Epidural Analgesia RN Role

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Can anyone in New York please tell me what your hospital policy is for epidural analgesia? (Not in labor and delivery, but in post operative care) What can and can't the RN do? Can they bolus, if so, does someone from anesthesia need to be in house? Can they turn rate up or down? Can they initiate infusion, and can they change bags? Remove catheter?

If the RN can't perform these actions, who does during off shifts?

I have tried to contact NYSED to find out what our scope of practice is regarding this, but have not gotten an answer yet, maybe some of you know? Thanks.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

This may be more facility specific.

I can't bolus that I'm aware of but I can increase or decrease rates per MD orders/on call Anesthesia MD. Pretty sure the Anesthesiologist takes out the epidural. Once it's placed I can get the epidural pump, prime tubing, and hook up and set up to the ordered rate. All of our major bowels came out of surgery with epidurals years ago but now not so much.

I live in Illinois...

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Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

I'm in IL as well & started out in an ortho floor where we occasionally had epidural for bilateral TKR. We routinely adjusted the rate per MD order, changed out empty bags & removed the catheter on post-op pts. Not sure about giving a bolus; just don't recall ever having a pt that needed one. Adjusting the rate & changing to a new bag required a 2nd RN to verify. Removing the cath is as simple as removing an IV; just don't force it if any resistance & call anesthesia.

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