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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 difference is in 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 plans of care based on their independent assessment.  The RN's independent scope in the practice of nursing is described in OAR 851-045-0060. 
 
The LPN has a dependent or clinically directed practice of nursing. This means the LPN's practice occurs within the parameters of an RN's plan of care for a client, or within the parameters of an NP's, MD's, DO's ND's, or dentist's treatment plan for a client. The LPN conducts a focused assessment and generates a focused plan of care which prioritizes interventions from the RN's, NP's, MD's, DO's ND's, or dentist's plan to be carried out with the client. The LPN cannot conduct a focused assessment or generate a focused plan of care outside of the parameters of the established plan providing clinical direction of their practice. The LPN's clinically directed scope in the practice of nursing is described at 851-045-0050. 

​A:  The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is silent on this question. However, hours worked in such a role do not count for the renewal of the LPN license.​

​A:  It depends.  It depends because Oregon's Nurse Practice Act (NPA) does not expressly authorize the performance of any intervention for all LPNs.  To determine whether a specific activity, intervention or role is within one's individual scope of practice, the LPN must apply nursing practice standards found in OAR 851-045-0065(2)(a) and (b).
 
These individual scope of practice standards identify eight specific criteria the nurse must apply to their own situation. Only when the nurse determines that all criteria are met may the nurse accept the assignment. 

​A:  Oregon's Nurse Practice Act does not contain lists of medications approved for administration by all LPNs.  First, an LPN must determine whether the administration medication is within their individual scope of practice in their practice setting. To do this the LPN must apply OAR 851-045-0065(2)(a) and (b)​ individual scope of practice standards. These individual scope of practice standards identify eight specific criteria the nurse must apply to their own situation. Only when an LPN determines that all criteria are met may they accept an assignment to administer a medication.

When the activity is found to be within an LPN's individual scope of practice, the LPN remains responsible for the application of additional 851-045 standards. This includes 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. 

​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: 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.

As LPN licensure does not permit the diagnosing of medical conditions or permit the prescription of treatment for conditions, and the LPN's clinically directed practice role within a cosmetic practice is as a practice team member who assists with implementation of a health care provider's treatment plan for a client. This means that prior to, during, and following the performance of a cosmetic procedure for a client, the LPN is responsible for their own practice of nursing (with the client) and remains accountable for their own decisions and actions. 

​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.  



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