fired for not practicing out of scope!!

[tonka3]

Hey everyone, I posted this in th LPN corner and got responses but was wondering if some gastro nurses could help me out some more. I was hired to work in a gastro clinic as an LPN, i spent the first month or so doing preop but when it came time to go in the procedure room, i had severe doubts about what i was being asked to do, the doctor has the nurse operate the snare and cut the polyps while he presses the pedal for the current and tells us how fast to "cut-cut" the polyp. I have been advised that this is not with the scope of practice for an LPN in NC and since I will not go back in and do it, they have replaced me with an unlicensed person with no medical bckground and fired me, the other LPN who continued to cut is being palced in pre-op, yet they still continue to say there is nothing wrong with the way the procedures are being performed, the consents only state that the patient gives the doctor permission to biopsy and remove polyps, not the nurse or an unlicensed person, so that maked me wonder not only have i been done wrong but the patients aren't being fully informed. How do others you know perform polypectomies and any suggestions???? THANKS A LOT!!!!

[lisa.finnsmom]

This might vary state to state, so I would get advice from someone from NC or contact the board of nursing for NC. That being said, at my previous job in VA we had LPNs operate equipment in the procedure room which included performing polypectomies via snare or forceps.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you.

[Chuckie]

How does the Doc do a polypectomy alone. The reason for an assistan is to do the cut with his help.

[M.GreyRN]

When I worked as a tech, we would set everything up, help snare the polyp, then I would hand him the snare to cut and cauterize on his own. Never had a problem!