Jona Williamson

Background

About Jona Williamson

What we do as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) The acronym LPN stands for Licensed Practical Nurse. The care an LPN gives depends on the “scope of practice” laws in the state where she or he works. Each states own Board of Nursing regulates what type of practice and the protocol of that practice that the LPN can or cannot do. In other words LPN's provide patient care in a variety of settings within a variety of clinical specializations. LPN's usually: Administer oral and intravenous medications Chart in the medical record Take the patient’s vital signs Change wound dressings Collect specimens such as blood, urine, sputum, etc Insert and care for urinary catheters Care for patients with tracheostomy tube and ventilators Insert and care for patients that need nasogastric tubes Give feedings through a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube Care for ostomies Monitor patients for a change in clinical condition Call the physician if needed Perform CPR in emergencies Are supervised by an RN Even though each state sets the scope of practice for the LPN, each Agency can narrow the scope. It is important, therefore, to know what the specific Agency's Scope includes. In some Agency's but not all also allow the LPN to do the following Monitor, and/or discontinue intravenous catheters or the intravenous fluids Monitor, or change critical intravenous medications that stabilize the heart or blood pressure Take phone or verbal orders from the MD Care of PracticalNursing.Org