Do RN's need special training to read PPD tests?

[SarahM2011]

I went today to get my PPD read at the hospice that I volunteer for. Even though there were many RN's in the building, no one was available to read it because the RN that is "the only one specially trained to do it" called off work today. I have worked in Home/Hospice care as an administrator, and have NEVER heard that an RN needed special training to read a PPD. I am assuming they are JCAHO certified, possibly CHAP. I asked if it was an internal policy, but they said they didn't know, that's just what they have been told. Any know if they are correct on this? I won't be able to change their mind, but I would like to try to find out for my own knowledge.

Thanks!

[PedsAtHeart, LPN]

I think its more of the facility's protocol on who can administer and read PPDs. I do them all the time, have been to classes at the state health department, but no official certificate or training, other than the fact that I am an LPN and was trained to do these. I am the immunization nurse where I work and all PPDs go through me as well, patients and employees, but if something happens and I am unavailable to read one then another nurse from the clinic is called and they read it, no big deal. Crazy how places can differ so much over each procedure.

[PedsAtHeart, LPN]

Here in Indiana, there is a certification program for giving/reading the test. I think it's a good idea so the tests are read appropriately.

Agreed. Just like on a previous thread someone stated that you did not have to have a wheal for the test to be accuarate, which is wrong, but I think a lot of nurses don't actually know this... just as they don't know you ONLY measure induration, not redness. I think a training class for everyone who will be administering these is a great idea, even if it is something done in house, like as a yearly inservice or something...

[CharmantUn]

It's odd. I don't understand why healthcare workers getting a TB vaccine isn't the standard of care in this country--why jump through this hoop on annual basis?

I had a physical last year prior to starting a CNA class. A RN administered Mantoux and was out sick 2 days later, so an MA at my doctor's office read the results.

The clinical site for my CNA training, a local community hospital I volunteer for, and a hospice group I volunteer for all had no problem with this test. BUT try volunteering at the VA. They only accept Quantiferon results or two consecutive years of clean Mantoux tests from volunteers. Thankfully, the VA does cover the costs for Quantiferon and any vaccine titers you may need.

[cookienay]

In my facility, any RN may administer/read a Mantoux. The ER nurses are frequently the ones to do this because of course we are here 24/7. My favorite thing to see is someone hold up their arm and the nurse says, "Yep, it's negative" and sign their form. AAARRGGHH! If you did not touch them, you did not read it!

I think that you should have to be trained and validated yearly to read them. But that is just me...

[GM2RN]

It's odd. I don't understand why healthcare workers getting a TB vaccine isn't the standard of care in this country--why jump through this hoop on annual basis?

Because, thankfully, we have the right in this country to choose not to have vaccines.

[happy2learn]

I had a medical assistant administer my TB, and she read it 2 days later. None of the people I spoke with were nurses. I only knew because they were all talking about wanting to go to nursing school when they saw my form for nursing school. All of the nurses were with ill patients (this was at Urgent Care.)

[GM2RN]

I had a medical assistant administer my TB, and she read it 2 days later. None of the people I spoke with were nurses. I only knew because they were all talking about wanting to go to nursing school when they saw my form for nursing school. All of the nurses were with ill patients (this was at Urgent Care.)

We aren't saying you need to be a nurse. I read them when I was a phlebotomist. In the hospital, though, it's RNs that typically administer them and should, in my opinion, have the training to read them.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

AAARRGGHH! If you did not touch them, you did not read it!

My eyes are pretty good, I can look and see there's no induration. But I suppose I could touch it just to make it look more like I'm "reading" it.

[menurse01]

At the hospital where I worked we had to go through a class also and get certified. RN's and LPN's where I am can give and read PPD's.. I received a card stating that I was certified at the end of class, and I am an LPN..

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I live in Indiana and have worked in two hospitals and a hospice not connected with either hospital. In all three, nurses who read PPDs were required to take a several-hours-long course in order to read them. Regularly, those nurses had to take a shorter course to maintain their "ok" to do the tests. I thought it was a state requirement.

[nursel56]

When I worked as an immunization nurse, we gave out the embossed cards, too. I've had my own read by an RN, an MA and a chiropractor. Working in HH it's a pain, no nearby nurses to grab real quick. Must make special trip back to clinic to have someone say, "Yup. Negative." :)

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I live in Indiana and have worked in two hospitals and a hospice not connected with either hospital. In all three, nurses who read PPDs were required to take a several-hours-long course in order to read them. Regularly, those nurses had to take a shorter course to maintain their "ok" to do the tests. I thought it was a state requirement.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard (the course being a requirement, not what you said). It doesn't take "hours" to learn to measure how much skin is sticking up in the middle of the arm. If you need an hours long class to learn to read a PPD, you shouldn't have been graduated from high school, much less made it through nursing school. Someone must be making some money off selling the "course" curriculum.