Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are core members of the healthcare team, offering a range of essential services in patient care, health monitoring, and emergency response. However, the LPN scope of practice—in other words, what LPNs are responsible for—can vary significantly from state to state. Every state has certain guidelines pertaining to what licensed practical nurses can and cannot do.
If you are considering launching a career as an LPN, it’s important to research the LPN scope of practice in your specific state. Get familiar with your state’s Nurse Practice Act and any specific regulations set forth by your state’s Board of Nursing.
For aspiring LPNs looking to start their careers in Connecticut, your research can begin right here! Goodwin University is widely recognized for our healthcare education and training programs in CT, as well as our partnerships with providers throughout the state. Below we unpack the latest information about Connecticut’s LPN scope of practice and discuss what you can expect going into this growing field.
But First: What is a Scope of Practice?
A scope of practice is a legal and professional framework that defines the responsibilities, tasks, and activities that healthcare professionals are permitted to perform. It is based on professionals’ level of qualifications, training, and certification. Those with more education and experience will have a larger scope of practice, whereas shorter-term career paths might see more limited scopes. Ultimately, the scope of practice sets boundaries for health professionals, disclosing how they can operate, where they are limited, and ways they can provide safe and competent care.
For licensed practical nurses (LPNs), the scope of practice outlines the duties that LPNs are authorized to perform in their professional capacity. Again, the specific tasks of LPNs can vary by state, but the general scope of practice for LPNs typically includes the following.
The Core Responsibilities of an LPN
At a high level, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are responsible for providing basic care to patients, under the direction of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and/or physicians. While the scope of practice for LPNs will vary by state, there are several job duties that are core to the LPN profession. These include:
- Administering oral, topical, or intramuscular medications
- Collecting laboratory samples and conducting tests
- Documenting patients’ medical histories
- Dressing wounds and injured areas
- Educating patients and their families
- Inserting and monitoring catheters
- Measuring and recording patients’ vital signs
- Monitoring patients’ symptoms and progress
- Providing emotional support to those in need
- Promoting health and wellbeing, including exercise, nutrition, mental healthcare, and more
- Reporting changes in patient status to healthcare providers
- Transferring patients safely
- Triaging patient reactions to medications, IVs, and other treatments
Learn more about what an LPN does here!
The LPN Scope of Practice in Connecticut
According to Chapter 378 of Connecticut’s Nurse Practice Act, the licensed practical nurse’s scope of practice encompasses a range of supportive and restorative healthcare services, under the supervision of another care provider. Pulled directly from the state documentation:
“The practice of nursing by a licensed practical nurse is defined as the performing of selected tasks and sharing of responsibility under the direction of a registered nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse and within the framework of supportive and restorative care, health counseling and teaching, case finding and referral, collaborating in the implementation of the total health care regimen and executing the medical regimen under the direction of a licensed physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, optometrist or dentist. A licensed practical nurse may also execute dietary orders written in a patient’s chart by a certified dietitian-nutritionist.”
Connecticut’s documentation on the LPN scope of practice also suggest that LPNs can work in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, dentist’s office, and more.
Limitations to the LPN Scope of Practice in CT
While the LPN scope of practice defines many essential nursing tasks that LPNs can handle, there are specific duties that LPNs are generally not permitted to perform. These restrictions are in place to ensure patient safety and align with the level of training and licensure of LPNs. The specific restrictions can vary slightly by state, but common limitations include the following:
- Comprehensive patient assessments. LPNs are not authorized to perform patient assessments. These must be conducted by registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), or physicians.
- Complex nursing procedures. LPNs are not permitted to carry out advanced and complex nursing procedures, such as inserting chest tubes, performing arterial punctures, or other invasive treatments. This is due to their lack of training and experience in these specific areas.
- Development of patient care plans. LPNs are not able to develop or coordinate treatment plans for patients. This responsibility is also left to upper-level team members, like RNs and physicians. However, LPNs can play a role in observing and recording patients’ symptoms and progress, which in turn helps to inform treatment plans.
- Intravenous (IV) medications and central line procedures. While this limitation will depend on the state, LPNs are typically not permitted to administer IV medications or manage medications/fluids through central lines. There are many risks involved with these procedures, and as such, they require advanced training. However, in Connecticut, LPNs may perform basic IV therapy with additional certification achieved.
- Prescription medications. While LPNs can administer medications topically or orally, they cannot calculate dosages for medications or prescribe medications for patients.
- Supervision and delegation. LPNs are not responsible for supervising other staff, nor are they expected to supervise patients independently. They are also not responsible for delegating tasks out to other team members, as the LPN typically works under the direction of the RN or APRN.
LPN vs. RN Scope of Practice in Connecticut
Registered nurses (RNs) are another type of nurse that you’ll find bustling about a clinical facility, typically carrying out more independent tasks than that of the LPN. This is because registered nurses have completed more schooling than LPNs, and fulfilled a longer stretch of requirements to earn licensure and launch their careers. With this dynamic in mind, RNs typically oversee LPNs. LPNs work under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse.
According to Connecticut’s Nurse Practice Act, the RN and LPN scope of practice actually overlap quite a bit. However, registered nurses can conduct patient assessments, diagnosis potential health problems, manage cases, and help to coordinate treatment plans, as well as supervise and direct LPNs. The specific scope of practice outlined by the state is as follows:
“The practice of nursing by a registered nurse is defined as the process of diagnosing human responses to actual or potential health problems, providing supportive and restorative care, health counseling and teaching, case finding and referral, collaborating in the implementation of the total health care regimen, and executing the medical regimen under the direction of a licensed physician, dentist or advanced practice registered nurse. A registered nurse may also execute orders issued by licensed physician assistants, podiatrists and optometrists, provided such orders do not exceed the nurse’s or the ordering practitioner’s scope of practice. A registered nurse may execute dietary orders written in a patient’s chart by a certified dietitian-nutritionist.”
You can learn more about the RN scope of practice, compared to that of the LPN, by visiting our article: LPN vs. RN Job Duties and Scope of Practice
The Benefits of Becoming an LPN in Connecticut
Licensed practical nurses play an important role in the healthcare system, and deliver a meaningful scope of practice day-in and day-out. While there are some limitations to the LPN scope of practice, and the role is not as autonomous as that of the RN, there are many benefits to pursuing this career path.
For example, LPNs benefit from a shorter educational commitment. LPN certificate programs typically take less than two years to complete in total, while becoming an RN can take between two and four years’ time. Those who desire a shorter, less expensive pathway might choose the LPN route for this reason alone—enabling them to enter the nursing workforce fast and start gaining experience as a practical nurse.
Additionally, becoming an LPN offers flexible and incremental career advancement. LPNs can work in diverse healthcare settings—including hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics—gaining varied experiences in many corners of healthcare. Many nursing schools offer LPN-to-RN bridge programs, allowing LPNs to advance their education and careers while continuing to work. This approach provides a solid foundation of clinical skills and patient care experience, which can be beneficial for those planning to pursue RN licensure later on. The role of an LPN also offers personal and professional satisfaction through substantial patient interaction and the opportunity to make a tangible difference in patients’ lives.
If you’re still not convinced, consider this: Goodwin’s flexible LPN program offers the opportunity to take classes on a part-time or full-time basis, in the days or during the evenings—whichever is most convenient for you. With an annual salary of $65,000 waiting, now is the time to start your career path and start working towards a certificate as an LPN.