Also, another question. CNA Scope in FL

[NurseG77]

I am acquiring a new pt. The other day the staff and I went to see her before her discharge. The nurses there were saying the CNAs could suction her trach, put her foley in, and if I remember correctly, stimulate her bowels? Really? Is this so? That seems very weird to me, but who knows? Are CNA's allowed to do these procedures in the state of FL when they work home health? I was thinking to myself, "Why the hell even send a nurse out?"

Thanks,

Nurse G

[caliotter3]

Hmmm. Not in my state. I would contact the authorities, i.e. the Board that governs CNAs and/or the RN Board, and ask, in writing, what can be delegated in a home health situation. The RN board in my state has a position paper out on supervising UAs (as well as CNAs I believe). See if the state of FL Board also addresses this. Personally, I would not be delegating these procedures to a CNA/HHA unless I was certain I had the authority to do so. After all, it is my license on the line.

[NurseG77]

I didn't delegate nothing and I'm not going to do so. The part that confuses me about it all is that the nurses at the hospital were ...um...kind of making sure the CNA's knew how to do these things before the pts discharge. So, I do not know why hospital staff would be doing that if the CNA's were not allowed to do it, but you just never know.

I took the aide that was there today and told her she needed to call the board,etc and make sure she was allowed to do these things because it seemed very odd to me. I told her that the pt knows how to suction herself and to let her do so. I am calling the board myself on Monday. I have also talked to other CNA's that were in fact administering medication. I told them that they were not to do that. The agency was telling them to do it. I dunno about you all, but it seems to me that if you are getting pills,etc out of bottles and giving them to pts that is administering meds. Am I right?

Nurse G

[caliotter3]

If the CNA is getting pills out of bottles and giving them to the patient that is administering medication in anybody's book. If they are doing so against the scope of practice of a CNA in FL, they could get in trouble as well as the agency supervisors who are telling them to do this. If they are private duty employees of the patient and do this as part of their employment agreement, then that is between them and the patient. However, when they are employed by an agency, the agency has to follow the law. The management at the agency knows this.

[NurseG77]

The nurses and CNA's are independent contractors with the agency. They do not take any taxes out of our checks. I wonder how this relates to liability. What a situation!

Nurse G

[caliotter3]

If the nurses and CNAs are independent contractors, you know what the agency will say if anything ever hits the fan don't you? This is one of the reasons why "independent contractors" is the way to go instead of "employees".

[NurseG77]

I sure do! That is what I tried to tell the CNA yesterday. I am training with a new agency and have an interview tomorrow for another job, too. So, eventually, I am going to be giving a notice and I hope it is sooner rather than later!

Nurse G