will find her/him self taking on the clerical duties of a physician’s office assisting in the patient scheduling, assuring medical records are completed and even managing and supervising the office. They also are prepared in their education to communicate with family members, and can then educate the family and the patient himself about home care or deliver other information the physician feels is important for the patient to know to enhance the healing process. The kinds of classes that need completion and that are part of an accredited program for LVNs/ LPN cerification include many classes also offered to the RN student. These include: • Anatomy and physiology During a program there are many hours spent in the hospital or physician office setting as the lab section of the program and the internship. As many as 1000 hours may be spent in this part of the program. State laws do require that Vocational or Practical nurses complete an accredited program and receive certification at the end of a program. After such a course, the student will be eligible to complete the NCLEX-PN licensure exam given to ensure the knowledge of the student and to actually give the student the license of LPN/LVN. The LPN or LVNs are the “front line” licensed staff of hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and physician offices. They are the skilled nurses that help gather information that is used to assess the condition of patients and then allows for correct diagnoses and treatment by the RN, Advanced Practice Clinician or physician. This is a growing field that can be a complete and fulfilling career in itself, or a beginning for someone who wants to continue on the path of nursing. |
3 posts back to top |
| Posted almost 4 years ago I've worked as a Charge Nurse in a Nursing Home. Also as a Medication/Treatment nurse at a Sub-Acute unit. |
I learned care plans, but from the doctor's side. It was also interesting to hear the calls from the hospitals. etc., when he was on call. I even learned from those! WHEN to NOT call a doc. Labs on Sunday that could wait 18 more hours. A fax is fine. :-) I saw what he wants to know on the weekends, and what not to bother him with, like many of his fellow docs agree on. That helped me so much, and esp. now in my new job! 
's! That is something that has some of the other LVN's in a whirl and the RN's (of course not all of everyone), are very moved by me being there and doing that certain job. Back in 1994, all the nurses helped out the Charge Nurse, who was an RN, and some nights or days there would just be one RN there, on the other wing. In a 123 bed facility. Now with the acuity higher and census also, there are a few spots I think some of the LVN's that I've met could and should do! The pt. load is high for us and the CNA's. They are all fantastic nurses. And, it just happens that the same DON is there, we always enjoyed each other, and we talk very openly. She asked after I had divulged my 2 back surgeries, "Will you be able to push a med cart?" I honestly told her I will try anthing, and have to see what happens. The entire time of the hiring process, she kept saying that she'll see where she's going to put me, on the meds, or on the desk. After one shift on meds, my back yelled loudly, my pain so bad; that I cried at work. Great eh? My first night and I'm bawling. LOL (Well, I may one day LOL @ that.
) 
