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!

[FLArn]

The course covers many other topics related to TB other than just giving and reading the tests. It also covers the epidemiology, some pathophysiology and a practical and return demonstration on giving the test and reading the results on several dummy arms of different ethnic groups. I did learn several things I didn't know and found out some of the things I had been taught were no longer accepted practice.

[Dixiecup]

I read PPD tests with my eyes closed and run my finger over the skin so I can truly tell if there is induration or not.

[RetRN77]

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? why get an unnecessary vaccine?

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.

the va rules are likely because the populace is notably at higher risk for acquiring tb than the general population.

[3rdcareerRN]

Whether RNs need special training appears to be an entity-specific or geography-specific policy.

However, the Centers for Disease Control offers free training here:

http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/tb/kit.asp

In that training, the CDC states "There are several different methods for reading the Mantoux tuberculin skin test, and they can vary among facilities. For each facility, everyone reading the skin test should receive training in and use the same method. "

Can a non-RN can perform the reading? Yes, according to that course...although the interpretation of the reading results must be performed by "a trained health care provider".

[GM2RN]

Whether RNs need special training appears to be an entity-specific or geography-specific policy.

However, the Centers for Disease Control offers free training here:

http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/tb/kit.asp

In that training, the CDC states "There are several different methods for reading the Mantoux tuberculin skin test, and they can vary among facilities. For each facility, everyone reading the skin test should receive training in and use the same method. "

Can a non-RN can perform the reading? Yes, according to that course...although the interpretation of the reading results must be performed by "a trained health care provider".

That's very open to interpretation on what constitues training.

[lafe1221]

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!

In response to this I'm a nurse and I work for a home health care agency in Michigan and you are required to be certified... Not that the training is extensive but I couldnt imagine wanting to read a test that I was not qualified to do. You dont even have to be a nurse to read them, you just have to go through the training, the training is longer if you are not a nurse of course... Here is the link that says its required to be certified. Hope this helps

https://mphi-web.ungerboeck.com/wri/wri_p1_display.aspx?oc=55&cc=TSTPG

Its the state of michigan health department website.

[pookyp, LPN]

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!

In response to this I'm a nurse and I work for a home health care agency in Michigan and you are required to be certified... Not that the training is extensive but I couldnt imagine wanting to read a test that I was not qualified to do. You dont even have to be a nurse to read them, you just have to go through the training, the training is longer if you are not a nurse of course... Here is the link that says its required to be certified. Hope this helps

https://mphi-web.ungerboeck.com/wri/wri_p1_display.aspx?oc=55&cc=TSTPG

Its the state of michigan health department website.

Wow. Learn something new everyday.