LPN Scope of Practice in Massachusetts?

suthurnbelle · Aug 10, 2004

As far as I understand it, kelly, you can start, hang, monitor, flush IV's that are premixed. You cant mix or you cant do central lines. I find it pretty vague myselsf, but I did find this though.....Advisory:

Pursuant to the Board's regulations at 244 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) 3.02 & 3.04, the RN and LPN shall bear full and ultimate responsibility for the quality of nursing care she/he provides to individuals and groups. Pursuant to 244 CMR 9.03 (9), a nurse licensed by the Board shall be responsible and accountable for his or her nursing judgements, actions, and competency. Competency is defined as the application of knowledge and the use of affective, Cognitive, and psychomotor skills required for the role of a nurse licensed by the Board and for the delivery of safe nursing care in accordance with accepted Standards of practice (244 CMR 9.02: Definitions).

The determination of when, and to what extent a RN or LPN assumes Responsibility for any aspect of infusion therapy is based upon the nurse's Education, experience and clinical competency and in compliance with established institutional/agency policy and procedures.

RNs or LPNs who perform infusion therapy shall have documented evidence of such competencies through independently obtained continuing educational programs certificate or as inservice educational programs of the institution/agency employing the licensed nurse.

I've never worked for a place that didnt have you checked off before you perform procedures anyway. And I've had to get recertified each year. I'm curious as to what the board told you?

Hi everyone- I'm new here, looking for some help. I'm an LVN in CA, moving to Boston and am having a hard time finding specs on the MA LPN practice act. Have found the actual regs on the MA Board of Nursing website and have talked to the board, but no one can tell me what the specifics are regarding LPN's and IVs. I am IV certified in CA so I can hang fluids, blood, flush lines, restart, etc but no IVPBs or IVPs. Does anyone know what we can or cannot do in MA? Thanks so much!

Gldngrl · Aug 10, 2004

If state regs are silent on the issue, you then will need to follow your employer's institutional policy re: LPN scope of practice. When I was an LPN in MA several years ago, my facilities prohibited me from IV pushes or administering medications via central lines. This was in a subacute/long term care facility as MA at the time was phasing LPNs out from acute care facilities and when I left Boston in 1997, my hospital was exclusively RN staffed, although perhaps that has changed recently.