giving iv meds

[HOOPS]

I am looking for advice. In the small hospital where I work we have a skilled nursing home next to us. Administration has been asking us to leave our assignment at the hospital and go over to push IV meds, i.e. Demerol, phenergan, Vanco, etc. I do not feel comfortable doing this. We do not stay with the patient after giving the drug. An LPN is available but they also have 30 some patients to watch as well at the nursing home. Do any of you have suggestions? Administration says they are working on the issue but it has been about a year. Thanks.

[Nitengale326]

Why not?? I have worked in skilled facility for 9 plus years and have safely given IV push meds.....heck, in one place we had a patient and a Dobutamine (sp) drip. There's no problem with IV push meds as long that there's qualified staff to monitor the resident.

LPNs in certain states are not allowed to push IV meds. It is not in the scope of their practice. If you are an LPN check with your state board of nursing to clarify what you can and cannot do with IVs.

[jkaee]

LPNs in certain states are not allowed to push IV meds. It is not in the scope of their practice. If you are an LPN check with your state board of nursing to clarify what you can and cannot do with IVs.

No, I'm an RN, and in my state LPN's aren't allowed to push IV meds, either. My point was (and I know it was a little off topic) was that there's no reason that certain IV push meds can't be given in a skilled nursing setting. People don't have to be in the hospital in order to get IV push meds. Just my little "soapbox" issue to leave the residents in their home to be treated....in most cases we can treat them just as well in skilled nursing as in a hospital. :)

[mrs/mom/rn]

No, I'm an RN, and in my state LPN's aren't allowed to push IV meds, either. My point was (and I know it was a little off topic) was that there's no reason that certain IV push meds can't be given in a skilled nursing setting. People don't have to be in the hospital in order to get IV push meds. Just my little "soapbox" issue to leave the residents in their home to be treated....in most cases we can treat them just as well in skilled nursing as in a hospital. :)

It would be nice to be able to leave patients in their "home" but typical skilled nsg facilites are staffed with enough nurses to monitor possible adverse reactions. Another point is in hospitals you have icus, telemetry, resident doctors and staff that routinely deal with the these meds and their side effects. If Their conditions require IV push meds, they need closer monitoring than typical snf can provide. Once an exception is made more are to follow without the "what ifs" are considered.