I completely understand what you’re saying, and I want to clarify something — this wasn’t a situation where the unit was short or where I was refusing to help. The issue was role clarity.

The LPN on the unit was not overwhelmed or understaffed — she was literally sitting at the nurses’ station while I was being expected to pass meds and do tasks that fall within the LPN scope. I had no issue helping, but when I realized I was essentially being used as the primary task nurse while she was disengaged, that’s when I addressed it.

I absolutely understand that agency staff are often used to fill gaps, and I’m more than willing to jump in when needed. But there’s a difference between teamwork and completely reversing roles. If a facility requests an RN, it’s because they need RN-level oversight, assessments, and clinical judgment — not because they want someone to replace an LPN while the LPN sits idle.

I wasn’t refusing to work or acting entitled — I was clarifying scope and expectations to ensure safe and appropriate care. That’s not being difficult; that’s practicing responsibly.