Chapter 04: Distinguishing the RN Role from the LPN/LVN Role
Claywell: LPN to RN Transitions
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse manager is discussing the RN’s scope of practice with a new hire. Which statement,
made by the new hire, is not true of the RN’s scope of practice?
a. “A nurse may be disciplined by the Board of Nursing for practicing beyond his or
her scope of practice.”
b. “Scope of practice is legally defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA).”
c. “Scope of practice defines the responsibilities of nurses.”
d. “Scope of practice can be found in state nurse practice acts.”
ANS: B
The RN’s scope of practice is legally defined by state nurse practice acts, not the ANA. A
nurse may be disciplined by the Board of Nursing. The scope of practice defines the
responsibilities of nurses and can be found in state nurse practice acts.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
OBJ: Compare and contrast the scope of practice for the LPN/LVN and the RN.
TOP: Scope of Practice
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
2. The nursing student is reviewing the different organizations that provide services for nurses.
She interprets the American Nurses Credentialing Center as
a. an association that provides accreditation for baccalaureate and higher degree
nursing education programsN.
b. the unifying body for the state boards of nursing.
c. an association that offers certification in many nursing specialties.
d. an organization that offers the national licensure examination.
ANS: C
The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers certification in many nursing specialties.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education provides nursing school accreditation. The
National Council of State Boards of Nursing is the unifying body for the state boards of
nursing. NCLEX is the national licensure examination implemented by the National Council
of State Boards of Nursing.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis
OBJ: Recognize the differences in the educational preparation of the LPN/LVN and RN.
TOP: Educational Preparation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
3. The student is studying the history of nursing education. She is able to identify which nursing
degree program as the first one in the United States for RNs?
a. Associate’s degree
b. Bachelor’s degree
c. Diploma degree
d. Master’s degree
ANS: C
, The first nursing degree program in the United States was the diploma, which began in 1872.
The associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s nursing programs came later.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Synthesis
OBJ: Recognize the differences in the educational preparation of the LPN/LVN and RN.
TOP: Educational Preparation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
4. Which function falls within the LPN/LVN’s scope of practice?
a. Formulating the plan of care
b. Collecting data
c. Selecting nursing diagnoses
d. Setting goals, objectives, and outcomes
ANS: B
One of the many functions of the LPN/LVN is that of data collector. Formulating the plan of
care; selecting nursing diagnoses; and setting goals, objectives, and outcomes are not in the
scope of practice for the practical nurse and must be performed by an RN.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
OBJ: Compare and contrast the professional roles of the LPN/LVN and the RN.
TOP: Professional Roles
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
5. Which of the following is an example of professional advocacy in nursing?
a. Charting and writing up a medication error
b. Writing up a nursing assistant for excessive absences
c. Writing one’s senator concNerning mandatory overtime
d. Mentoring a new graduate RN who is new to the unit
ANS: C
Writing one’s senator concerning mandatory overtime is professional advocacy. Charting and
writing up a medication error, writing up a nursing assistant, and mentoring a new graduate
are expectations of the RN.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
OBJ: Describe various role elements that are inherent in the scope of registered nursing practice.
TOP: Role Elements
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
6. The RN is caring for the following patients. Which patient and task are most appropriate to
assign to the LPN/LVN?
a. A 34-year-old female patient who will need discharge teaching
b. A 40-year-old postoperative male patient who needs a dressing change
c. A 64-year-old female patient who needs a bed bath
d. A 79-year-old patient whose plan of care needs to be updated
ANS: B
The LPN/LVN is skilled in dressing changes. The nursing assistant is skilled in giving a bed
bath. Discharge teaching and updating the plan of care are tasks that must be performed by the
RN.
Claywell: LPN to RN Transitions
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse manager is discussing the RN’s scope of practice with a new hire. Which statement,
made by the new hire, is not true of the RN’s scope of practice?
a. “A nurse may be disciplined by the Board of Nursing for practicing beyond his or
her scope of practice.”
b. “Scope of practice is legally defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA).”
c. “Scope of practice defines the responsibilities of nurses.”
d. “Scope of practice can be found in state nurse practice acts.”
ANS: B
The RN’s scope of practice is legally defined by state nurse practice acts, not the ANA. A
nurse may be disciplined by the Board of Nursing. The scope of practice defines the
responsibilities of nurses and can be found in state nurse practice acts.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
OBJ: Compare and contrast the scope of practice for the LPN/LVN and the RN.
TOP: Scope of Practice
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
2. The nursing student is reviewing the different organizations that provide services for nurses.
She interprets the American Nurses Credentialing Center as
a. an association that provides accreditation for baccalaureate and higher degree
nursing education programsN.
b. the unifying body for the state boards of nursing.
c. an association that offers certification in many nursing specialties.
d. an organization that offers the national licensure examination.
ANS: C
The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers certification in many nursing specialties.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education provides nursing school accreditation. The
National Council of State Boards of Nursing is the unifying body for the state boards of
nursing. NCLEX is the national licensure examination implemented by the National Council
of State Boards of Nursing.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis
OBJ: Recognize the differences in the educational preparation of the LPN/LVN and RN.
TOP: Educational Preparation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
3. The student is studying the history of nursing education. She is able to identify which nursing
degree program as the first one in the United States for RNs?
a. Associate’s degree
b. Bachelor’s degree
c. Diploma degree
d. Master’s degree
ANS: C
, The first nursing degree program in the United States was the diploma, which began in 1872.
The associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s nursing programs came later.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Synthesis
OBJ: Recognize the differences in the educational preparation of the LPN/LVN and RN.
TOP: Educational Preparation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
4. Which function falls within the LPN/LVN’s scope of practice?
a. Formulating the plan of care
b. Collecting data
c. Selecting nursing diagnoses
d. Setting goals, objectives, and outcomes
ANS: B
One of the many functions of the LPN/LVN is that of data collector. Formulating the plan of
care; selecting nursing diagnoses; and setting goals, objectives, and outcomes are not in the
scope of practice for the practical nurse and must be performed by an RN.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
OBJ: Compare and contrast the professional roles of the LPN/LVN and the RN.
TOP: Professional Roles
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
5. Which of the following is an example of professional advocacy in nursing?
a. Charting and writing up a medication error
b. Writing up a nursing assistant for excessive absences
c. Writing one’s senator concNerning mandatory overtime
d. Mentoring a new graduate RN who is new to the unit
ANS: C
Writing one’s senator concerning mandatory overtime is professional advocacy. Charting and
writing up a medication error, writing up a nursing assistant, and mentoring a new graduate
are expectations of the RN.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
OBJ: Describe various role elements that are inherent in the scope of registered nursing practice.
TOP: Role Elements
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
6. The RN is caring for the following patients. Which patient and task are most appropriate to
assign to the LPN/LVN?
a. A 34-year-old female patient who will need discharge teaching
b. A 40-year-old postoperative male patient who needs a dressing change
c. A 64-year-old female patient who needs a bed bath
d. A 79-year-old patient whose plan of care needs to be updated
ANS: B
The LPN/LVN is skilled in dressing changes. The nursing assistant is skilled in giving a bed
bath. Discharge teaching and updating the plan of care are tasks that must be performed by the
RN.
