LVN scope of practice - IV removal without having my IV cert.

maggiemae1013 · Aug 27, 2011

I don't understand, didn't you guys learn IVs in LVN school?? We did, we inserted, d/c'd them, and hooked up IV meds - the only thing we couldn't do as LVNs was push any BP meds. At the hospital I first worked at LVNs didnt even have to bother d/c-ing IVs - that was CNA work!

Karl Farmer · Aug 28, 2011

Might want to read your state nurse practice act, rather than lose your license for doing something you are not qualified to do by your state. Don't take anybody's advice. It it your responsibility to know what you are and are not legally permitted to do. And since CA has a program for LPNs and blood draws/IV certficates, it is not within your scope to remove an IV. Otherwise, they would not have that certification requirement.

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2011

We learned all that in LPN school, but you really need to check the scope of practice for your state.

Moo_21 · Aug 30, 2011

You don't need to have your cert to d/c. I did it all the time at the surgical practice I used to work at. You turn the IV off/clamp it. Pull it out, throw tubing and needle in sharps. Bandaide pt, bend their arm! Easy peasy. Although I am in PA. But I really don't believe you need to have a cert to d/c, that just sounds so silly to me!

Karl Farmer · Aug 30, 2011

Silly sounding or not, why would anybody risk a license by doing anything they are not confident that is within their scope of practice?

RN/Mom · Aug 31, 2011

If you're really concerned, you should always check the practice act and facility policy where you work. You're only going to get opinions on here. I'm shocked by the post that says there are some LVN's administering IV meds! That must be another state. Here in CA, LVN's by default don't touch IV's unless they are certified. Even then, we can only administer NS through peripheral lines (no central lines, no hypo/hypertonic solutions, no additives, and we certainly can't administer IV meds of any kind).

That said, discontinuing an IV is different than starting an IV or administering fluids (at least to me). Have you received on-the-job training by your current employer on how to do remove IV's? Do you know what to assess for, what to document, and the potential complications that could occur if it's done incorrectly? If the answer to both questions is yes, I would think it safe and within your scope of practice to D/C an IV even though you're not certified.

Just my opinion, though!

Karl Farmer · Sep 1, 2011

If you're really concerned, you should always check the practice act and facility policy where you work. You're only going to get opinions on here. I'm shocked by the post that says there are some LVN's administering IV meds! That must be another state. Here in CA, LVN's by default don't touch IV's unless they are certified. Even then, we can only administer NS through peripheral lines (no central lines, no hypo/hypertonic solutions, no additives, and we certainly can't administer IV meds of any kind).
That said, discontinuing an IV is different than starting an IV or administering fluids (at least to me). Have you received on-the-job training by your current employer on how to do remove IV's? Do you know what to assess for, what to document, and the potential complications that could occur if it's done incorrectly? If the answer to both questions is yes, I would think it safe and within your scope of practice to D/C an IV even though you're not certified.
Just my opinion, though!

Poster posts an opinion that it's OK to discontinue an invasive medical device, if she had experience in this arena, nothwithstanding that states have specfic legal scope of practice rules? This sort of thing makes me question the validity of this website. It's simply mindboggling.

HazelLPN, LPN · Sep 4, 2011

Obviously, you need to make sure its in your scope of practice. Even if it is in your scope and you have never done it before, go and get the RN that is covering you and have her/him show you how to do it....that is what they are there for .