LPNs are Nurses: Here's Why

Licensed Practical Nurses are nurses. It even states it in their name. In Texas and California, LPNs are referred to as LVNs or Licensed Vocational Nurses. While they may not have the same scope as a Registered Nurse (RN), they have similar job duties and often care for patients as part of a team approach - working side by side with RNs, MDs, PharmDs, RTs, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. 

With more and more patients needing access to quality healthcare, LPNs are not being phased out. On the contrary, this is a highly sought-after position in many different care settings. While some hospitals have moved to hire more RNs for inpatient and critical care, LPN roles can be varied throughout the healthcare field. This resulted from larger hospitals and academic centers pursuing magnet status, which requires RNs to perform all nursing duties. Many hospitals are not magnet centers and actively hire LPNs as part of the care team. 

While it is not in their scope of practice to supervise Registered Nurses, LPNs can and absolutely hold leadership roles in various settings. We commonly think of LPNs in nursing homes or rehabs, where a plan of care for patients is already established. But there are so many other areas that need and actively hire LPNs for both staff and management positions. One great place to have complete control and flexibility over your schedule is with connectRN. You have the opportunity to find jobs that fit your interests and skills, while also networking with peers and creating that sense of community that often has felt lacking since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Why LPNs are in Demand

LPNs aren't just limited to nursing homes and rehab centers. While hospitals that are pursuing magnet status may not hire LPNs to perform nursing duties, there are many other options for employment as an LPN, including but not limited to:

• Nursing homes

• Rehabilitation facilities

• Physician offices

• Outpatient addiction clinics

• Occupational Health

• Schools

• Home health agencies

• Travel nursing agencies

• Private practices

• Outpatient clinics

The demand for LPNs is growing and is expected to increase over the next decade. LPNs fill a void in nursing that RNs are unlikely to fill - they perform a large volume of direct patient care. For example, in nursing homes, there may only be one or two RNs versus ten or more LPNs caring for patients. 

According to U.S. News and World Report, LPN/LVN is the #4 job that does not require a college degree. It's important to note that depending on the LPN program, some LPNs do hold Associate Degrees. Prospective job growth is also expected to grow by nearly 10% by 2030. 

What LPNs Cannot Do That RNs Can

While the scope of practice can vary state by state, generally, LPNs cannot administer medications through an IV line as an infusion, but may be able to administer an IV push medication. 

In general, when it comes to medications, LPNs can give:

• Oral medications

• Subcutaneous injections or vaccines

• Topical medications

• IV medications

• Medications through enteral feeding tubes

• Intramuscular injections

Another common question is, can an LPN complete a nursing assessment? According to the Joint Commission, an LPN can collect the data for an assessment at the direction of an RN. The RN then reviews the data and forms the nursing plan of care. LPNs cannot complete the admission assessment and can only complete certain focused assessments, depending on the state and their scope. However, this does not mean that LPNs cannot assess a patient. It does mean that charting the nursing assessment and formulating a care plan based on that assessment must be completed by the RN. This varies by state and facility. 

While care plans are reserved for RNs, LPNs can gather data and make suggestions on what is needed for a specific patient. Implementation of those care plans is completely under the scope of an LPN, and often, they will be the primary nursing staff carrying out the interventions. Often this is where more subjective and objective data can be gathered, relayed to the RN, and care plan updates made. 

Truly, a collaborative relationship between an RN, LPN, and other ancillary staff is what leads to better patient outcomes. LPNs should feel empowered by their position as they often are directly interfacing with patients and making huge differences in their care.