Question on your facility..

[HollyUTM]

Hi all! Just a quick question. I am a LPN from TN; I recently moved to Nashville and have taken a position on a Medical Floor. I finished up the initial orientation today, and finally on Monday I get to go to my floor, for yet more orientation. But, today in orientation, both RN's and LPN's had to be checked off on certain skills before we get to our floor. The skill was IV therapy. So, on this dummy arm, I started an IV, BETTER than the RN's, even told one of them tips because he went in at a 90 degree angle. And the Nurse Educator signed all of us off on the skill. There is a place on the sign off sheet that says "request to attend class", I was the only LPN, and she checked that on mine, but no one elses, not even on the 90 degree angle fellow. It took me off guard, as I am excellent at this skill and at my last hospital, when there was a hard stick that no one could get, I, yes me, I was the person that was called to do it. And now, I'm getting told to attend a class. Why? I asked the nurse educator that, and she said it was because I was JUST a LPN and that most LPN's did not have experience in this field. I replied that I had quite a bit of experience in it, as Since being licensed, which has only been since Sept. that I do them pretty much routinely. She stated, that they required all LPN's to do it, and I'm very much offended. Why me, when I can successfully complete a skill and not this RN who can't? Is this routine at other facilities that LPN's must do that? At my last facility, ALL nursing staff had to show that they were competent on it and be checked off on it, and then they were free to go on alone. Which brings me to my next question. Starting IV's is something that LPN's are taught in school, right? Hanging blood, is not! But at this facility, they make LPN's hang blood, something that my cirriculum didn't even touch, yet they won't let me do something that I am adequately trained for? Am I overreacting, or is this just stupid? Why would you keep someone from doing what they are trained to do, JUST because they're an LPN, yet let them do something they have NO clue about. Is hanging blood by LPN acceptable at your facility? And at your facility, are PCTs allowed to: insert foley's, give enemas, or change feeding tube bags out? They are at this one, and I have never heard of such. I even worked as a PCT and never heard of that. I'm sorry that this is so long. Any insight will be much appreciated, thanks!

Holly

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

The LPN curriculum in most States does not provide for much, if any, training and education on advanced IV certification. Once you graduate and come into the acute care environment, you are required by hospital policy and perhaps even by practice act standards to receive a certain number of hours in IV Therapy training. This is especially true if LPN's hang IV's, piggy backs as well as care for central lines and other IV related care. In addition, if you are pushing medications through an IV, it is imperative that you receive the training necessary to understand the process and nursing interventions involved.

I was an LPN for 17 years and went through this type of training several times. Yes, as an LPN, it can be very frustrating, especially if your vienpuncture skill is better than the RNs. But for hospital liability reasons, the special training is needed.

I would not think of the training as a bad thing, rather, I would embrace it and use the extra training to make you even better than you already are! Right now, on my med-surg unit, we have one LPN who is the BEST stick in the west!!!!! She is called upon for all of our tough sticks. She even gets sent to Peds, ICU and sometimes even the ER. I am sure you are probably much like her. And, over time, your new team mates will come to recognize this. Promise!:)