Any LPNS out there feeling like underdogs?

[javertech]

I have been an LPN for about 8 months now. I work at a hospital. If you are a new grad where I work you cannot give IV Medications until you have had your license for 6 months and take an IV therapy course through my facility. I am waiting to take the IV therapy course. When one of my patients needs an IV push medication I have to ask one of the other nurses to do it. I understand that they have their own work to do but I absolutely cannot give it. Some of the nurses want me to scan the medication under my badge which I also refuse to do and them give the medication. I may as well give it myself if I have to scan it under my name. I would be held liable in a court if something happened to that patient due to the medication being given. I chart in the patient's nurse's notes that the medication was given by another nurse and the reason in was needed to be given (pain or nausea, etc.) It is my license on the line not theirs. Any ways it is like pulling teeth to get someone to give my patients their IV meds. One of my nurses was sitting at the desk reading on her nook and was not in any rush to give my patient their pain medication when I ask her to. This was very upsetting. I wanted to talk to my boss about this but my husband told me not to because it was cause a lot of hardship on me if I do. I don't know exactly what to do or how to handle it.

[scameron]

What state are you in??? I'm a new grad in GA.

[HazelLPN, LPN]

There should be an RN who is responsible for covering what is outside of your scope of practice on your patients. In my case, it was the charge nurse. I am not certain what scanning the medication under you badge means, but you can definately obtain the med for the RN and that is not the same thing as pushing the med yourself unless the policy is that by scanning the med you are giving it.

Check with your nurse manager as to best handle the situation. In my case, I couldn't push propofol. If my patient needed it, I could go to the pyxis and obtain the med (under my name) but then would hand it to the doc who ordered it who would then have to push it (our staff RNs couldn't push any anesthetics...had to be a CRNA, pharmacist, or one of the docs). I would then chart that the med was given per whatever doc gave the drug and to cover my rear, also have my charge nurse witness the doc pushing the drug as well.

Glad to see that you will be able to do your own IVP meds soon and that your state and hospital allow you to function at the highest level of your training.

Best to you,

Mrs H.