Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Neuro Intensive Care Nursing /

Scope of practice question



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,735 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Dec 03, 2007 06:22 AM

Scope of practice question

by bluesky

Yesterday my patient who had a mostly negative CT of the spine had a flex-ex x-ray ordered to clear the c-spine. Both the charge nurse and the neurosurg resident told me that it was OK for me to take off the collar and hold c-spine during the flexion and extension so I felt really pressured to do it and did it (at least I had EMS experience and knew how). It all went smoothly but I still don't feel right about having done it. Does anyone know if it's in our scope of practice as nurses to do this?

I understand that the risk was pretty low in my patient (Ct and all) BUT I didn't like how the charge nurse was like "oh we do it all the time". She didn't even know how to hold c-spine correctly herself. I am just a traveller so I am going to keep my mouth shut but I was really uncomfortable about the whole situation.


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
3 Comments
No. 1
Old Dec 03, 2007, 04:26 PM

Default Re: Scope of practice question
So... who would have been responsible had a previously undiagnosed Sublux of C1-C2 taken the diaphragm out and paralyzed the patient? I guarantee the resident and charge nurse would have left you holding the bag. Remember- traveler=expendible in most institutions. Protect yourself.
Top
 
No. 2
Old Dec 04, 2007, 02:07 PM

Default Re: Scope of practice question
If you don't feel comfortable doing something, don't do it. You're always the one responsible for your actions. They would have hung you out to dry if the need came up.
Top
 
No. 3
from Trauma1RN
Old Feb 17, 2008, 07:56 PM

Default Re: Scope of practice question
At one facility I worked at only trauma certified nurse could hold a c-spine patient while out of the collar.
Top
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
229 members
1,844 guests
2,073

3

Four Lehigh Valley Health Network nurses accused of...

48

lawsuit - But don't most RN's work through breaks/lunch...

0

Patient Evaluation of Retail Clinic Care

7

The hard to reach on-call doctor, and its effects on...

11

Woman charged with passing off prescription drug as...

26

Man in "Vegetative State" was conscious for 23...

2

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

14

Possible breakthrough regarding MS

63

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

14

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts






Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: