Exploring Reported Practice Habits of Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses at Illinois Nursing Homes

Introduction Nurses are expected to understand their states' Nurse Practice Act (NPA) and practice within its scope. Role confusion can occur when nurses who practice with different scopes, such as registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), work closely together. Aim The purpose of this study is to examine the types of nursing activities performed by licensed nurses, and the extent to which RNs and LPNs in Illinois nursing homes are engaged in these activities. Methods A questionnaire was used to explore the types of nursing activities 140 nurses performed in 13 Illinois nursing homes and extent of their engagement in nursing activities within their scope of practice. Results Activities most frequently performed by all nurses included supervision of unlicensed assistive personnel, advocacy for residents, and collection of data to contribute to resident assessment. Both LPNs and RNs did not engage in the full extent of activities that their Illinois scope allowed, and LPNs completed activities that were not included in their scope. Conclusion Poor understanding exists about the differences between RN and LPN scope. Confusion about licensed nurses' scopes of practice suggests that education about NPAs is needed. RNs indicated that they practice beyond their scope; however, it is not known in what way they practice beyond their scope.