GeanineRN

I live in Michigan, and it is my understanding that the Rad Techs are not licensed by the state of Michigan for anything. They are nationally registered. The director of the Radiology Tech Student program has her masters degree, and she swears that it is legal for them to give narcotics IVP under the direct supervision of the Radiologist. I have a problem with this issue since they are not licensed by the state of Michigan to dispense and administer narcotics. I have alot of questons and no where to go for answers. NO nurse managers, only a rad tech supervisor.:stone I really appreciate all of your inputs. Thanks!

I to have found this area very difficult. There is no protocal that I am aware of. This comes from the physicians personal preference, the patient, and department of anesthesia. Age, physical illness, patient size, etc play a role in how much medication to use. Talk with the physician first, get his preferences and guidelines. In a fairly healthy patient, under 70 years old, I start with Versed 1-2 mg, and Fentanyl 50 mcg IVP. Wait 2 minutes and give more if needed. If patient is > 70yo, I start with Versed 1 mg, and Fentanyl 25 mcg, until I see how they respond. Follow your anesthesia guidelines for conscious sedation medications and dosing. Remember that these are only guidelines, and that the physician is ultimately responsible for how much or little is given. I love giving Fentanyl because of the short half life. 15 - 30 minutes. I find that they are pretty awake when they get off the table, and can go home faster. IV Morphine lasts 2-3 hours, which is great for painful procedures, but I like to do this postop. Remember that Versed is only good for sedation, not pain management. Some patients may be sedated, and not be able to tell you if they hurt. So if it's a painful procedure, permcath insertions, etc. I always give narcotics. Something I recently learned also, is that patients on anti-seizure medications, are very difficult if not impossible to sedate. If you've had this experience before, and this patient comes back, you might want to consider anesthesia department. They can use diprovan, with fentanyl, and this works great!. Our department of anesthesia, will not allow us to use diprovan in our department.

I have worked in an interventional radiology department for the last 4 1/2 years. We have 2 rooms, 4 rad techs, and 2 RN's. Our techs do conscious sedations and push IV narcotics. I was told that this is ok, because they are doing it under "direct supervision of the physician". The RN is in another case, or off for the day. But there is always a RN on duty. Never are we off the same day. We also have a narcotic sign out sheet, and our techs also sign out these narcotics. Is this a practice at other hospitals? I don't have a nurse manager, and my supervisor is a Rad Tech. She does not know my licensure. Our techs for our state, are not licensed. They are registered with their national registry. But not licensed to practice by our state.