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Discussion

central line placement

I have a question regarding assisting with central line placement. I am an LPN (soon to be RN) and work on a med surg unit. My patient needed a central line so anesthesia was called in to do it. The CRNA asked me if I was ready to assist him and I explained that I am an LPN and can not flush any ports or hook the line up to fluids. He had no problem with that and said he would do that himself. My covering RN agreed and checked in a few times during the procedure. I charted very precisely on who did what to find out that another RN on the floor took credit for assisting and even charted it. My RN made her undo it because it was false documentation and the two of them got into an argument about the fact that I assisted. I did not do anything out of the scope of practice for an LPN.So, my question is, can an LPN assist with central line placement if they do not fall out of their scope of practice or am I just dealing with an RN with a power trip who thinks LPN's are idiots?

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So, my question is, can an LPN assist with central line placement if they do not fall out of their scope of practice or am I just dealing with an RN with a power trip who thinks LPN's are idiots?

I tend to think it's an institution policy that would dictate...? I would assume that the MD performed the procedure which enough was alone for documentation purposes. And if you did nothing outside your scope of practice, then it doesn't seem to me that it should be a problem if you were present and assisted in minor ways.

I dont think a LPN assisting with central line placement would be out of scope. An LPN can function under the direction of a MD, so as long as your facility doesnt have a specific policy regarding who cannot assist with bedside procedures, i dont know how you could be out of scope of practice.

As long as the doctor is ept at what he is doing, there wouldnt be much assisting involved in the procedure itself. Your role would mostly be keeping the patient calm, still, and explaining what was happening, possibly holding a vial so dr could pull an injectable. It probly was a good experience for you.

The false documentation situation is probly more serious than you even breaking facility policy if there was one.

I tend to think it's an institution policy that would dictate...? I would assume that the MD performed the procedure which enough was alone for documentation purposes. And if you did nothing outside your scope of practice, then it doesn't seem to me that it should be a problem if you were present and assisted in minor ways.

Clarification,

It is within the scope of practice for CRNAs to place central lines as the OP stated assisting a CRNA.

Thanks,

66F

  • Author

i got an email from the education director today (it was sent to the entire floor). as long as the cebtral line was not touched and i remained in my scope of practice, i was in the right. thank you for your replies.

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