Open Forum

I previously worked at an ambulatory primary care clinic where LPNs were employed in the same capacity as RNs. This included phone triage to determine if patient needs same day appointment or should go to ED etc. I am currently working at a different ambulatory primary care clinic where we currently have RNs and MAs, and we are looking to boost our staffing with LPNs. In what capacity do you employ LPNs. Do they do phone triage?

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Carol OMara MSN RN
Clinical Manager Ambulatory Care Administration
The Miriam Hospital
Coventry RI
(401)499-4627
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I think you would need to refer to your states nurse practice act.  In Indiana we share a nurse practice act so LPNs have similar authority to that as an RN.  I know other states differ greatly.  There are some differences around care planning.  Only an RN can do an initial assessment and create an initial care plan.  There are also other differences from a clinical skills perspective that are RN only tasks.  

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Ryan Taylor MSN, RN, CPN, NE-BC
Director of Medical Practice Management
Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center
Jasper, Indiana
812-996-8489
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Hi Carol,

This is an interesting question. We are currently exploring this as well. I recently took over our Ambulatory Nurse Residency program and was looking through the AAACN's guidelines for residency. There is a scope of practice document I have attached here. It appears that the AAACN's stance is that telephone triage should only be performed by an RN.  

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Torie Bonnet MSN, OCN, RN, NE-BC
Clinical Nurse Education Specialist, Ambulatory Care
UNC Health
Raleigh NC

torie.bonnet@unchealth.unc.edu
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I agree. I think it really depends on the state's nurse practice act. In my clinic, LPNs can perform phone triage following standing orders and protocols. Anything that falls outside of those gets elevated to the RN or provider. 

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Sarah Corzine BSN, RN, AMB-BC
Clinic RN
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Bremerton WA
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