How to Plan for LPN Care

Planning for LPN care requires a thorough review of patient care needs.

As with almost everything in nursing, grab a pen and paper. Planning for care by a licensed practical nurse requires some preparation because of the limits of an LPN's scope of practice. Scopes of practice are legally established and administered by state boards of nursing for all levels of nursing: certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners. Planning for LPN care, therefore, involves comparing what a patient's nursing needs are against what the state nursing board allows a licensed practical nurse to do.

Things You'll Need

• LPN scope of practice regulations for your state
• Nursing care plan for patient

Instructions

1. Review a copy of your state's LPN scope of practice. Pay particular attention to issues involving administration of intravenous medication, beginning or restarting IV access and ventilator-related care.

2. Conduct a thorough needs assessment for the patient or patients to receive care by an LPN.

3. Write or update nursing care plans on the patient or patients to receive care by an LPN. Review specifically the nursing interventions required for each patient.

4. Compare the nursing interventions required by the patient care plan against the state's LPN scope of practice. If any nursing interventions are outside of an LPN's scope of practice, arrange for RN care for that particular issue or for that patient entirely.

5. Review the nursing interventions required by the patient care plan with the LPN who will provide the care to ensure he is familiar with each procedure, and can complete all care safely.

Tips & Warnings

• Most nursing care can be provided by LPNs with RN supervision; however, a nurse's scope of practice can be limited by the state board of nursing or his employer.

• Do not assign an LPN to a patient who requires care that can legally be provided only by a registered nurse. You can be censured by your own professional board or held liable for any mistakes.

References

• "Code of Virginia"; Laws Governing the Practice of Nursing and Health Professions in General; Chapter 30: Nursing; § 54.1-3019; July 1, 2010
• Virginia Department of Health Professions: Virginia Board of Nursing Laws and Regulations
• "Virginia Department of Health Professions"; Virginia Board of Nursing Guidance Document #90-23; Decision Making Model for Determination RN/LPN Scope of Practice
• "American Nurse Today"; Remedying Role Confusion: Differentiating RN and LPN Roles; Lisa M. Shaffer, BSN, RN, et al.; Vol. 5 No. 3; March 2010
• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition; Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
• Medi-Smart: Nursing Care Plan Resources

Resources

• Gulanick & Myers: Nursing Care Plans: Nursing Diagnosis and Intervention Tool