Does LPN (License Practical Nurse) do all of the grunt work?
Asked by Lydia
Do they mostly just clean people's butt. I know that this is one of their job duties, but is this what they mostly do on a day-to-day basis?

Best Answer:
LPNs perform the work they are trained and qualified to do. And yes, this includes "grunt work" which is respectfully referred to as basic patient cares, or activities of daily living, which do include butt wiping and cleaning up vomit or blood or mucous or other assorted unpleasantries. And it isn't just the LPNs. The CNAs, and yes, even the RNs do their fair share. But understand that in the heirarchy of nursing, if there are RNs working on a unit they have specific other functions which you are not legally trained or allowed to perform, and therefore the RN's job is to delegate other tasks you are qualified to perform. LPNs who are not happy with their jobs and probably should get a new career will complain that RNs make them do the dirty work. The fact is, if the RNs didn't do their job and delegate these tasks to CNAs or LPNs the CNAs or LPNs would be out of a job. What an LPN does on a day to day basis varies depending on your individual job and where you work. If you work in a nursing home, there will be a lot of people who are largely dependent upon you to provide these cares for them. If you work in an out-patient clinic you might see mucous and vomit but it's not likely you'll be wiping any butts. You do other things like do patient assessments of vital signs, take health histories, administer medications and injections, perform wound care and dressing changes, document in the medical record (chart) of the patient all the pertinent information and actions you've taken as required by law and the nursing practice acts in your state.