West Virginia Code of State Rules Agency 10 - Licensed Practical Nurses
Agency 10 – Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
This agency is responsible for regulating Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in West Virginia. It sets the standards of education, licensing, practice, discipline, and continuing competence for practical nurses, ensuring they provide safe and ethical care to the public.
1. Purpose and Mission
Purpose: To regulate the profession of practical nursing in the state.
Mission: Protect the public by ensuring that LPNs meet and maintain high standards of competence, ethics, and professionalism.
2. Organizational Structure
Board of Licensed Practical Nurses (BLPN): The governing body within Agency 10.
Key Responsibilities:
Grant and renew licenses.
Set education and training standards.
Investigate complaints and enforce discipline.
Develop practice standards and codes of conduct.
3. Core Functions
1. Licensure
Initial Licensure Requirements:
Graduation from an approved practical nursing program.
Passing a standardized national licensing exam for practical nurses.
Submitting to background checks and character verification.
Renewal of Licenses:
LPNs must renew periodically (usually every 1–2 years).
Proof of continuing education or competency may be required.
Temporary Permits:
May be issued to new graduates awaiting exam results.
2. Education and Training
Approval of Nursing Programs:
The agency approves practical nursing schools and training curricula.
Standards cover faculty qualifications, clinical practice hours, and student-to-instructor ratios.
Curriculum Requirements:
Nursing fundamentals, anatomy, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, maternity, and geriatrics.
Supervised clinical practice in hospitals, nursing homes, and community health settings.
3. Scope of Practice for LPNs
Core Duties:
Provide bedside care (monitor vital signs, administer medications, wound care).
Assist physicians and registered nurses (RNs).
Collect samples and perform basic laboratory tests.
Educate patients and families under supervision.
Limitations:
LPNs work under the direction of RNs, physicians, or dentists.
They cannot perform advanced procedures reserved for registered nurses or physicians.
4. Continuing Education
LPNs must complete ongoing continuing education (CE) to maintain licensure.
CE ensures nurses remain updated on:
New medical practices.
Patient safety protocols.
Emerging healthcare technologies.
5. Discipline and Enforcement
Grounds for Discipline:
Fraud in obtaining a license.
Substance abuse or impairment.
Patient neglect or abuse.
Breach of confidentiality.
Practicing beyond authorized scope.
Possible Actions Taken by Agency 10:
Reprimand.
License suspension.
License revocation.
Mandatory rehabilitation programs.
6. Public Protection
Investigates complaints from patients, families, employers, or colleagues.
Maintains a registry of licensed LPNs accessible to the public.
Ensures that only qualified, ethical nurses are allowed to practice.
4. Key Principles
Public Safety First – The agency prioritizes patient protection.
Competency Through Education – LPNs must be trained and tested.
Accountability – Nurses are responsible for ethical and professional conduct.
Support for the Workforce – Encourages ongoing professional growth of LPNs.
Transparency – Provides clear rules, enforcement actions, and licensing requirements.
5. Summary
Agency 10 – Licensed Practical Nurses is the regulatory authority overseeing LPNs in West Virginia. It governs licensure, education standards, practice scope, continuing education, and discipline. The agency ensures that only qualified, competent, and ethical nurses are licensed to practice, protecting both the profession’s integrity and the health and safety of the public.
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