CPR

Nurses General Nursing

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I was recently told as LPN with a newly epired BLS card that I cannot have patient conatct , but the medical ssistants who CPR has expired can continue to work? My card expired recently and I have already taken the necessary steps to renew it, But is this true only licensed professional cannot have pt contact ,but this does not apply to unlicensed medical staff?

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

This appears to be your company policy. This has not been the policy in any place that I have worked. Since that's what your facility is telling you, it's best to see if you can find a written policy to make sure it matches what they say. Renew your BLS as soon as possible and try to renew it a couple weeks before it expires the next time around.

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Thank you, I will be attending a class 11/15 threw the hospital that Im currently employed at, it just seemed odd that medical assistants can continue work becuse they have no license but since im licensed i cannot have pt conatct, and I have done my research there is no policy regarding cpr as of yet. Thank you again.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
I was recently told as LPN with a newly epired BLS card that I cannot have patient conatct , but the medical ssistants who CPR has expired can continue to work? My card expired recently and I have already taken the necessary steps to renew it, But is this true only licensed professional cannot have pt contact ,but this does not apply to unlicensed medical staff?

Well, current CPR is a requirement of your LICENSURE, so in effect, your license has "lapsed" when your CPR did. MA's don't have a license, so they're not in violation of any rules that govern this. Your hospital must not be concerned about unlicensed personnel the way they are about licensed ones

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.
Well, current CPR is a requirement of your LICENSURE, so in effect, your license has "lapsed" when your CPR did. MA's don't have a license, so they're not in violation of any rules that govern this. Your hospital must not be concerned about unlicensed personnel the way they are about licensed ones

I disagree that CPR is a requirement of licensure. When I applied for my license I was not required to submit a current BLS card. If your CPR certification is up for renewal it does not mean you are not licensed as a nurse. What if the person is currently unemployed, BLS has expired and needs to renew their license? They can easily renew their license without taking a BLS class. Maybe the law is differentin your state, but my BLS was expired for two weeks while I was waiting for the next renewal class to take place and I was still allowed to continue to work. It's based on the facility's preference.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
I disagree that CPR is a requirement of licensure. When I applied for my license I was not required to submit a current BLS card. If your CPR certification is up for renewal it does not mean you are not licensed as a nurse. What if the person is currently unemployed, BLS has expired and needs to renew their license? They can easily renew their license without taking a BLS class. Maybe the law is differentin your state, but my BLS was expired for two weeks while I was waiting for the next renewal class to take place and I was still allowed to continue to work. It's based on the facility's preference.

I agree, sorry---it does vary by state! I was speaking of my own requirements, again, sorry!!

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I'm curious - what state BON requires BLS?

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

It's not the state's BON themselves that require BLS it's most of the employers. I've heard that a BLS course can count toward CEs in some states. Don't know how true that is but it would be nice.

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Specializes in ED, CTSurg, IVTeam, Oncology.

IIRC, CPR is NOT required for licensing.

However, most hospitals have certain obligations insofar as their institutional certifications and insurance; ie Level 1 Trauma Center, Chest Pain Center, 911 Receiving, et cetera. Their certifications are based on public health mandates as to who can attend a patient, and to what level of proficiency, their training must be. One long standing requirement of that has always been, up do date BCLS certification for all nurses. In most places IIRC, there is no such public health law institution wide requirements for CNA's or Medical Asst's.

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Specializes in PCU.

My facility requires that BLS & ACLS be current. If either lapses, the RN/LPN is pulled off the schedule until it has been renewed.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
My facility requires that BLS & ACLS be current. If either lapses, the RN/LPN is pulled off the schedule until it has been renewed.

That is how mine is too (well, substitute ACLS with NRP).

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