The Duties of LPN Nurses in Nursing Homes
As the LPN is trained with direct care in mind, it is no wonder that more and more LPN’s end up working in nursing homes – they are best suited for the job. The duties of LPN nurses in nursing homes are very focused, yet still entails a lot of different tasks and responsibilities.
As an LPN in a nursing home, you will be directly responsible for attending to emotional and physical comfort of people in your care. This includes assisting with personal hygiene, and environmental cleanliness. This also includes assisting in maintaining oral hygiene, taking showers and baths, and services to bedridden patients. You will be responsible for shaving, as well as reporting conditions regarding skin problems – since older people heal slower, and some spend a lot of time in bed, this need to be taken care of immediately.
The setting calls for keen observations. Many patients will be using ventilators, some may have a cardiac history, and many have other medical problems that have escalated over time. Patients with any history showing signs of discomfort in the chest area, will need assistance immediately. People with back problems may need assistance with everyday movements, depending on you for help to get along. You will also be dealing with people using a variety of medical devices, depending on their condition.
One of the crucial duties of LPN nurses in a nursing home is the administering and control of medication. As people grow older, some become forgetful, forgetting about taking, or having taken, medication. Given access to medication, some would undoubtedly overdose, forgetting the medication had already been taken. As an LPN, you will have to administer medication, but be careful to ensure nothing is left where it may accidentally be taken.
In a nursing home, the duties of LPN nurses also include assistance in providing occupational and physical therapy as prescribed by a physiotherapist, or occupational therapist.
The care provided in a nursing home is focused on improving the quality of life for the individual as far as possible. Many patients have special needs, and most will need extra care. Dealing with patients directly, it is up to the LPN to offer care and comfort as far as possible.
