Scrub tech working out of scope

When all else fails, ask the guy... Do you know how he is employed?? Most people can't change their ID on their own????

If this was happening in a room I was circulating I would complete an incident report EVERY TIME the tech worked outside of their scope of practice (per the hospital's policies). Read the policy, know it by heart, and then report accordingly. You really need to cover your own butt with this, and at some point management/HR will have to do something.

Before I get jumped on, I would be happy to have an LPN do these tasks in the OR, provided that they are covered legally to perform these tasks. In this instance, it doesn't sound like the facility is covering them to perform tasks other than those of a tech (not a nurse) and I wouldn't want to expose myself to the liability of allowing them to function in a grey area of the hospital's policy.

In Texas LVN's can't do assessments, only the RN. It's in the Nurse Practice Act. I once worked with a LVN who was a scrub, she only did scrub duties. I guess management should be made aware and let them know what he is doing. Who changed his name tag?

Have you considered having a one-on-one conversation with this scrub tech/wannabe RN? Seriously, HR may be looking the other way for now, but this person is risking everything if he's practicing out of scope. If he's good at what he does (supposed to do) and you don't want to see him go fired, I think I'd just start asking the basic questions. If this person is an arrogant jerk, or incompetent, I'd ask them the questions, and keep a close eye. Sounds like maybe he's sleeping with someone in HR or something. Sorry, I'm jaded and I've seen crazy stuff like this reduced to that one simple equation.

Don't call HR call risk management. HR does pay and similar measures. Risk managements job is to address behavior that puts the hospital at risk ie as above.

David Carpenter, PA-C

Document!!!!!

He has earned the right to have LPN on his badge, but should only be allowed to do scrub duties.



We have an LVN who is a scrub. I give her the respect she deserves, she is a scrub nurse. However, by law, she can't circulate, nor do assessments.

Excellent point, Dave!