Personal Narrative: My Interview With A New Licensed Practical Nurse

As a Registered Nurse, I begin my shift by accepting report from the previous nurse. I understand that I am orientating a new Licensed Practical Nurse who is almost complete with her orientation. I have three patients, and I am expecting a new admission from the Emergency Department, who presents with chest pain. My job is to delegate the appropriate patient or patients to a licensed practical nurse after I introduce myself and the LPN. It is very important for me to know how to prioritize the patient care. After the initial introduction, I would feel comfortable with the LPN assisting with the patient who is a Walkie talkie and is scheduled for a colonoscopy tomorrow and checking on the elderly patient who is confused with incontinence and tries to climb out of bed. I realize I can delegate, but I am still accountable for the actions of the LPN. I would provide a written assignment for her so there would be no confusion about her duties and encourage her to ask questions and verbalize if she is uncomfortable when any of the duties assigned. I would start with the patient who is post-op day one and on a morphine PCA pump because he is at risk for bleeding. The morphine in the pump can suppress the patient respiratory status. For this patient, I would have two …show more content…
My main nursing intervention would be to check the patient for dehydration. The LPN could do routine vital signs, assisting the patient to and from the bathroom. The patient is continent so he would not be at risk for skin breakdown. With this patient having Crohn's flare up, his condition could become unpredictable so the LPN could only assist with this patient. I would set time aside to explain to patient what to expect with his colonoscopy the next day. The patient would have to drink the solution the day before to cleanse his bowels of all stool. The LPN could assist the patient with this