Can an RN assess for spinal injection need?

[chsc90]

My clinic wants me to start doing assessments to determine whether a patient needs a pain injection from the pain medicine doc, anesthetist, or physiatrist. I would do the assessment and write the order for the injection and the MD would approve it and just do the injection. The MD would not reassess the pt prior to this procedure. These are not IM injections, so there is risk of patalysis. Is this safe/legal/wthin scope of practice? It's unlikely management will change their mind about this new protocol. What would you do in this situation?

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Have you looked at the nursing act? It would be outside of the nursing scope of practice in most locations.

[Buyer beware, BSN]

My clinic wants me to start doing assessments to determine whether a patient needs a pain injection from the pain medicine doc, anesthetist, or physiatrist. I would do the assessment and write the order for the injection and the MD would approve it and just do the injection. The MD would not reassess the pt prior to this procedure. These are not IM injections, so there is risk of patalysis. Is this safe/legal/wthin scope of practice? It's unlikely management will change their mind about this new protocol. What would you do in this situation?

OH BOY! Someone get me the smelling salts!!!

Wait one minute. I get it. You can't fool me. This is a joke, right? It's a joke, correct?

HA HA HA HA.... That's a good one. You really had me...

...you're being strangly quiet about this.

OK, it's not funny anymore--not funny one bit!!!

OMG, I think you're serious!

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

No its not ok. They are passing their duties onto someone who is not qualified to assess for this, and not even reassessing when its time. Now what do you think will happen when something does go wrong? They will blame you in a heartbeat.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I question what kind of MD would inject a patient's spine without performing his/her own assessment/exam.