In today’s constantly changing healthcare system, a key challenge is to better define, differentiate, and demarcate the roles of the registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN). For years, our profession has struggled with this issue, which can be especially knotty as each state has the legal authority to regulate the RN’s and LPN’s scope of practice.
Defining the problem
At our 411-bed community hospital in Virginia, the Practice Council (made up entirely of RNs) believed the lines between RNs’ and LPNs’ practice roles had become blurred. Roles varied from unit to unit—and even from nurse to nurse.
Informal discussions with front-line staff and managers confirmed the Council’s beliefs. Some of our nurses said our LPNs were practicing “just like our RNs.” Others said our RNs had allowed LPNs to function beyond their legal scope of practice and “much too” independently. These viewpoints convinced the Practice Council of the need to clearly define the two roles.
Researching the issue
The Practice Council created a subcommittee chaired by one of the Practice Council members and supported by the Practice Council advisor and Magnet® director. (One of the authors was the subcommittee chair; another served as advisor to both the Council and subcommittee; and the third, who was the hospital’s Magnet Director, also sat on subcommittee.)
Subcommittee members were solicited from front-line staff to achieve a mix of 60% RNs and 40% LPNs. Representatives from the renal, pulmonary, oncology, orthopedic, telemetry, and behavioral health units were chosen, as were those from the intensive care unit and the float pool.
The subcommittee’s first task was to define the issue and develop goals. To determine how to best define the LPN’s and RN’s roles in actual practice, members decided to rework and develop role-delineation guidelines using regulatory standards and evidence-based practice. We began by reviewing:
- Virginia’s Nurse Practice Act (which we found to be vague)
- American Nurses Association (ANA) Scope and Standards of Practice, Principles of Delegation, Principles of Nurse Staffing, Code of Ethics for Nurses, Nursing Social Statement, and Scope and Standards for Nurse Administrators
- Practice Standards for the Licensed Practical/
Vocational Nurse from the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses (NFLPN) - Joint Commission Standards.
The subcommittee also conducted exhaustive Internet searches to determine how other hospitals had approached this issue and whether their solutions were pertinent to our situation.
Developing statements
Next, the subcommittee developed the following statements to be presented to the Practice Council for discussion and approval:
Statement #1: The LPN functions in a task-oriented role under an RN’s direction, as follows: The LPN provides direct patient care; functions as a member of the healthcare team; provides input into the assessment, planning, and evaluation of nursing care; and implements the plan of care under the RN’s direction.
Statement #2: Delegations are competency-based and not automatic.
This statement would help ensure that our RNs served as primary caregivers and coordinators of patient care. During initial meetings, the subcommittee recognized this issue was extremely sensitive for both RNs and LPNs. LPNs might have difficulty relinquishing some of their current responsibilities, and RNs would need to be reeducated to understand their full accountability for patient care.
We were able to call on the expertise of our shared governance and Magnet consultants to review these statements for clarity and relevance. All consultants recommended we provide a clean definition of each role, fully delineated by tasks or clear examples. We also used care-delivery models influenced by Dr. Joyce Dungan’s Practice Model of Dynamic Integration and the professional practice model of shared governance. This model enables us to practice holistic nursing care in an environment of shared decision making, delivering care in a holistic, collaborative manner while maintaining the RN’s accountability for nursing care provided.
In subsequent meetings, we clearly defined each role, along with such terms as assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation as they pertain to the RN and LPN (supported by the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice and the NFLPN Nursing Practice Standards for the Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse). We defined care levels by adapting work done by Vanderbilt University and the acuity management tool we currently use. (See Using the QuadraMed® Acuity System by clicking on the PDF icon above.)
When we examined current nursing-unit staffing patterns to determine the accuracy and feasibility of the defined care levels, we realized staffing patterns would have to change on some units to ensure an appropriate RN-LPN mix. Also, we determined that the required level of communication between RNs and LPNs would depend on patient complexity and predictability of actual outcomes.
Tackling the delegation issue
The subcommittee addressed delegation as well. Virginia’s Nurse Practice Act defines delegation as an act that occurs between an RN and unlicensed assistive personnel. The LPN holds a license to practice in the state, and the RN assigns and supervises parts of the nursing process to the LPN as defined by the organization. (To make sure we understood how the state defines delegation, we contacted the Virginia Board of Nursing.) Then we submitted an initial draft of the RN/LPN role-delineation policy to the Practice Council, which accepted it.
Changing our documentation practices
The next step was to address the need to enhance our documentation to support policy compliance. We worked with nursing informatics specialists to develop these changes along with a monitoring system to ensure compliance with the new policy. New programs were created so that a daily charge-nurse report would be generated to allow daily documentation auditing. Charting changes included:
- adding a field in which the LPN charts updates to the RN every 4 hours on the patient’s status, with the RN’s full name updated
- placing the supervising RN’s name in the care assignment board to show who supervised the LPN during a particular shift.
We held a town hall–style meeting to initiate an open-comment period and present the draft policy to the nursing staff. The draft and task lists were posted on the units so staff nurses unable to attend the meeting could review them and leave comments. The subcommittee finalized the policy based on staff feedback and developed an education plan to disseminate the new guidelines.
