Introduction
Certain registered nursing programs have been developed to provide more affordable medical services for Americans and reduce the strain on healthcare costs, including Registered Nursing (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Registered nurses (RNs) care for patients with various conditions, including those related to injury, surgery, or illness, and provide relief during acute stress or emergencies (Toney-Butler & Martin, 2018). However, these roles may differ from that of the Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) in terms of scope of practice. This article, therefore, discusses the roles and scope of practice of the RN and LPN, with the similarities and differences between the two depicted.
Roles of the Nurse for the Registered Nursing Program
There are a few different roles nurses play in the Registered Nursing program. Nurses can be generalists or specialists and work in many different settings, such as hospitals, workplaces, and nursing homes. Nurses in the Registered Nursing program are obliged to provide health care to patients, prevent illness, educate patients and family members, and advocate for positive health changes. The Registered Nursing program prepares students for a variety of positions in the nursing field, such as providing care to children and adults in a hospital setting or providing care to adult individuals who need assistance with daily living skills in home settings (Exstrom, 2001).
Additionally, registered nurses have a variety of roles they can use to make an impact in the health care system, including, but not limited to, education, advocacy and research. Nurses provide education by teaching nurses and other healthcare workers new skills throughout the nursing field. They also provide advocacy by educating patients about their care options and advocating for positive changes in healthcare systems. Nurses also research curing diseases, helping prevent disease and other topics that would benefit the health care field. In addition, nurses also develop new technology to help increase the quality of life for patients in both hospital settings and home settings (Exstrom, 2001).
Scope of practice for the nurse in Florida state.
A registered nurse may provide health care and treatment as an independent practitioner or in a collaborative relationship with other healthcare professionals by carrying out the following tasks: checking vitals involving taking vital signs and performing related functions such as pulse rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiration rate, oral temperature; assessing the client’s level of consciousness; identifying orientation to time and place; assessing skin conditions and extent of injury or illness; administering oxygen therapy, and assisting with physical exam procedures such as the rectal exam for prostate cancer screening in males over 40 years old by using ultrasound guidance (Toney-Butler & Martin, 2018).
A registered nurse is also expected to monitor a medical condition or disease process within its scope of practice, including but not limited to measuring electrolyte levels, monitoring oxygen saturation levels, measuring blood glucose levels, monitoring and changing oxygen flow, observing sputum production, and conducting limited pulmonary-function tests such as spirometry (Toney-Butler & Martin, 2018).
In terms of medications, a registered nurse is obliged with the functions of administering prescription and non-prescription medication, including intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravenous, and inhalation medications, administer drugs to control allergic reactions, provide first aid treatment of minor injuries, and assist with minor surgical procedures (Toney-Butler & Martin, 2018).
Additionally, registered nurses are charged with the responsibility of performing physical examination procedures such as skin lesions, monitoring muscle strength, observing circulation and breathing levels of pulse oximetry or pulse oximetry readings, observing bladder function through urinalysis procedures such as urine test strip studies or blood test strips, measuring the circumference of the abdomen by measuring the abdomen at its midpoint with an arm measurement tape or by using a tape measure of a similar type. The RNs may also be responsible for transporting clients to appropriate healthcare sites for initial evaluation and follow-up care.
Comparison and contrast of the scope of practice for the LPN and RN
The scope of practice for the licensed practical nurse and registered nurse in Florida is not identical. A licensed practical nurse will have the authority to perform certain nursing functions. At the same time, an RN will typically be limited to physician-directed activities such as decision-making, ordering/referring tests, managing medications, and prescribing medications (Toney-Butler & Martin, 2018).
The RN primarily supports the physician’s role in patient care. The LPN may also contribute their expertise in several medical contexts requiring advanced skills, such as wound care or cares for special populations or minors. Additionally, LPNs may supervise RNs and other health care providers. However, LPNs do not generally gain authority in new practice areas like the RN (Toney-Butler & Martin, 2018).
Generally, RNs are authorized to manage or direct the management of patients’ conditions or disease processes as determined by a licensed physician, diagnose patient conditions, prescribe drugs, preparations, and medicines, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and operate medical, surgical, and dental equipment. On the other hand, the LPN has a much broader scope of practice and may perform nursing functions directly in the patient care setting (Exstrom, 2001). Some states provide a speciality certification process for LPNs with advanced skills or expertise in a particular practice area, such as wound care or cardiac nursing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an RN and LPN have different scopes of practice. The RN is charged with the responsibility of caring for patients as a member of a healthcare team. They must follow physicians’ orders and administer appropriate care to support treatment plans. Meanwhile, LPNs are allowed to practice independently. They can make decisions regarding the plan of care for their patients based on the documented orders from their supervising physician or registered nurse. Despite this difference, RNs and LPNs play equally important roles in delivering quality patient care in various healthcare settings.
References
Toney-Butler, T. J., & Martin, R. L. (2018). Florida Nurse Practice Act Laws and Rules.
Exstrom, S. M. (2001). The state board of nursing and its role in continued competency. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 32(3), 118-125.
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