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Kentucky Board of Nursing

Practice

Licensed Practical Nurse FAQ

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​​​​​This page provides information on frequently asked questions (FAQ) the KBN receives related to LPN nursing scope of practice.  You may review all the nursing scope of practice FAQs through the list below or search by key words.


​Please Note: Additional FAQs are added routinely.

Notes: *Qualified healthcare providers are physicians, physician assistants, dentists, or advanced practice registered nurses.  See, KRS 314.011(6).​
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​​What is Patient Abandonment?​

While the terms “abandonment” and “patient abandonment” are not used in the Kentucky Nursing Laws (Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 314), the Board has the authority to take disciplinary action in specific cases based on its interpretation of what constitutes professional misconduct.

In Kentucky, a nurse whose behaviors are inconsistent with the safe practice of nursing may be charged with being in violation of KRS 314.091(1)(d) “…negligently or willfully acting in a manner inconsistent with the practice of nursing….” All complaints received by the Board alleging patient abandonment are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) has investigated and disciplined nurses for issues surrounding the concept of abandonment as it relates to the nurse’s duty to a patient.​

The position of KBN applies to the licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced registered nurse practitioner (APRN).

While it is difficult to specifically state when abandonment occurs, abandonment does not occur when a nurse who cannot practice with reasonable skill and safety leaves an assignment after fulfilling the two obligations stated above. There are employment issues that do not rise to the level of patient abandonment, and thus, are not within the jurisdiction of the Board to address. Examples of employer issues include an employee “no call, no show” situation, an employee refusal to work “mandatory overtime” beyond the regularly scheduled number of hours, and employer resignation policies.

As a guide to nurses and employers, the Board advises that, in general, a nurse who has accepted responsibility for a patient assignment may leave the patient assignment only after: ​

  1. ​Communicating the need to do so with the nurse’s supervisor; and ​
  2. Exhausting all reasonable and prudent efforts to place the care of the patients in another nurse’s care.

Nurses have a professional and ethical obligation to provide for patient safety, avoid patient abandonment, and to withdraw only when assured that, nursing care is available to the patient (American Nurses Association - ANA, 2015).​


​How can I Determine if a Particular Task is within My Scope of Practice?

In the practice of nursing, professional issues and practice questions arise that require the nurse to apply education, experience, and professional judgment and to be legally responsible and accountable for the outcome(s). The role of a Board of Nursing is to establish minimum standards for education, licensure, and practice, and to provide information to practicing nurses, to ultimately promote public protection. Scope of practice is the range of roles, functions, responsibilities, and activities that a nurse is educated, competent, and authorized to perform. Scope of practice can evolve and change through experience, clinical competency, evidence-based practice, research, technology, legislation, and changes in the healthcare system.

When the performance of a specific act is not definitively addressed in the Kentucky Nursing Laws or an advisory opinion of the Board, the nurse must exercise professional judgment in determining whether the performance of the act is within the scope of practice for which the individual nurse is licensed. The KBN has developed a decision-making model that provides guidelines to nurses in determining whether a selected act is within an individual nurse’s scope of practice. ​

For more information regarding scope of practice determination guidelines see:​


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Is a school nurse from another state required to have a Kentucky nursing license to accompany students to Kentucky for a field trip?

  • ​​For Nurses Outside of Kentucky Without a Multistate/Compact License If the school nurse has a single state license, and the state is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, and the nurse is in the state on a non-routine basis not to exceed seven (7) days; the nurse may practice while in the state.
  • A nurse with a multistate license from another NLC state has the privilege to practice in KY.​
  • A nurse travelling to Kentucky would be expected to understand Kentucky laws related to nursing practice in the state.

For more information related to school nursing see:


Is it okay for the School Nurse to monitor a student’s continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) on a personal device?

School nurses who provide nursing care for monitoring and maintaining continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for students during the school day or during school activities should do so only if they are educationally prepared and clinically competent to perform such tasks. The school nurse should never use a personal device for CGM, data collection, or communication between themselves, students, guardians, or healthcare providers due to the risk of confidential student data being compromised. 

Further, schools should develop internal policies and procedures related to:

  1. The storage of CGM monitoring devices on school property; and
  2. Appropriate training guidelines for all staff responsible for using or storing CGM devices.

For more information related to school nursing see:

​What does Telehealth consist of? ​

Telehealth includes the use of interactive audio, video, or other electronic media to deliver health care. It includes the use of electronic media for diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of health or medical data, and continuing education. The term does not include audio-only telephone calls, email messages, or facsimile transactions​.

