Out of my scope - NEED HELP!!!!!!

[militaryRN]

I need some help. I work in a MICCU 23 bed very large teaching facility in Chicago. The story goes like this; 2 nurse from us and the SICU respond to codes throughout the hospital. We go to a woman that is in respiratory distress and is actively seizing. After 4 attempts at an IV and 2 attempts at a central line, I attempted and gained access to a left EJ with a 20 gage angio that I was instructed to do by 2 residents. Patients intubated, stopped seizing and extubated 3 hours after getting to the unit and discharged home 2 days later. After code go to my manager explain to her what had happened and a hour later I was FIRED!!! Met with my boss and my bosses boss and HR today to see if I could get my job back , but to no avail didn't. I was told that I was outside my scope of practice. After reading all policies and procedures of the hospital and state practice act, I do not understand what the problem is. Can anyone help, it would be greatly appreicated. Thanks in advance.

[Agnus]

Definitely no repurcussions to the residents,but in their defense they both have stepped up and are my witnesses. They both stated whatever they need to do to help they would. New news though, researched all day yesterday and found out the the state boards for NC, AL and IL state that RN's can do it as long as there is an order, you have been train (we all can start IVs, I hope) and if the P&P says we can. The current facility's policy gives me choices for RN and if you need further call IV team, but for both RN and IV team EJ is not a choice. So hopsital should have covered it. So I told employer that if I could resign and get my pay through Feb I would not go any further. So we wait to hear from them. Will follow up.

Given your research, and assuming your nurse practice act either specifically condones it OR specifically fails to mention it all together, then you are likely within your scope.

I was taught in school that if the BON does not address it specifically in the nurse paractic act and you can show at least three references in the literature where RNs do it then you are within your scope of practice.