NURSING QUESTION The American Nurses Association\'s (ANA) Standards of Practice

Question

NURSING QUESTION

The American Nurses Association's (ANA) Standards of Practice does not allow the LPN/LVN to work independently; rather they practice under the supervision of an RN. The nursing process is used in the development of nursing care plans. The nursing process includes the following phases: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation.

Considering the ANA's LPN/LVN practice restrictions, answer the following questions:

           1. In which phases of the nursing process could the assistance of an LPN/LVN be most helpful?

           2. If the LPN/LVN can help the RN establish a nursing care plan, in what way and to what extent can they help?

           3. Is the delegation of data collection to the LPN/LVN acceptable or should the RN collect the data to ensure accuracy?

           4. During the implementation phase, which steps do you think the LPN could assist and where would her/his expertise be best utilized?

Thank you.

Explanation / Answer

1.The phases of nursing process are: Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation. LPN/LVN assistance is most important in implementation phase. They assist in implementation of the developed nursing care plan. They provide basic care to the patient example assisting in moving, taking physical care, changing bandages, exercising, basic counseling, observe patient, record observations and report to RN, care about basic comfort and food of patient etc.

2. LPN/LVN help the RN to establish a nursing care plan by assisting the RN in development of goals for care based on the data assessed about patient’s response while every encounter with patient.

3. RN and LPN/LVN have different responsibilities of data collection. Physical assessment of admitted patient is done by RN, whereas, LPN/LVN will collect data during treatment such as patient’s response and symptoms.

4. During implementation they help in achieving short term and long term goals by direct caring of patient. The steps may include ensuring comfort of patients, changing bandages, clothes, transferring patient, helping in their movement, helping them to exercise, providing basic care and medication on time and recording response.

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