Things an LPN cannot do: the common limits, the state rules behind them, and the EAT rule
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Checked against official sources: November 2026
Rules, fees and deadlines differ by state and change without notice. Check with your state board of nursing before you rely on them.
Short answer
There is no single national list of things an LPN cannot do, because each state's practice act sets its own limits. The common ones are no comprehensive or independent assessment, no initiating the nursing care plan, no practice without supervision, and state-specific IV limits. EAT (evaluate, assess, teach) is a study mnemonic, not a rule.
Common LPN limits and the rule that writes each one
Treat the table as examples, not a national rulebook. Each row names a state that puts the limit in writing; your own state may word it differently or not address it at all, and your employer may add limits on top.
| Limit | Example from a state rule |
|---|---|
| Independent or comprehensive assessment | Texas 15.27: the LVN cannot perform independent assessments; focused assessment only |
| Initiating the nursing care plan | Texas BON FAQ: LVNs may not initiate care plans; only the RN develops the initial plan |
| Medical diagnosis or prescribing | Texas 15.27: LVN scope does not include medical diagnosis or prescribing treatment |
| Practicing with no supervisor | Texas 15.27: the LVN may not practice in a completely independent manner |
| Triage and telephone triage | Texas BON FAQ: the board believes triage is beyond LVN scope |
| IV push | Pennsylvania 21.145a(5): LPNs may not give medications by push or bolus |
| Starting blood | Pennsylvania 21.145a(1): LPNs may not initiate blood, blood components or plasma volume expanders |
| PICC or midline insertion and removal | Texas 15.3: beyond LVN scope |
| Supervising an RN | Texas 15.27: not appropriate and beyond LVN scope |
Several of these are not universal. Texas 15.3, for example, leaves IV push and titrated drips to facility policy once the LVN has completed a validation course, so the Pennsylvania IV rows tell you nothing about a Texas job.
What does EAT stand for in delegation?
EAT is a classroom memory aid, usually expanded as evaluate, assess and teach, for tasks an RN keeps rather than hands to an LPN or aide. You will not find it in the NCSBN and ANA National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, effective April 2019. What the guidelines say is broader: the licensed nurse cannot delegate nursing judgment or any activity that requires clinical reasoning or critical decision making.
Taken literally, EAT is wrong about LPNs. Texas 15.27 says the LVN does focused assessments, participates in evaluation by reporting changes and suggesting plan changes, and helps carry out established teaching plans. The 2026 NCLEX-PN test plan likewise uses verbs like reinforce education and collect data. Read EAT as: the RN does the first full assessment, writes the teaching plan and judges whether the plan worked.
Can LPNs do admission assessments?
It depends on the state and the setting. The Texas BON FAQ says the board does not define an initial assessment, so it points nurses to the agency that licenses the facility; if that agency requires an RN to do the initial assessment, the LVN cannot do it for the RN.
North Carolina rule 21 NCAC 36 .0225 describes LPN assessment as participation, built on collecting data according to structured written guidelines, policies and forms, with interpretation limited to spotting relationships and the need for immediate action. In practice, an LPN may collect admission data on the facility's form, while the RN does the assessment that the plan of care is built on.
Delegation is a limit that flips by state
Whether an LPN may delegate at all depends on the state. Texas 15.27 says delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel is beyond LVN scope, although the LVN may make assignments to other LVNs and aides. North Carolina rule .0225(d)(2) lets the LPN delegate nursing activities to qualified unlicensed staff when the rule's criteria are met.
The NCSBN and ANA guidelines allow for both: they apply to LPN/VNs delegating to assistive personnel only as allowed by their state. On the NCLEX-PN, answer from the general principle that judgment stays with the licensed nurse; on the job, answer from your state's rule.
Sources
NCSBN and ANA, National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation (effective April 29, 2019). Nursing judgment and clinical reasoning cannot be delegated; LPN/VNs delegate to assistive personnel only as allowed by the state; no EAT mnemonic in the guidelines
Texas Board of Nursing Position Statements 15.3 and 15.27. No independent assessment, no medical diagnosis, supervision, no delegation to aides, teaching plans, evaluation role, PICC limits, no supervising RNs, LVN charge role in nursing homes
Texas Board of Nursing, Nursing Practice FAQ. Initial assessments, LVNs may not initiate care plans, triage beyond LVN scope
49 Pa. Code 21.145a, Prohibited acts. Pennsylvania LPN IV push and blood initiation bans
North Carolina 21 NCAC 36 .0225, Components of Nursing Practice for the LPN. LPN participation in assessment, structured data collection, limited interpretation, LPN delegation to unlicensed staff under criteria, teaching as assigned
Common questions
Can LPNs teach patients?
Yes, within limits. Texas 15.27 says LVNs help carry out established teaching plans for common health problems, and North Carolina rule .0225 has LPNs take part in teaching as assigned. Building the teaching plan is RN work.
Can an LPN work without an RN in the building?
Sometimes. Texas 15.27 says direct on-site supervision is not required in every setting, but the LVN must have access to a clinical supervisor and clear policies, and the supervisor may need to be physically present for emergencies.
Can an LPN be a charge nurse?
In Texas, the board says LVNs in settings such as nursing homes may supervise other LVNs under RN oversight, but may never supervise an RN. Other states set their own rules, so check your board and employer.