meinmein

I am an LPN orginally licensed in IL currently on a travel assignment in CA. In IL injections were part of the medication curriculum in our school and a responsibility of the LPN on the floor. I've worked in many states and in many different units including the military. And I am always surprised going to a new place at how different each state and each hospital is. You have to be aware of what is in your scope of practice for the state in which you are working. In IL we did not do IV insertions, give fluid or hang blood products. In NM we did nearly all that the RN did in on our Telemetry/subacute unit. Assessments, IVs, all IV fluids(including vasopressors), all blood products, gave any drug in the ACLS protocol in a code situation. We responded to all in house codes, floated to the ICUs and took patient assignments(yes, vents and pressure lines and drawing from central lines and a-lines too). And of course we were trained and worked under direct supervision of the RN and MD. Here in CA, I insert IV caths but cannot give fluid of any kind. As I mentioned, you need to be aware of the scope of practice and remember, the rules are constantly changing.