Under whose direction does a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) operate their scope of practice?
The Registered Nurse (RN).
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), sometimes referenced as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), functions within a defined hierarchy in the home health model. Their activities are executed strictly under the direction and oversight of a Registered Nurse (RN). The LPN’s scope involves implementing specific aspects of the treatment plan that have already been developed by the RN and the physician. This implementation includes tasks such as monitoring baseline vital signs, providing appropriate wound care, collecting samples for laboratory analysis, and administering certain prescribed medications. They are essential implementers of the nursing service component rather than the lead developers of the overall medical strategy.