Piloting the new policy
In June 2007, after completion of required education and policy implementation, an 18-bed surgical unit was selected to pilot the new policy. Its nursing staff consisted of 60% RNs and 40% LPNs, with the latter practicing on day and night shifts. Charge RNs were responsible for completing daily audits to track compliance with the new policy. The nurse educator helped train charge nurses in how to complete the audits to make sure the tools were completed in a timely manner.
When the pilot was completed, the subcommittee performed a documentation audit and found the following problems:
- 29% of the time, LPNs didn’t correctly document updates to the supervising RN every 4 hours.
- 51% of the time, LPNs didn’t chart the full name of the supervising RN receiving patient updates.
- 3% of the time, LPNS weren’t assigned to patients at the proper levels of care, as defined by the policy.
- 9% of the time, administrative associates entered patient assignments incorrectly, making it hard to determine the supervising RN. In many cases, no supervising RN’s name was entered in the assignment database.
Adjusting the policy
Based on feedback from staff and data from the pilot, the policy was adjusted in August 2007. A subsequent educational effort trained LPNs across all inpatient units about the required documentation changes.
In January 2008, our subcommittee reviewed results of a random report showing all patients in the previous 24 hours to whom an LPN had been assigned as a primary care nurse. Data showed some improvement on all units, although many units still struggled with the problems revealed in the pilot study. Only the original pilot unit was 100% compliant with all charting requirements.
We shared this information with nurse leaders. With some nurses still confused as to why the RN and LPN roles needed to be delineated, we decided to continue educating both RNs and LPNs about the policy changes.
By July 2008, friction caused by policy implementation had started to fade, and the staff showed greater understanding of why role delineation is crucial not just for patient safety but also to protect both RNs and LPNs. The goal was to continue to print care-provider assignment reports every 24 hours on each unit. The charge nurse reviews the reports to assist nurses in proper documentation and administrative associates in placing assignments in the system correctly.
A change of the magnitude created by our new policy takes many months to engrain into a work culture that previously hadn’t promoted RN-LPN role delineation. With perseverance, our nurses are learning to better understand the role differentiation, as shown by audit outcomes in 2009.
Although we’re still challenged in the same areas outlined by the pilot, we’ve made huge strides. Current data show:
- 69% compliance with the administrative associate inputting the correct supervising RN’s name
- 86% compliance with LPNs charting every-4-hour updates
- 68% compliance with LPNs charting the full name of the correct supervising RN who’s receiving the every-4-hour update.
Role clarification promotes nursing excellence
Delineating the RN and LPN roles is important not only from a regulatory and compliance standpoint but also for improving patient safety and outcomes. Our subcommittee’s comprehensive process to clearly define and demarcate these roles helps us make significant progress toward changing our work culture and achieving nursing excellence.
Our organization has learned that blurring of RN and LPN roles can occur easily in times of nursing shortage and economic challenge. Today, the need for nurses to care for a greater number of patients with higher acuity levels can compound role confusion as nurses strive to meet the needs of patients, families, physicians and the ever-growing administrative and regulatory requirements.
Although we succeeded in defining our nurses’ roles and changing our work culture, our journey isn’t over. We will continue to identify and address the new challenges that are sure to arise from the dynamic flux in our healthcare system.
Selected references
American Nurses Association. Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. Washington, D.C.: Nursesbooks.org; 2004.
American Nurses Association. Principles for Delegation. 2005. www
.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/
workplace/PrinciplesofDelegation.aspx. Accessed February 6, 2010.
American Nurses Association. Utilization Guide for the ANA Principles for Nurse Staffing.2005.www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/NursingStandards/ANAPrinciples/
Principles-on-Nurse-Staffing/UtilizationGuide.aspx. Accessed February 6, 2010.
Dungan JM. Dungan Model of Dynamic Integration. Int J Nurs Terminol Classif. 1997;8(1):17-28. www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/
119179335/abstract. Accessed February 6, 2010.
Emergency Nurses Association. Use of non-registered nurse (non-RN) caregivers in emergency care. 2003. www.ena.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/
Position%20Statements/Non-RN_Caregivers_-_ENA_PS.pdf. Accessed February 6, 2010.
Emergency Nurses Association. Role of delegation by the emergency nurse in clinical practice settings. 1998. www.ena.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/Position%20Statements/Delegation_by_the_Emergency_
Nurse_-_ENA_PS.pdf. Accessed February 6, 2010.</[>
NFLPN Standards for the Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse. www.nflpn.org/practice-standards4web.pdf. Accessed August 25, 2009.
Virginia Board of Nursing. Laws and regulations. www.dhp.virginia.gov/
nursing/nursing_laws_regs.htm. Accessed February 6, 2010.
All three authors work at the Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Virginia. Lisa M. Shaffer is a crisis-care nurse. Kathy Johnson is the administrative director of Surgical Services. Carolyn Guinn is director of the Magnet Program and the renal unit.
