LPN and RN Roles, Education, and Influencing Factors

Professional Behavior: Maintaining professionalism is crucial.
Accountability: Being accountable for actions and attendance is essential.
Legal and Ethical Standards: Adhering to legal and ethical standards is a must.
Effective Communication: Possessing strong communication skills is important.
Holistic Assessment Data: Gathering comprehensive assessment data.
Collaboration: Working effectively with the healthcare team.
Caring and Empathetic Approach: Demonstrating care and empathy.
Implementation of Patient Care: Implementing patient care under the direction of an RN, MD, or dentist.

LPN:
- Never functions independently.
- Provides care in basic and complex situations under RN or physician supervision.
- Must function safely and practice accountability.
- Can offer input independently but cannot delegate to an RN.
- Works under the supervision and guidance of an RN or other healthcare practitioner.
- Scope of practice is defined by the KBN network.
RN:
- Licensed person with completed program (4-year BSN, 2-year ADN, or 3-year diploma).
- Practices in various settings.
- Roles include educator, administrator, and prescriptive authority.
- Duties vary by education and state Nurse Practice Act.
- Advanced degrees (master's, doctorate) represent a small segment.

Practical Nursing Education:
- Offered in various settings but programs must meet state standards.
- Creative approaches exist, such as combined PN with Associate Degree programs.
- Sky offers a Mobility Program allowing students to sit for PN boards after the second semester.
- Program length varies (11-18 months).
- Offered by high schools, trade/technical schools, hospitals, junior/community colleges, and universities.
LPN Role:
- Works under RN supervision, possessing technical knowledge and skills.
RN Role:
- Functions legally under the state Nurse Practice Act.
- Performs assessments and conducts ongoing patient evaluations.

Advanced Practice Nurses:
- Minimum master's degree required.
- Advanced education in pharmacology and physical assessment.
- Certification in a specialized area (clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife).
Nurse Educators:
- Teach in schools of nursing, staff development departments, and healthcare facilities.
Nurse Administrators:
- Provide leadership.
Nurse Researchers:
- Conduct research to improve patient care quality.

Need for trained caregivers.
Early history: self-taught practical nurses before formal training.
1940: Many self-taught individuals lacked formal training.
New York was the first state to mandate LPN education.
State boards specified LPN duties and responsibilities.
American Nurses Association's First Position on Education for Nursing:
- Recommended a 2-year technical education within vocational and community college settings, leading to an AS degree.
- Recommended a baccalaureate for professional nurses.
- Impacted nursing education as a whole.

Case Management Nursing:
- Uses clinical pathways to plan care.
- Effective in reducing the length of stay and overall healthcare costs.
Cross-Training:
- Maximizes use of available staff.
- Commonly involves clerical support staff and patient care technicians.
- Scope is defined by the institution to reduce staffing costs without compromising quality.
Multi-System Healthcare Networks:
- Include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and pharmacies.
- Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) provide care for a fixed rate.