LPN Scope of practice/Picc lines-just moved to Indiana

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 2, 2004

http://www.state.in.us/hpb/boards/isbn/nursing_compilation.PDF

jschut, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2004

I am sure where ever you work will have you take an IV course to certify you in Indiana.

Ask your employer....and most nurses probably wouldn't get mad at you if you explain to them the circumstances...at least the ones who have shown me never did!

Best of all to you! :)

mscsrjhm · Jul 8, 2004

I don't know any place outside of the military that allows an LPN to hang blood or blood products. In NY I know an IV certified LPN can start an IV with the standard fliuds. If an IV sol'n needs K+ added it must be done by an RN. LPNs can mix ABX. LPNs may not administer chemotherapeutic agents or experimental drugs nor may they do any IV push or IC meds. That leaves alot of space for practice. To get back on track most places do not allow an LPN to touch central or PICC lines.

There are quite a few states that allow LPNs to hang blood, blood products, IV push meds, cardiac outputs, withdraw blood, and utilize central and PICC lines. It would be interesting to see each states practice.

And then, some states don't allow LPNs to take orders... Lots of differences.

KacyLynnRN · Jul 8, 2004

Hi Krissee,,

What part of Indiana? I am in Indianapolis. You should be able to tell whoever hired you that you need training in PICC lines. At my hospital, we have many PICC and central lines, and LPN's can work with them all. If your hospital does not want to train you (which, if they are unwilling too, I would think about quitting...that's awful!) and you live close to Indy, I could meet with you one day and try to teach you what I know. I could probably get a few supplies from my work too, as long as it's OK with my boss. If you need me to do that, please let me know, email me at: [email protected].

Good luck!!

:) Kacy

P.S... LPN's in Indiana ARE permitted to hang blood!

NiteShiftNut · Jul 9, 2004

krissee,

i work at 2 different hospitals in indiana. both allow lpn's to push iv meds, hang antibiotics, hang all ivf, give blood, draw blood from ivad, picc line, basically the same as an rn. all nurses must go through the hospital training with the iv therapy nurses, and after they are checked off on the in service they are good to go. just inquire with the supervisor, or whoever is in charge of education and find out what steps you need to go through to get the proper training. good luck!:)

RN34TX · Jul 9, 2004

I don't know any place outside of the military that allows an LPN to hang blood or blood products. In NY I know an IV certified LPN can start an IV with the standard fliuds. If an IV sol'n needs K+ added it must be done by an RN. LPNs can mix ABX. LPNs may not administer chemotherapeutic agents or experimental drugs nor may they do any IV push or IC meds. That leaves alot of space for practice. To get back on track most places do not allow an LPN to touch central or PICC lines.

What do you mean by "to get back on track"? I worked as an LPN in 3 different parts of the country and only one facility I worked for had those kinds of rules, it wasn't the state, it was the hospital policy which might be where you are getting your info about what LPN's can and cannot do. The NY BON website clearly states that LPN's can administer blood products and IV therapy with additional training. I could not find anything specific to central lines but I know that states that "do not allow an LPN to touch central or PICC lines" are in the minority and need to catch up to modern day nursing and clear the cobwebs.

Dixiedi · Jul 12, 2004

Calm down! Even RNs new to an area may find themselves lacking in this skill or that skill.

It's the exceptional nurse who is not afraid to say, "I've never done that before. I understand the theory, but the mechanics have not been practiced. Please, would you stand by my first time or two.?"

Philo · Aug 3, 2004

I Just moved from California were LVN's there are IV certified but we were only able to hang NS w/ 20 k and blood...NOTHING else. Now in Indiana I was told we can do every thing but hang blood. I don't know what to do know how do I get certified to hang atibiotics and use Picc lines if I have never done so...I called the indiana state board they referred me to ANA and they only deal with RN's..they gave me a number for LPN's and they said to call the state..I told them I had already and she said she couldn't help me. I am at a loss I don't want to go back to work to a unit with half the patients have PICC lines and the RN gets mad when I tell her I have never done PICC lines before...Can any please please give me advice.

Look the reason she gets mad because she can't do it herself. Protect your license in Ca we can't even touch a PICC not even chang the dressing that is not in our scope don't be fooled. If something goes worng you will loose your license and believe she/he will say you did it on your own. Go ahead and read about the PICC line and know what's supposed to be done but don't touch it. You can get a book with your scope of practice in it from the board if you have any questions about your scope you can call and ask them it is a long wait on the phone but you'll get your question answered.

Beware make sure you know your scope of practice your license is gold don't let anyone take that from you. As it stand now only RN's can touch PICC lines. Unless it is in their hospital policy and procedure if so then they should be the ones that train you and you can only do that in that hospital.

Peace, Love and Harmony

Philo

bail · Sep 28, 2004

When I worked in the hosptial in South Bend, Indiana, LPN's did everything the RN's do. Hang blood, IV's, heparin locks, PiCC lines, but we couldn't acutally start an IV line.

RN34TX · Sep 28, 2004

When I worked in the hosptial in South Bend, Indiana, LPN's did everything the RN's do. Hang blood, IV's, heparin locks, PiCC lines, but we couldn't acutally start an IV line.

I can't believe that your facilty and/or state thinks that LPN's are educated enough to hang a bag of blood but not start an IV.

It needs to become more standardized as to what LPN/LVN's are allowed to do.

The problem is with states that think that LPN's aren't capable of doing much more than giving Tylenol and putting in foley catheters. That would never fly in Texas where LVN's enjoy a wide scope of practice.

Too many old RN's in administration need to catch up to the times.

nursepenny · Sep 28, 2004

I don't know any place outside of the military that allows an LPN to hang blood or blood products. In NY I know an IV certified LPN can start an IV with the standard fliuds. If an IV sol'n needs K+ added it must be done by an RN. LPNs can mix ABX. LPNs may not administer chemotherapeutic agents or experimental drugs nor may they do any IV push or IC meds. That leaves alot of space for practice. To get back on track most places do not allow an LPN to touch central or PICC lines.

I know this is a late post, but I just came across it. In some Georgia hospitals, LPN can hang blood, add K+ to fluids, push narcs, etc. It really depends on the state you work in and also the particular hospital. Where I am employed, I had to take a med test and check off on each procedure 3 seperate times before I could give IV push meds, even though I had been doing this at another hospital. As far as PICC lines and central lines, LPN's can administer meds, blood, etc., through these. We can also draw from central lines, provided we have checked off on this procedure. Justa little info for future reference!

Licensed Practical NURSE and proud of it!!!!! :)

Nurse Q · Sep 29, 2004

LPN nursing practice varies with every state and with every hospital. I was an LVN at a California hospital. I could start IV's, hang maintenance fluids which I believe had to have