PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Top 5 Challenges for an LPN
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EveryNurse Staff
- Last Updated: 04/26/2022
As a licensed practical nurse (LPN) working in today’s healthcare environment, you are likely to face many challenges in your career. While the exact nature of these challenges will depend on factors such as your employer, your patients, and your work setting, some challenges are common to all LPNs. Here are five of the top challenges you may face as an LPN:
Dealing With Difficult Patients
Licensed practical nurses are at the forefront of patient care, which means they are often the first point of contact for patients who are experiencing health problems. They have a lot of personal contact with patients and their families, which means they will inevitably encounter challenging patients. LPNs regularly deal with uncooperative patients who are resistant to treatment, combative, or even violent.
As an LPN, it’s essential to deal with challenging patients professionally and compassionately. This can be difficult, especially when patients are rude or abusive. However, remember that it’s crucial to maintain your composure and use strategies such as active listening, showing empathy, setting boundaries, and assertive communication to guide the interaction. By doing so, you can help diffuse the situation and provide the best possible care to your patients.
Limited Work Responsibility
LPNs have limited work responsibilities when compared to registered nurses and physicians. This is due to the scope of their practice, as LPNs are only able to perform a specific set of tasks. This can be frustrating for LPNs who want to take on more responsibility at work or who feel like they are not being utilized to their full potential. It can also lead to boredom, as LPNs may find themselves doing the same tasks day after day.
LPNs can combat this by actively seeking out new opportunities and challenges at work. This may include taking on additional responsibilities, such as leading a team of nurses or taking on a new patient care assignment. LPNs can also stay engaged in their work by staying up to date on new developments in the field of nursing.
Risk of Nursing Burnout
Nurse burnout is the state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by work-related stress. It is a serious problem that can lead to a range of negative outcomes, such as decreased job satisfaction, increased absenteeism, and increased turnover. LPNs are at a higher risk of nursing burnout due to the nature of their work. They may work long hours, have irregular schedules, and engage in a lot of repetitive tasks.
LPNs can reduce the risk of nursing burnout by taking care of themselves both physically and mentally. This includes getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. LPNs should also make time for activities that they enjoy outside of work. This may include hobbies, spending time with family and friends, or taking vacations.
Issues With Delegation
Licensed practical nurses work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs), physicians, and other senior healthcare professionals. This means they are responsible for carrying out tasks delegated to them by these individuals. LPNs are also limited (by state law) in the scope of their practice, which means there are specific medical tasks they cannot perform.
For example, an LPN cannot diagnose, evaluate, or assess patients, because this is beyond the scope of their practice. These activities are the responsibility of RNs and physicians. LPNs are also prohibited from performing invasive procedures and many routine life-saving tasks without approval from an RN or physician. This can lead to delegation issues, as LPNs may not be able to complete tasks that put them at risk of violating legal regulations. It can also be very frustrating for an LPN who may have the experience and knowledge to know what needs to be done but cannot do so because of delegation issues.
Experience vs. Education
A common narrative in the healthcare industry is that experience is more important than education. From a practical viewpoint, this may be true to some extent. After all, it is generally better to have a nurse who has years of experience caring for patients than a nurse who is fresh out of school with no experience.
However, this narrative only goes so far. In reality, nursing places more value on education than experience. It is entirely possible that an LPN with ten years of experience may have a new grad nurse as their supervisor, due to state regulations and workplace restrictions. This dynamic can lead to tension and conflict, as the experienced LPN may feel that their years of experience are being devalued. It can also be frustrating for an experienced LPN to have someone with less experience in a position of authority over them.
High Risk of Exposure
LPNs have a high chance of exposure to communicable diseases and other health hazards. This is due to the nature of their work, as they frequently have contact with patients who may be ill. LPNs also work in close proximity to other healthcare professionals, which increases the chances of exposure. Furthermore, LPNs may be exposed to hazardous materials, such as blood and bodily fluids, which can lead to infection.
To reduce the risk of exposure, LPNs must follow strict safety protocols. This includes wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, gowns, and masks, when working with patients. LPNs must also take care to practice good hygiene, such as frequently washing their hands and avoiding contact with contaminated surfaces.
In Summary
LPNs face a number of challenges in the workplace. By understanding the challenges that LPNs face, you can be better prepared to overcome them. These include the devaluation of experience, high chances of exposure, limited work responsibility, and the risk of nursing burnout. LPNs can combat these challenges by actively seeking out new opportunities and challenges at work, staying up to date on new developments in the field of nursing, and taking care of themselves both physically and mentally.
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