[AnnemRN]

"Among the more infamous cases involves a Pennsylvania certified medical assistant, who, acting on a doctor's orders, administered an experimental intravenous drug treatment that killed a 5-year-old boy in 2005. The doctor who authorized the unapproved treatment for autism spectrum disorder faces civil and criminal charges including manslaughter. The medical assistant, who reportedly never administered an IV-push before, has not been charged."

Here's the article regarding the Pennsylvania physician's trial and the MA who gave the IV push drug mentioned in the above paragraph:

www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009177915

[navvet]

So, what we have here is the Pyramid of Health Care knowlege in the good ole U.S.: RNs work in Hosps and acute care managment, Lpns work LTC and home care because of BON rules (can't push meds ect.) MAs can work under a Docs license because they are certified and recognised by the Med Board and can do what ever a Doc feels comfy with and because he can pay them less for not being "Licensed." And poor ole CNA's bathe and clean up everyone's crap. Now we have the Big Picture it's all about the MONEY,STATUS, and NAME TAG. Can't we all just be professional and get along....take care of the sick people.

[ink10300]

Originally Posted by softstorms

I really do not think LPN's can do an IV "push" in any state.There is no Law that says an LPN can "push" any med. Not in Florida or any other state. When you say you are allowed to do things "out of your scope" in Florida, then I wonder where you get your information from? Nope, you can not. and you may need to check your facts.

I'm not sure where you get your facts but what I said was if you are under DIRECT supervision of the RN or MD AND you have been trained you can.
What I also meant from "out of scope", and your right I could have worded it better, I meant that we would not be able to perform independently- meaning - under direct supervision..
(It is also very common for an LPN to provide IV TX and provide IV pushes in the home care world. I did not believe it until I checked it out myself, I've only lived here for a year).
But don't take my word for it...

So now if you will glance below, you know exactly where I get my information from.

Here is a copy of the link straight from the Florida Board of Nursing:
https://www.flrules.org/gateway/Rule...ID=64B9-12.003

But I will paste it here for you as well:

64B9-12.003 Aspects of Intravenous Therapy Outside the Scope of Practice of the LPN.
(1) Aspects of intravenous therapy which are outside the scope of practice of the licensed practical nurse [b]unless under the direct supervision of the registered professional nurse or physician and which shall not be performed or initiated by licensed practical nurses without direct supervision include the following:
(a) Initiation of blood and blood products;
(b) Initiation or administration of cancer chemotherapy;
(c) Initiation of plasma expanders;
(d) Initiation or administration of investigational drugs;
(e) Mixing IV solution;
(f) IV pushes, except heparin flushes and saline flushes.
(2) Although this rule limits the scope of licensed practical nurse practice, it is appropriate for licensed practical nurses to care for patients receiving such therapy.

[Super Nurf]

I personally believe no aide should have the responsibility of doing something another person has to be licensed to do. It surely is a labor cost issue and bothers me when I see an aide doing things like this.(Not the aide personally, but the system behind it). Why bother having any licensure of nurse if you are able to hire someone off the street to do it? It really makes no sense for Drs to be able to hire like this.

[unitek1963]

Originally Posted by ink10300

Exceptions:As a matter of fact, medical assistants can't do anything supervised by a nurse. A medical doctor MUST be present at all times.

Can anyone here actually see an MD following an MA around the office, just so he or she can "be present" when the MA does the procedure?

Me either...

[unitek1963]

What's an ASS degree?

Originally Posted by luvbnMA

N you right the only jobs that are available for LPN are in the nursing homes with the elderly or taking care of them something I would totally rather not do. And why would an MA take an CNA job, I pretty much doubt that..why go to school for 9-24 mon.. and get a job as an CNA that in NO. takes one day to complete be real.. MA states that the LPN job are similar because they are. We are not the one's who made up the curriculum or job descriptions and i don't think just because I do have my ASS. Degree that I'm more qualified I'm just letting you kno that we will never be a CNA if anything they are more closer to LPN. 1 more thing if you ever look on the internet for an MA job it is listed as LPN/MA not CNA/MA so you tell me why we think they are similar. And not to have any misunderstanding I do kno that there are some differences but also more similar factors.

[Super Nurf]

Not sure but I think most nurses could test out fairly well for an ASS degree!!!!

[txspadequeen921]

I think you need to check your facts. I have been a Texas LVN many years and pushed more drugs than I care to count...

Originally Posted by softstorms

I really do not think LPN's can do an IV "push" in any state.There is no Law that says an LPN can "push" any med. Not in Florida or any other state. When you say you are allowed to do things "out of your scope" in Florida, then I wonder where you get your information from? Nope, you can not. and you may need to check your facts.

[militarymom06]

Comparing a MA to an LPN is like comparing an LPN to an RN...they are different. Yes, an LPN can do much the same as an RN, in GA...but, there are alot of things an RN can do that an LPN cannot do. Same with MA's. Yes, the schooling is similar, but an LPN is licensed, and MA's aren't.

[ink10300]

Originally Posted by militarymom06

Comparing a MA to an LPN is like comparing an LPN to an RN...they are different. Yes, an LPN can do much the same as an RN, in GA...but, there are alot of things an RN can do that an LPN cannot do. Same with MA's. Yes, the schooling is similar, but an LPN is licensed, and MA's aren't.

I am an LPN and the difference is that I know the RN has more responsibility, (that I am often great-full I don't have), as well as knowledge. Period. We are similar, however it would be like saying a Vice President of a company is the same as a Manager.
And the same goes for MA to LPN. There is more responsibility on the licensed nurse with the added expectation of their more in-depth knowledge of disease processes, body systems and assessment and intervention techniques and therefore an ability to function more independently. But that is only my opinion.