[Simba&NalasMom]

Originally Posted by Haunted

I second that! But even in a SNF 15 patients sounds like a lot. Also, I didn't know LVN's could flush PICCS. But, good for the agency nurse for being upfront from the beginning and making that call.

Wow, I wanna work where you two work!! In some buildings I've been in, 20-25 is not an unusual census to have on a skilled/rehab unit. Most with that number use med aides, but still...overwhelming for established staff much less agency nurses. IV scope for LPNs varies by state; in OR we can do everything except hang blood and push narcs, whether it's a peripheral start (I have to admit, I would not be too comfortable starting a peripheral line as I've never had occasion to do one), a PICC or a central port.

As far as the PICC thing goes, I'm not "IV certified" but hanging IV ABX to a PICC via a Baxter pump isn't exactly rocket science...if you can hang a feeding, you can hook up a person to a PICC. In my experience it's mostly a frustration as a lot of people don't leave it primed for the next nurse so you have to deal with it beeping a lot and bleeding air bubbles.

I decided to start working agency and have a few years LPN experience and am pretty nervous, but these posts are making it a little easier; like the OP said, I can't imagine going into an agency situation and not knowing how to hang to a PICC, or do a foley (I've run into that from agency nurses as well), or work a wound vac, etc...yikes.

[iwanna]

In state of PA, LPNs are not allowed to hang blood or push drugs into IV.
And, every facility is different as far as scope of practice for LPN. In hospital I was not allowed to take phone orders from dr., but in LTC it is allowed. The regulations in the LPN scope is very strange. Like an LPN is more competent in LTC than in the hospital. But, whoever is assigning these LPNs should be aware of the scope. And, if any nurse is uncomfortable with doing something then they should not put anyone at risk by attempting it. I say good for her!

Do you agency nurses feel that you are resented where you are working at? I have heard that some nurses resent agency nurses because they make more money. I can remember working in a place that I would have welcomed agency nurses. Mainly, for the fact that I would not have worked as many hours because nobody wanted to pick up another shift.

I thought that I would like to try agency nurses, but only feel qualified to work psych. I have only worked in behavioral health. So, now I am trying to get job in hospital for the med-surg experience. I know that I would be eaten alive, if I even attempted agency nursing at this point.

[CapeCodMermaid]

In Massachusetts, NO ONE hangs blood in a SNF and very few SNF's allow any medication to be given IV push. What I did as an RN at the hospital would possibly lose me my license in a skilled facility.

[natania]

I've worked with some great agency nurses, regardless of the morale of the facility. They make a lot more money, and good for them. If I didn't have a family to come home to, I'd do the same.