For more information regarding Telehealth see:


Can an LPN perform medical aesthetics procedures?

Yes. according to the Advisory Opinion Statement AOS #35 Role of Nurses in Cosmetic and Dermatological Procedures the LPN who is educationally prepared and clinically competent to perform cosmetic and dermatological procedures (except sclerotherapy) under the direct supervision of a qualified healthcare provider*. The LPN who performs these acts should meet the criteria described in AOS #35. It is recommended to review the AOS in its entirety if practicing in this setting.

  • ​Aesthetic, cosmetic, and dermatological procedures may be performed by a nurse as a part of a medically prescribed plan of care for treatment of various dermatological conditions.
    • If the procedure is not a part of the medically prescribed plan of care, it may require licensure by another regulatory Board.

The nurse should use the AOS # 41 RN/LPN/APRN Scope or Practice Determination Guidelines to determine if a specific activity is within the nurse's legal and individual scope of practice.

For more information regarding aesthetics see:


Can an LPN administer Botox® or inject medications for dermal fillers?

The nursing laws allow a competent and appropriately trained licensed practical nurse to administer neuromodulators (such as Botox®, Dysport®, or Xeomin®) under the direction of a qualified healthcare provider or under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse. These procedures require a prescription from a qualified healthcare provider. The LPN should use the AOS #41 RN/LPN/APRN Scope of Practice Guidelines to determine if these activities are within the nurse's legal and individual scope of practice. AOS # 35 Role of Nurses in Cosmetic and Dermatological Procedures provides additional guidance for the LPN related to aesthetic procedures. ​

For more information regarding aesthetics see:



Can an LPN provide infusion therapy? 

Yes, according to 201 KAR 20:490 it is within the scope of practice for an LPN to provide infusion therapy within their scope and training if they are delegated to do so by a RN or qualified healthcare provider.* Please review 201 KAR 20:490 for additional information on the LPN’s role in infusion therapy including Section 5 which provides a list of functions an LPN cannot perform.

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Can the LPN administer antineoplastic drugs? ​

According to 201 KAR 20:490 (5)(12) an LPN shall not perform the following infusion therapy functions: Administration of immunoglobulins, antineoplastic agents, or investigational drugs.

For more information regarding LPN infusion therapy see: 


Can an LPN provide line and site care on a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC)? 

Yes, according to the Advisory Opinion Statement AOS # 20 Roles of Nurses in Cardiovascular Nursing Practice, the LPN can manage the care of and administer medications via central lines as stated in 201 KAR 20:490 ​The peripheral insertion of a central or midline intravenous catheter is not within the scope of licensed practical nursing practice.

For more information regarding LPN practice see:

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​Can an LPN delegate nursing tasks to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)?

Yes, according to Advisory Opinion Statement (AOS #15) Roles of Nurses in the Supervision and Delegation of Nursing Acts to Unlicensed Personnel, the LPN practices under the direction of a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, physician, physician assistant, or dentist, and may supervise and delegate nursing tasks to unlicensed persons in accordance with 201 KAR 20:400​ Delegation of nursing tasks as outlined in Section 1, except in a school setting.

For more information regarding delegation see: ​

​Can an LPN pronounce death?

No, in Kentucky, KRS 314.181​ states that a registered nurse (RN) who is employed by a health facility as defined in KRS 216B.015 may determine whether a patient is dead in accordance with the requirements of KRS 446.400.

For more information regarding LPN practice see:


Can an LPN practice independently?

No, the Nurse Practice Act defines standards related to the scope of practice for licensed practical nurses in KRS 314.011(10), specifically an LPN shall engage in practical nursing only under the supervision of a registered nurse, or qualified healthcare provider.* 

For more information regarding practice see:

What settings may an LPN practice in?

​An LPN may work in any setting where nursing care is provided. Scope of practice remains the same regardless of setting. Examples of settings include (but not limited to): Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family homes, schools, camps, clinics, public health clinics, homes, hospice, community health centers, homeless shelters, insurance companies and other businesses. 

For more information regarding practice see:

Can an LPN perform the initial triage of a patient?

No, while some LPNs may be involved in triage activities, particularly in specific settings or under the supervision of an RN, the primary responsibility for initial patient assessment and triage typically falls to the RN.

For more information regarding LPN practice see:


Can an LPN do the initial assessment of a patient admitted to a long-term care facility?

No, in a nursing home setting, while LPNs can collect data and perform focused assessments, the initial comprehensive assessment, including interpretation of data and development of the care plan, is the responsibility of an RN.

For more information regarding LPN practice see:​

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