Can CNA do an accucheck?

[QuigRN]

I was wondering if there is any circumstance wherein a CNA would be allowed to do an accucheck? Is this something that they would ever be allowed to do if trained?

I oversee a nurse aide training program and boy, those students ask a lot of guestions!

Thanks!

[lsyorke, RN]

But think about it again, how comfortable are you administering medication based on someone elses assesments?

If this was the case, then we, as Rn's would be doing everything ourselves. Labs, vital signs, blood sugars can be delegated with proper training. It is up to the RN to confirm and recheck anything that appears abnormal.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Every hospital I have ever worked allowed CNA's to do blood sugar checks after appropriate training.

[bethin]

I'm a CNA and have been doing accucheecks for years now. I attended a short inservice, took a test and now can do them. We have to be checked off yearly to show competency.

I know every state is different but as far as I'm aware, in my state there is a difference btw a CNA and a PCT or PCA. PCT or PCA requires extra training so they can do foley's, EKG's, blood draws, etc.

Check with your NM or state law to see if it allows CNA's to do accuchecks.

[liquidblue]

The hospital I work for allows the PCTs and CNAs to perform point of care (fingerstick) glucose testing, after proven competency on both the technique and equipment. The competency assessment involves performing controls on the glucometer once every six months (at least) and taken a written test yearly. Phlebotomists do the point of care glucose testing in the outpatient lab setting (with same competency as above.)

[Scrubz]

Depends on how you're certified and depends on the facility. Legally CNA's aren't supposed to do anything invasive I think, but it's not like they havn't before. It's the difference of your buddy nurse letting you do something and JACHO not finding out about it.

[debthern]

our cna's do them all the time

[QuigRN]

Thank-you so much for your replies! You guys are the greatest!

Because I'm an RN, I've always believed that the more we give away, the more we have to worry about techies coming in and usurping licensed positions. But I have no problem if CNAs are taught these things in a facility, for that facility only. The CNAs being allowed to do technical things is a blessing and a curse for us.

I certainly understand why we need them to do some of these things, because it's getting really hard to manage our own work load in surroundings that keep cutting back on nursing positions. Heaven knows we need help from all of the team.

I appreciate all of your responses and I think I'm going to have our program continue to teach the basics (no messing with orafices except the mouth), and no nursing procedures that don't fall within their scope of practice. I will tell them that if they want to do more, seek out places of employment that will train them.

Thanks again, your answers were so enlightening for me!

[k1968mm]

I was wondering if there is any circumstance wherein a CNA would be allowed to do an accucheck? Is this something that they would ever be allowed to do if trained?

I oversee a nurse aide training program and boy, those students ask a lot of guestions!

Thanks!

I would say it depends on State laws and on the facilities in which CNAs work. I'm a CNA at a hospital here in AR, and I'm 3 semesters away from earning my BSN. Oddly enough LPNs in our state do EVERYTHING an RN does but get paid less, whereas CNAs are not allowed to do accuchecks (no offense, but that is not rocket science...) in our facility (in this case it is a policy from our Hospital). But I have noticed during some of my clinicals that CNAs perform a variety of tasks depending on which Hospital they work at, including accuchecks. In MO the laws are a little weird also. LPNs are not allowed to start IV therapy on patients, and yet Hospitals have CNAs insert catheters.... go figure !

K

[RN BSN 2009]

Yes, they do at our hospital