Are RNs allowed to arterial stick at your hospital?

[Deetail]

I find that it's a lot easier to draw blood with an arterial stick on some patients with invisible/rolling veins. I know it's pretty common for nurses to do it in ICUs, but what about in other fields?

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I find that it's a lot easier to draw blood with an arterial stick on some patients with invisible/rolling veins. I know it's pretty common for nurses to do it in ICUs, but what about in other fields?

Well yes, it's easier. It's also fraught with unnecessary risk for most labs.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

I drew ABGs as a nursing student in the PACU. The patient was intubated (thank God) and I got it the first time! I think there is less technique involved than for an IV start.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Only for ABGs and we can only do the radial. RTs can do bother radial and brachial.

The only time we can use arterial blood for a blood draw is if the patient already has an art line in place (which I have only seen once in the ER) otherwise the physician will have to be the one to draw the blood, and that's usually a femoral stick.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We used to be able to, but the attendings made us stop as we were taking learning experiences away from the residents Nurse who can get blood on 1st stick or resident that takes 3. Gee no brainer. So now we just have to grit our teeth and smile.

[OneDuckyRN]

It all depends on the area in my facility, but on my current floor, most of the phlebotomists are trained to do art sticks. I've never seen one done for any reason other than an ABG, though. Also, the nurses only do blood draws involving a line or a port. Otherwise, phlebotomy techs do it all. This means that they also have to show up at all codes.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

We used to be able to, but the attendings made us stop as we were taking learning experiences away from the residents Nurse who can get blood on 1st stick or resident that takes 3. Gee no brainer. So now we just have to grit our teeth and smile.

OMG! You work in a hospital where ATTENDINGS determine nurse practice!!! A physician has no business at all telling nurses what they can and can't do. Any doctor who tried to dictate nurse practice in my hospitals would be laughed out of the room.

[libran1984, ASN, RN]

RNs and LPNs draw ABGs / perform art sticks at my hospital in the ED. An RRT/CRT draws the ABGs on most floors. If blood is needed but not necessarily for an ABG, then the floor RN or LPN can get it.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I'm in the ICU and we don't. Respiratory therapy sticks for ABGs and physicians place arterial lines. Of course, if the arterial line is established, we draw all of the ABGs and other labs from the line. It may be different in the ED or NICU.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Pretty much that is the only thing we aren't allowed to do. Residents get first practice. Such is life in the world of needing residents to learn.

Our residents are usually too busy and are happy for the nurses to do anything and everything that we're allowed to.

On certain patients, especially the intubated ones, I'll offer the task up to a newer nurse simply for practice.

[SwansonRN]

Nope! Unless there's an a line. Only RTs, MDs, and mid levels can do them. RTs are usually the best, though :)

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Nope! Unless there's an a line. Only RTs, MDs, and mid levels can do them. RTs are usually the best, though :)

Since this discussion started I have looked into our policy at my hospital. It is curious. RTs can only do radial art sticks per policy. In the policy for trained RNs who preform arterial sticks there is no specification or limit to where they can poke.