Lance a wound

[bioniclewoman]

Got a Dr's order to lance a pustule on a patient and obtain a wound culture. This thing looks like a pimple. Co-workers told me that I can't do that. Is this out of my scope of practice? If so why wouldn't the Dr have known that, he has been a Dr for 30 years. BTW I'm a very new nurse.

[margo533]

Physicians have no concept of what allowed nursing practice is--yes, really! The physician must do this unless your personal/professional credentials along with your State board of nursing AND your employer's policy allows you to do this--even though it only involves inserting a sterile needle into the pustule and not contaminating the specimen. (Do State and employer "rules" need to be changed? D'uh. Become an activist!)