Registered nurses (RNs) are better equipped than licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to identify high-risk medication discrepancies in nursing homes, a new study has found.
RNs and LPNs both review possible drug risk factors for patients in a safety practice called medication reconciliation. The new findings suggest that there is a need for nursing homes to create a greater distinction between the two roles.
From Futurity:
“Nursing home work is hard,” says Amy Vogelsmeier, associate professor of nursing at the University of Missouri. “The ability to manage patients’ care and keep them stable is a clinical challenge that requires highly educated, clinically savvy nurses.”
Currently, RNs are not functioning in nursing homes to the full scope of their practice. RNs and LPNs are assigned the same responsibilities; yet, earlier research findings show that LPNs are more focused on tasks, whereas RNs are more focused on comprehensive assessment and resident safety.”
For the new study published in the Journal of Nursing Regulation, researchers examined the extent to which licensure (RN or LPN) relates to the detection of medication discrepancies. Thirty-two RNs and 70 LPNs from 12 nursing homes in Missouri participated in the study. RNs detected medication order discrepancies involving high-risk medications significantly more often than LPNs.
Distinguishing the differences in how RNs and LPNs perform similar responsibilities and making sure nurses complete the tasks for which they are trained could improve patient care for nursing home residents, many of whom are frail and require specialized care.
Failure to adequately monitor medication causes of 66 percent of adverse events that befall nursing home patients, such as hallucinations, falls and delirium, according to Futurity.
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