LPNs co-signing blood

1. Our facility does not allow LPN's to co-sign blood products. I realize they cannot administer them, but is there anything in the legal system to prevent them from confirming information prior to the RN hanging the blood?

   Last edit by Jay-Jay on May 21, '03

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   About John Cusano

   Joined: Mar '03; Posts: 3
   Staff Development Coordinator, Tech Support, Supervision Coordinator

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3. 
   May 21, '03

   We can have CNA's double check our blood with us, I don't know why LPN's couldn't.
4. 
   May 21, '03

   CNA's double check blood?? Only RN's here, and LPN's can monitor blodd, but cannot start it.
5. 
   May 21, '03

   LPN must co-sign with an RN, plus RN must be present when initially started (first 5-15 minutes). LPN can then monitor.
6. 
   May 21, '03

   Hi...I've corrected the typo in the thread title. Co-singing blood?? Gave me the willies, it did!
   
   I thought only RN's could co-sign. Theory being, if you co-sign, you're responsible for hanging it. Why should it be otherwise?
7. 
   May 21, '03

   I should clarify. We double check the blood in the blood bank and ideally, on the floor, we have another RN verify band id, donor number and type. Sometimes, another RN just can't be found and LPN's do not work on our floor. CNA's are just verifying that the blood information is correct. RN's always intitiate and hang around the patient for the first 15 making sure there is no reaction. But the maybe I am misunderstanding what co-signing blood is...
8. 
   May 21, '03

   Check with your nurse practice act. In SC RN/RN RN/LPN or RN/Doctor. LPN can monitor but not hang blood.
9. 
   May 21, '03

   Same here in Fla. Rn spikes and hangs can co-sign and verify with LPN or RN. I have no big picture of RN and Doc.
10. 
    May 21, '03

    VA is the same as SC P_RN LPN's can verify info but can't hang it but can take it down , monitor it and co-sign the paperwork both on the floor and in the blood bank/lab
    
    LPN & EMT-CT
11. 
    May 21, '03

    In NC to it has to be 2 licensed people {LPN/RN , RN/RN} one of which must be an RN . Either can hang /monitor ect.
12. 
    May 21, '03

    And as an LPN, I only co-sign as the witness, not as the person hanging the blood.
13. 
    May 21, '03

    At the facility I work at LPN's can hang blood, but I rather just have an RN hang it and I'LL co-sign. Have no problem with it. We were trained at hire. I'll also hang around and assess the patient for the first 15 minutes, but I ALWAYS check in with the RN about the patient's progress!
    
    
14. 
    May 21, '03

    in my facility the RN hangs the blood. It can be verified by another RN, a doc, LPN, PCA, or a SECRETARY.

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