Need some perspective, please!!!

Boy, I don't even know if I should answer your question, as I really don't know. Think it depends on the state and, I believe, as long as there is an RN 'available' that covers them.

Hopefully, you'll get answers from folks who know what they are talking about, as that is only my guess.

Good luck!

if this rn is officially on-call and ready to come in, then yes, that will be fine.

otherwise, 'someone' needs to be available.

some snfs utilize the iv pharmacy dept, who will send a nurse out.

is there anything in the p&p manual?

do not let the DON downplay your concerns.

you need to ask her specifics, about policy and procedure.

or have your agency call.

you have every right to expect your concerns to be addressed.

best of luck.

leslie

What Leslie said is the way it is in Florida too. LPNs can be on their own at night, but must have a resource who is an RN available.

That being said, from there I believe it would hinge on your comfort level.

If being on your own exceeds your comfort level then I would say let your agency know you would rather be placed somewhere else.

Another suggestion would be to look into taking an IV certification class.

In my LTC, an RN is generally scheduled at least 8 hours in a 24 hour period. LPN's can cover the rest of the time. But, if they are not IV certified by our contracted IV service, they can't do the IV's. Either an RN or IV certified LPN would have to come in and do it. All IV pushes, including heparin are done by an RN. We do have an RN oncall 24/7(DON). We only occas. have IV's, generally intermittant antibiotics. Agency nurses, whether RN or LPN, are not scheduled on the skilled/medicare unit at all.