Can LPNs give meds/IVs in Arkansas?

michellew6904 · Jul 27, 2013

I'm just a student still but we do not have med aides so yes the LPN passes meds. I know in a nursing home they hang ivs and start them. Not positive about hospitals but I believe they are allowed to but most hospitals around Fayetteville and Bentonville do not hire LPNs. There are a few that will.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2013

I'll be moving to my home state soon and was curious what restrictions LPNs had in Arkansas. I can't find anything on google..

Two things, first you will probably get many more responses if you have one of the mods move this to the Arkansas section of the site. Second, did you check the Arkansas BON for that info?

I would venture to guess that an LPN in any State can give meds. As for IV meds, that depends on the state. In CT an LPN can give meds IV (only certain ones) only after obtaining an IV line management couse (usually offered by the facility), we cannot push anything, no blood products can be hung by an LPN. CT is very restricitve on its LPN scope of practice. Other states are much more lienent on them.

Your best answer will come from the BON :)

michellew6904 · Jul 28, 2013

That may be the case here. I'm wanting to day LPN can't give IV push or hang blood

michellew6904 · Jul 28, 2013

*say rather

NurseStephen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 26, 2013

Yes. In most hospitals in Arkansas, LPNs can administer *limited* types of IV medications. Check with your hospital's policy.

roshane · Aug 29, 2014

i work at a hosptial in arkansas. we give iv meds and regular meds. the only thing we dont do is blood or plasma. we can take over after the first 15 mins of blood.

figureskating · May 29, 2015

I worked for Baptist Health Little Rock and North Little Rock three years ago and that is how we got our LPN II. After 6 months we had to take an IV push medication class where we were educated on PICC and CVL lines and general IV care. We had to also take a test on about 13 to 14 different medications that we were allowed to push. We were not allowed to push IV narcotics, anti anxiety medications, or B/P medications. Some of the things we could push were Lasix, Toradol, Reglan, Pepcid, and Protonix. In addition I passed medications and hung IV fluids. Baptist trained us LPNs to do just about everything but hanging blood and pushing narcs. Baptist has pretty much done away with LPNs in the hospital now though. I work for the VA now and they do not allow LPNs to push anything other than saline.