LPN – Medical Advocate
As the healthcare industry evolves, so does the expected roles and responsibilities of a licensed practical nurse, or an LPN. These highly-trained nursing professionals are expected to not only assist in the creation and implementation of a patient care plan, but as time progresses, so does their role as a patient advocate. In fact, when we look at the various pillars of the nursing process, we see that the importance and implementation of being a patient advocate is significantly increasing. While you may have learned about patient advocacy in your LPN training program, throughout this article we’re going to discuss exactly what this means and how it affects your daily job responsibilities. LPN As A Patient Advocate The role of a patient advocate is relatively new, but is mentioned by some leading sources in the LPN nursing field. Therefore, the responsibilities of a nurse are ever-evolving. However, the basis of all this change is based in the right of a patient to fully understand his or her options when it comes to healthcare and whether or not certain procedures are worth the time and money. As a patient advocate, you’ll act as a medium between the patient and the entire healthcare industry. You’ll call upon your years of training and experience to ensure the patient fully understands his or her treatment options and will go above-and-beyond to ensure all patients receive the quality of care they deserve. In fact, this role within the nursing field is growing so fast and large there are entire degree programs designed around the act of being a patient advocate. As an LPN, you’ll likely act as a patient advocate whether you mean to or not. Because an LPN spends more time with patients than physicians and registered nurses, these professionals are typically who a patient asks for advice and information. Therefore, it’s imperative that you fully understand your roles and responsibilities as a patient advocate. In the most generalized sense, an advocate is a person who supports their patient by supplying them with accurate information as well as acting as a mediator between the patient and the rest of the medical staff. Often times, a patient will be confused regarding what their best choice is. While it’s not your duty to make a decision for a patient, it is your duty to ensure a patient fully understand their options and the potential outcome of each choice. As a patient advocate, you’ll often be the one who stands up in support of a patient and ensures that their rights are not overlooked. As an LPN, it’s your job to care for your patients as much as possible. In many cases, this means acting as an advocate on their behalf. Working as an LPN Consultant
As an LPN, you’ll encounter situations that are far more complicated than what you were taught in school. While your LPN training program prepares you for the clinical aspect of dealing with patients, the most successful LPNs are those who delve far beyond the surface of this profession. This is perhaps one of the most interesting and dynamic nursing careers as you not only work directly with physicians and nurses to establish and maintain a patient care plan, but you also intimately work with patients throughout their stay. In order to become a well-respected and dynamic LPN, it’s important that you understand the value of effective communication. This has never been more important than in times when you must act as a consultant to not only the patients, but also to your fellow medical staff members. Although you aren’t technically a consultant, the level of communication you must engage with sets you up to be a makeshift consultant. Throughout this article, we’re going to explore the various elements that go into being an LPN consultant and why it’s important to fully understand this essential role. Additional information on this is found here and here. An LPN As A Consultant Communication is among the most important skills an LPN must master. Throughout your daily work life, you’ll be charged with the task of communicating directly with patients and with other members of the nursing staff. In fact, many of your job duties revolve around effective communication. For example, you must easily and concisely communicate with nurses and physicians if you notice any change within a patient. Within the realm of being a “consultant,” you are put in charge with communicating your observations to a physician or registered nurse regarding the appropriate steps you should take within the patient care plan. You will describe your observations with a physician regarding the physical and mental well-being of a patient. Therefore, you will actually be acting as a patient consultant to other medical professionals. When it comes to cultivating and adjusting a patient care plan, you play an integral role. While the initial patient care plan may be created by a physician, your input and patient observations are imperative when it comes to adjusting and updating a care plan. The entire goal of this role is to increase the effectiveness of a care plan. Whether you’re gathering information or communicating this information with your supervisors, it’s important that you’re able to consult them in a complete holistic view of a single patient. Only then can the entire medical staff understand whether or not they’re providing adequate care and treatment to enhance the healing and rehabilitation of patients. Sources: |
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