IV in LTC?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I have previously worked in a LTC facility and only Dr's started IVs and only phlebotomy techs draw bloods. I wanted to know is this customary in most ltc facilities?

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i wonder how many years ago you worked in ltc. nowdays, nurses have to start ivs in ltc. its very common in rehab unit. in some rehab facilities nurses have to both have to start ivs and draw blood, in some facilities, if lab draw is stat, nurses draw blood and call the lab for pick up. in many ltc and rehab facilites, they are have contract with laboratory companies and lab techs come to facilites and draw blood on regular lab days or stat lab draws.

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RN can start IV these days. I don't know if a doctor will help you to start it.

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Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.

Wow, in all 4 LTC or TCU places I've worked at, nurses start IV's and do their own lab draws.

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Heck, no. Not customary at all. And I'm LOL at the concept of an MD starting an IV in a LTC facility.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Nurses start IVs. Lab techs routinely come in daily (except weekends) to draw blood.

MD start an IV... never seen it!

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Specializes in Surgical/ Trauma critical care.

No, never seen that, I remember the LTC's did have an outside IV company that would be used when we couldn't get an IV in like an IV team and they were nurses that would go to different LTC facilities.

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I have seen a physician start an IV in LTC, but that was a very unusual circumstance. Mainly, nurses and lab tech do the duties you describe.

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Well im happy to hear it ! Im a new grad RN, but worked in LTC as an LPN for 3 yrs up until last year so it wasnt too long ago. However, being that I only worked at the one facility, ive wondered how it is in others as im looking for another job. I dont know why this facility doesnt allow the nurses( LPN or RN) to do so but they dont, its ALWAYS been MD's for IVs and tech for bloods as there were always both available. I suppose this place ran on a different set of rules of their own because even a foley on a man was done only by the MD as well.

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LOL at the docs doing foleys and IVs. SRSLY

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Specializes in LTC.

Do most MD's who are SNF attendings even remember how to place PIV's? Seriously, we place our own unless they're PICC's/CVL's.

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Well im happy I got some laughs out of a few of you and im def. happy that this isnt the norm in most facilities.

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