LPNs co-signing blood

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Our facility does not allow LPN's to co-sign blood products. I realize they cannot administer them, but is there anything in the legal system to prevent them from confirming information prior to the RN hanging the blood?

We can have CNA's double check our blood with us, I don't know why LPN's couldn't.

MishlB

406 Posts

CNA's double check blood?? Only RN's here, and LPN's can monitor blodd, but cannot start it.

Chaya, ASN, RN

932 Posts

Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

LPN must co-sign with an RN, plus RN must be present when initially started (first 5-15 minutes). LPN can then monitor.

Jay-Jay, RN

633 Posts

Hi...I've corrected the typo in the thread title. Co-singing blood?? Gave me the willies, it did! :eek:

I thought only RN's could co-sign. Theory being, if you co-sign, you're responsible for hanging it. Why should it be otherwise?

I should clarify. We double check the blood in the blood bank and ideally, on the floor, we have another RN verify band id, donor number and type. Sometimes, another RN just can't be found and LPN's do not work on our floor. CNA's are just verifying that the blood information is correct. RN's always intitiate and hang around the patient for the first 15 making sure there is no reaction. But the maybe I am misunderstanding what co-signing blood is...

P_RN, ADN, RN

6,011 Posts

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Check with your nurse practice act. In SC RN/RN RN/LPN or RN/Doctor. LPN can monitor but not hang blood.

SherRN

44 Posts

Same here in Fla. Rn spikes and hangs can co-sign and verify with LPN or RN. I have no big picture of RN and Doc.:rolleyes:

LPN & EMT-CT

61 Posts

VA is the same as SC P_RN LPN's can verify info but can't hang it but can take it down , monitor it and co-sign the paperwork both on the floor and in the blood bank/lab

LPN & EMT-CT

ucavalpn

85 Posts

In NC to it has to be 2 licensed people {LPN/RN , RN/RN} one of which must be an RN . Either can hang /monitor ect.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD

3,778 Posts

Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

And as an LPN, I only co-sign as the witness, not as the person hanging the blood.

Flynurse

250 Posts

At the facility I work at LPN's can hang blood, but I rather just have an RN hang it and I'LL co-sign. Have no problem with it. We were trained at hire. I'll also hang around and assess the patient for the first 15 minutes, but I ALWAYS check in with the RN about the patient's progress!

;)

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