Question about IV meds

[Kags2015]

Hello!

I'm working at a camp in Ontario, Canada as the healthcare coordinator for the summer. I also did this job last year. I have recently graduated with my BscN and passed the NCLEX, but my registration with the College is not complete yet (therefore, not yet a registered nurse).

My camp runs a one week overnight program for adults with special needs. There are typically a lot of oral medications and occasionally an individual requiring insulin injections, but I've come across something I haven't dealt with here before.

An individual will be coming to this program next week and may require IV medication for ten minutes each day. We are going to find out tomorrow whether she will need this medication at camp (so I am assuming it is an antibiotic, have not spoken with the caregiver yet).

Its my understanding that this individual has a PICC line in place.

Now, I have worked with IV medications during several clinical placements, however I have not performed this skill without supervision. I am covered with insurance, however I am not sure if, given my lack of experience, and the fact that I am not licensed yet, if I should be allowing this individual to come or not.

I hope this makes sense, thank you so much for any input you have.

[BonnieSc]

Is the caregiver a nurse, or are the parents (or equivalent) doing this at home? We have sometimes gotten around situations like this by training someone else on staff, a layperson, to give the medication. The parents can train the camp director to do it and you don't have to worry about your license.

I wouldn't do this task myself unless the registration really came through--and be sure you know ALL about it before you do it.

[wanderlustnurse88, RN]

I wondering if you can get CCAC to come and down the IV med. It will take the liability off of you. Would just take a bit of time to set it up before hand with a doctor order and communicating with CCAC.

[xokw, BSN, RN]

I wondering if you can get CCAC to come and down the IV med. It will take the liability off of you. Would just take a bit of time to set it up before hand with a doctor order and communicating with CCAC.

CCAC does not provide direct patient care, they just coordinate the various agencies. You could contact your local CCAC and they may be able to contract out the care to a local home care agency, as long as there are doctors orders. It is hit or miss depending on the CCAC you are under, as some are far stingier than others when it comes to what they do with the funding. It couldn't hurt to try.

However, it may be better to actually contact the physician and ask him/her to submit the orders/request for nursing to CCAC from that end, because if a physician requests nursing services the CCAC will likely do it.

[wanderlustnurse88, RN]

Thanks for clarifying that. As you can tell I'm not a community nurse :)

[xokw, BSN, RN]

Thanks for clarifying that. As you can tell I'm not a community nurse :)

No problem. It's a common misconception :)