I have been looking for information on scope of practice of LPNs concerning the removal of objects lodged in back of a patients throat. Situation: a patient choking on upper partial plate with metal prongs on both sides of the partial plate. I was unable to perform hymlick maneuver, so I grabbed my hemostats and reached back the patients throat and retrieved the denture plate. Another LPN was in the room holding the flashlight and the supervisor was in and out of the room making calls to 911 and the doctor. However the supervisor was present when I removed the denture plate. I have been questioned several times about the incident, the main questions were why did I retrieve it, where was the supervisor, and why did I not let the supervisor do it, where did you get the hemostats and were they sterile?, Why did I act so quick, was there another way to handle the situation, I have to check to see if you were working out of your scope of practice. I guess I am very disappointed that I did not get a thank you for saving the patients life. I am now looking for scope of practice regulation about choking patients, if I was working out of my scope of practice or would I be considered a good Samaritan? If I would have to do over, I would have done the same, I reacted quickly in that emergency situation and saved a life? Can anyone point me to the scope of practice act, or something to let me know if I was in the right or wrong?
Yep!!!! In the past few months, a nurse made headlines: Patient Dies After Nurse Refuses to Do CPR. (But she was following the facility's policy.
(Not a nurse, not a nursing facility, and completely congruent with the patient and family's wishes. But thanks for perpetuating this myth still further.)
nurseprnRN, BSN, RN
1 Article; 5,116 Posts
(Not a nurse, not a nursing facility, and completely congruent with the patient and family's wishes. But thanks for perpetuating this myth still further.)