The last user said that everyone empties bed pans which is true but that is more-so the job of a CNA. But LPNs to it if a CNA isn't available or if they need assistance.

LPNs most often work in nursing homes or in Home Care now because they have weeded them out from hospitals. So often times they will manage a unit at a nursing home, passing meds, changing bandages, monitoring the general health of the residents. The CNAs do the vitals and report back to the LPN and the LPN then evaluates whether they need further medicine, or other things.

They also often times work with a TMA (Trained Medication Aide) which helps them pass meds but this usually only on larger units.

Being an LPN is a lot of fun, but it demands a lot of responsibility and attention to detail. If you accidentally pass the wrong medicine even once you can be in a LOT of trouble. This is why I decided not to go into nursing.

They do all that an rn does except manage the floor. Everyone empties bed pans.

LPNs are nurses in their own right. Sometimes they have to get the RNs to do something they can't. The scope of practice for LPNs and RNs varies from state to state. LPNs can do IVs in Oregon. The differences between LPNs and RNs is so small in Oregon. LPNs in Oregon can't hang blood or chemo, can't administer antithrombotic agents for a central line or remove central lines, and that's pretty much it. However, in states such as California, LVNs can't do much at all.

No one is above cleaning bed pans. Typically it would be the job of a CNA, but what kind of nurse won't roll up their sleeves and don their gloves to help the CNAs if need be? I've seen nurses wipe patients' @$$e$ when need be. I've also seen nurses hunt down the CNAs to fix a problem that would have taken them two minutes to fix. Guess who gets more respect?

Florance Nightingale herself said that no nurse should be above the dirty work, and if they feel that they are, nursing isn't their calling.