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LPN Frequently Asked Questions

If you cannot find the information you need at one of the links below, access the OSBN scope-of-practice decision guide, the OSBN interpretive practice statements, or the Nurse Practice Act. The Board does not answer any practice questions by phone or questions sent to the general OSBN e-mailbox. To submit a written practice question, please email us at osbn.practicequestion@osbn.oregon.gov. However, if your question is answered in the FAQs or in a practice statement, you will be directed back to the website. 

​A:  The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is silent on this question. 

​A:  It depends. It depends because Oregon's Nurse Practice Act (NPA) does not expressly authorize the performance of any intervention for all LPNs.  For an LPN to  determine whether a specific IV activity  is within their individual scope of practice., they must apply OAR 851-045-0065(2)(a) and (b) individual scope of practice standards. The requirement of the NPA is that an LPN must only accept an assignment within their individual scope of practice. 

​A:  Oregon's Nurse Practice Act does not contain lists of medications expressly approved for administration by all LPNs. 

​A:   Oregon's Nurse Practice Act (NPA) does not regulate staffing, work breaks, labor agreements, or HR matters. The following links are provided as a courtesy:

​A:  This question is not expressly answered by Oregon's Nurse Practice Act (NPA) and the term "patient abandonment" is not found in the NPA.  However, per OAR 851-045-0070​, the action of a nurse accepting an assignment then leaving or failing to complete the assignment without notifying the appropriate personnel and confirming that assignment responsibilities will be met, is conduct derogatory to the practice of nursing. 



​A:  No.  LPN licensure does not grant prescriptive privilege.  Only a health care provider whose Board-authorized scope includes prescriptive authority may prescribe.   

​A:  Not as a requirement for OSBN licensure.

A:  The difference is in the scope in the practice of nursing granted with each license type. 

The RN is independent in their practice of nursing. This means the RN conducts independent client assessments and independently develops the plan of care based on their assessment.  The RN's independent scope in the practice of nursing is described in OAR 851-045-0060. 
 
The LPN has a clinically directed practice of nursing. This means the LPN's practice of nursing must occur within the parameters of an RN's plan of care for a client, or within the parameters of a health care provider's treatment plan for a client (see OAR 851-006 for the definition of health care provider).  The LPN's clinically directed scope in the practice of nursing is described at 851-045-0050. 

​A: It depends.  It depends because Oregon's Nurse Practice Act (NPA) does not expressly authorize the performance of any procedure or intervention by all LPNs. The requirement of the NPA is that an LPN must only accept an assignment within their individual scope of practice. For an LPN to determine whether the performance of a specific cosmetic procedure is within their individual scope of practice, they must apply nursing practice standards in OAR 851-045-0065(2).

These individual scope of practice standards identify eight specific criteria an LPN must apply to their own situation. Only when an LPN determines that all criteria are met, may they consider the procedure to be within their individual scope of practice.

When performance of the cosmetic procedure is found to be within an LPN's individual scope of practice, the LPN remains responsible under their license to practice consistent with additional 851-045 standards. These standards include but are not limited to 851-045-0050 standards related to LPN scope in the practice of nursing, and 851-045-0065(9) standards related to the licensee's responsibility in the acceptance and execution of medical orders.

The LPN's clinically directed practice in any role, including  a cosmetic practice, is as a practice team member who assists with implementation of a health care provider's treatment plan for a client. 

​A:  The answer is no because LPN licensure does not grant independent assessment or planning. For a situation that presents outside of the parameters of an RN's plan of care, the LPN is responsible for collecting client data and then communicate data collected to the RN. Associated standards are in OAR 851-045-0050. 



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