Agency LPNs doing IV Push

Specialties Infusion

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What is the groups opinion on agency LPNs doing IV Push meds? I recently asked about hospital LPNs doing IV Push and had a variety of answers. If anyone does allow it...how do you measure competency? We have some agency nurses that are here day after day, others once every 6 months. Do you limit it to the "frequent fliers"?

As an LPN in new york state for 12 years who spent 4 on the IV team for a 485 bed hospital i can Tell you what new york state said when i wrote to get my scope of practice defined-a nurse-ANY nurse's(LPN,RN,BSRN,NP and every other combo of letters:) )scope of practice is limitied to what they where DIRECTLY instucted on,Not just taught in a book or lecture.It is assumed that you understand the theory of basic nursing when you receive your licensce and you can not be held liable if you follow the stardard of care legally BUT but if it can be proven that you where never taught the exact stardard you are in malpractice. if you preform that procedure.(Unless emereancy)That is the reason for the endless inservices we suffer(attend)when ever they change policy-even if its just that you now curl your pinki THIS way when you do whatever. Because I was directly instucted,I am allowed to start,attend to almost any IV related procedures-where some others with a higher degree would be guily of malpractice attending to the same task.Right now the only IV task NY state says is not in my scope of practice just because of my title is the hanging of any blood product.I can start the IV,care for the patient,watch it drip down the tubing and treat reactions but i CAN not spike the bag. There is really very few states that spell out what a nurses job actions are-if you read them ,most say a LPN under a RN's supervision but even thats changed from direct to just having contact even if only by phone.

Specializes in LTC, Post OP.

I too was wondering about this but this is what the nursing board of louisiana says about LPN"S

THEY can

Initiate and maintain IV therapy and administer IV medications by IVPB and/or IVP (including hyperalimentation, blood and blood products)

This lead me to believe that the LPN here( louisana )can start IV"S.

Dee

i LIVE IN OHIO. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE NEW IF WE WERE ALOUD TO DO iV PUSH IN AN EMERGENCY, IF THERE WAS A PHYSICIAN IN WITH YOU GIVING YOU THE COMMAND

Does anyone know the rules for CA?

In Oklahoma the RN can "delegate" to the LPN tasks that the RN feels the LPN is compotent in. At our facility starting IVs has never been a question. They are checked off in orientation and if they are not comfortable, we send them to endoscopy to be checked off.

After the first eval...if they are comfortable with their role...they are put in the LPN IV Push program. After completion they are allowed to do IV push and hang blood.

For years the RN had to "SPIKE THE BAG" and then let the LPN monitor. It took us a while but finally convinced administration that if someone can monitor a pt recieving blood, they can probably spike it.

Specializes in Geriatrics.
In Ohio, LPN's aren't allowed to give IV Push meds at all. In PA, I'm not sure what the "rules" are regarding this issue.

In PA LPN's are not allowed to do IV push meds. We can start them if we are IV certified and hang some meds (no chemo or blood products), but we are not allowed to do IV push meds.

at my hospital we cannot do IVPs but, usually we will set them up to run as a secondary. unless it is pain meds, which the RNs will push. we also start IVs and hang IVBs. no blood for for the LPNs though. In my LPN school we were not allowed to do anything that related to IVs. I think it is stupid that we are not allowed to learn about them in school but excpected to do task related to them in the hospitals.

Specializes in Emergency.

I'm in Illinois and can do IVP's--I do alot of them in the ED, the only things I'm not allowed to give IVP are cardiac drugs and consious sedation. We are also not allowed to hang blood.

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

In Texas LVN's can do IV pushes, but are limited in what they can and cannot push. Any hospital or LTC facility I have been employed with their policy allows us to do IV pushes... However, when I was a agency LVN I found that they wanted the RN on duty to push all the meds. Which is just fine by me .

In NY,at my hospital that I worked at, LPN's started IV's after they were certified. They can flush IV with NS each shift, and hang IV meds. They can monitor blood after the first 15 minutes, after a RN did the initial start. They do not do IV pushes or change the medication for a PCA. Two RN's have to sign off on that.

Specializes in L&D.
at my hospital we cannot do IVPs but, usually we will set them up to run as a secondary. unless it is pain meds, which the RNs will push. we also start IVs and hang IVBs. no blood for for the LPNs though. In my LPN school we were not allowed to do anything that related to IVs. I think it is stupid that we are not allowed to learn about them in school but excpected to do task related to them in the hospitals.

Really? The hospital I just left, the LPN couldn't even do a saline flush. No starting iv's either. I thought that was all of Michigan.

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