15 Comments.
This all pertains to hospital work which I did for years but got sick of the disrespect afforded the LPNs. Now I work long term care because I get more respect, better wages and like the residents. There are very few RNs all in management at the nursing home even though they take a lot of people now with IVs, caths and large wounds. No RN would ever take the patient load the LPNs have there.
Never less than 25 pts and a lot of care that used to be done in the hospital. The pt. load is totally unsafe for anyone. But RNs cry and bohoo if they have 5. So until the RNs take on this load they can stop whining about LPNs.
I donnot love or dislike RNs but am sick of being told how great RNs are but I can tell you the ones at the nursing rarely work the floor they are just there because the state says they need them 8 hrs a day. If they work the floor they have a tech. and the LPN does her own meds and all the other work.
this article is not getting to the problem unless RNs want to work in a nursing home and have 20-30 residents then they need to stop complaining LPNs because they do most of the nursing work at LTC
I have been an LPN for over 30 years. I started in the military and for the last 15 years as a civilian LPN. I have had the privilege of working alongside of some amazing Registered Nurses. I truly enjoy nursing, however the changes that have occurred over the last 8 years have been awful. First of all, in any medical facility that you work in there is always support and representation for Registered nurses. Nothing available for LPNs. We are the man power in nursing, however never get the recognition we deserve. We look forward to learning new skills, however registered nurses today do not teach, “not part of their job”. The worst part of it all, LPNs are not seen as nurses or professionals we are labeled as “paraprofessionals”. Last time I checked I hold a license in order to do my job, I work closely with patients while Registered nurses do more phone calls, and charting. The difference between both professional nurses is exactly what causes a division among us. Registered nurses are not more important than we are and we are not better then they are, however; not supporting/representing LPNs in the clinical settings, not recognizing them as professional nurses hurts the moral of the LPNs. We just want to be acknowledged and given the respect we deserve.
I have worked in many different fields. At the hospital as an LPN imI was training the RNs coming in. I was allowed to push certain meds no advanced cardiac meds unless NP told me too and was there. I could pronounce at the hospital. Do any wound care. I had to show most of the RNs how to do most things. Which I do not have a problem with RNs I learned a lot from LPN and RN. I am in RN school now and so far the only difference is filling out care plans. And this is my last year. I only have to go half the days cause i already have more clinical hours from LPN school than RNs have. I love all nurses and I hate when people say just am LPN. I could save a life just like an RN could.
What’s the percentage is reflecting the LPNs care for the patient …I’m curious to what your Staffing levels were at the time.
I have been searching since 2009 for the data used that reflects patient care under the LPN vs. RN, and the results that formed the rationale to no longer employ LPNs in many hospitals throughout the U.S. due to Magnet Standards.
The LPN is trained in the fundamentals core values & utilization of the nursing process. To discriminate & degrade these Practical Nurse that have been an intergrated part of the team since late 1800’s is a disgrace to the profession.
In Georgia there are 3 major delineation between and RN and LPN. These almost keep most LPNs from working in the hospital, but not forbidden:
1. LPN may not perform a triage or admission assessment
2. LPN may not administer blood or blood products, but may assess outcome and monitor a patient receding blood or blood products.
3. LPN may not give medication via IV push.
However the Georgia Nurses Practice Act allows an LPN to perform these things under the supervision and license of an RN.
This was an excellent article but still left me wondering how well you were able to articulate the difference in job descriptions. We are struggling with this issue now. Lines were blurred, LPNs were working out of their scope and RNs weren’t guiding care like RNs should. LPNs are different than RNs….not just in pay but in education. I know many excellent LPNs and many marginal RNs. One must always look past the title to the person, and never let cost determine a Nurse’s scope of practice
I was an LPN for 8 years before bridging and worked alone in several roles. As an LPN I was never allowed to do the admission assessment, but could do head to toe assessments thereafter. I have worked with both RN’s and LPN’s who skills are limited, but there is a definite difference in our scope of practice. LPN’s do not have enough education to work without an RN in certain environments and most are not aware of their limitations until a mistake is made.
I do not agree that RNs and LPNs do not like each other, I am a great LPN because of the wonderful RNs I have worked with. I do believe some of us should have been grandfathered in re: scope of practice, the LPN school I went to taught us how to assess and report signs and symptoms. Now I’m told I cannot assess, but gather data..LOL its all a wording game. I have not worked in a hospital for a long time. But data is the same as assessing what is wrong. I am just a talented as the RNs I work with
I’m an LPN in Toledo. I worked at a Hospital for a very large corporation for just short of 10 years until they deemed LPNs were not qualified to work there anymore. They have RNs only now. Very disappointed. I really enjoyed working with the RNs and now am left with only nursing home work.
I am an LPN and I do the exact same work as the RN does and get paid seven dollars an hour less. We are just as good as the RN/s. Rn’s don’t like us and we don’t like them.
I agree with clear cut lines as far as RN and LPN, the last place anyone wants to end up is in court or the Board of nursing trying to explain a mistake made that was outside your scope. Saying that an RN Let me do it before so I thought it was okay is not a defense.