pattylynn15

Dear GayNurse, This piece of legislation addresses specific RN to patient ratios, irrespective of how many LPNs are on the unit. One of the problems with the Calif. safe staffing bill was that they did not state "Registered Nurses" specifically, and the hospitals wanted to include LPNs and LVNs in the mix. By specifically addressing RN:Patient ratios, we prevent the hospitals from replacing RNs with LPNs, LVNs, and technicians.

Kudos to you. There is no better time than now to promote safe nursing practice in New Jersey. Now every RN can participate. Please tell all your colleagues to be at the State House in Trenton for the Safe Staffing Legislation Workshop. On May 13, 2004, at 11 am, NJSNA & NYSNA are sponsoring this workshop. It will be followed by a press conference and rally on the State House steps at 12 noon. Wear your uniform and bring a friend!

I work in a very busy CCU. Staff nurses do not remove IABP catheters, and we are very happy not to do so. Admittedly, 99% of the time everything goes smoothly. But we have seen a few cases where everything went very bad, very fast. One case in point was when the wire in the center of the catheter was broken on insertion and we did not know it. The CT surgeon went to remove the catheter, and ended up doing a cutdown at the bedside to save the patient from a catheter embolism in his aorta/femoral artery. If you are an advanced practice RN on an invasive cardiology (or surgical cardiology) service, have been trained in IABP removal, and have medical/surgical staff available during removal, it would be another story. But it is risky business when you have no backup. As always, you need to check with your state's standards of practice guidlines in order to see what you are and are not allowed to do under your license in your state.