Reprimanded for NOT giving IV Push Medicine

Published

I worked for this doctor's office that also had an iv infusion center. I was told to give IV Push Ativan and I refused because am not legally allowed to do so. I could lose my license. I was told to learn my place and listen to my superiors. I was also told that I would be fired because I could not listen, I quit first.

Anyone else see something wrong with this picture?

good for you! that place isn't worth it! if they are willing to fire you for doing the right thing, then you shouldn't work there! sorry about the bad experience :uhoh21: everything happens for a reason! you'll find something much better! :nurse:

:yeah:

mc3:nurse:

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Can someone else help me find the SOP for an LPN in the state of virginia? I want to have it in writing, this way if i come across this situation in the future, i have something i can show as proof.

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Specializes in med surg.

You did the right thing for refusing..at my facility in order to push anything iv from lasix to ativan the RN has to take a special class and pass.. The nurses who didn't yet take the class call the resident at my facility to do iv push meds ..I will not risk my license or the patients safety..and with something like IV push ativan depending on why it's being given it can be considered a medical restraint ...always practice within your scope it protects the patient and you..

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

Your SOP should be listed on you state's BON site I think in FL it's filed with the Nurse Practice Act on our BON site.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
Can someone else help me find the SOP for an LPN in the state of virginia? I want to have it in writing, this way if i come across this situation in the future, i have something i can show as proof.

Please consider reporting your employer's actions to the State BON.

You conducted yourself in the utmost professional manner, refusing to place your license and your patient's well-being at risk. If the BON does not put a stop to your employer's tactics, the next nurse and patient may not fare as well.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I've tried this, but can't navigate the virginia SOP

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I've tried this, but can't navigate the virginia SOP

Maybe give them a call and ask for a copy to be sent to your home. I don't know about Virginia, but most of my friends in other states have been able to obtain theirs this way.

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I'm not sure why it would be illegal for you to do so, unless you're not an RN, but in either case you were right to stand up for yourself. Even if you were wrong in your belief, you stood up for your license with the knowledge that you have. No BON can fault you for that. The day you just shut up and listen to your superiors is the day you become an unsafe nurse.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I'm not sure why it would be illegal for you to do so, unless you're not an RN, but in either case you were right to stand up for yourself. Even if you were wrong in your belief, you stood up for your license with the knowledge that you have. No BON can fault you for that. The day you just shut up and listen to your superiors is the day you become an unsafe nurse.

:yeah::bowingpur

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I would have let them fire you....any employer would have understood that you can't do that.

You could have also collected unemployment. What are they going to do? Challenge your unemployment because you refused to break the law?

Quitting is not always the best move.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

I understand that each state has different scopes of practice for LPN, but under the direct supervision on an MD, how does that work? I know that in a nursing home LPN's can take phone orders, but cannot in a hospital. The whole scope of practice thing and rules and regs for each facility still confuses me. Here in Illinois LPN's can't work in a hospital due to being such a burden to RN's, but are almost completely independent in a nursing home. Hopefully one day when and if I become a RN, I'll have a more defined scope of practice, unlike LPN's. All I know is if it feels wrong, or you know it's wrong, don't do it. Good judgement call for doing what you did.

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A very wise mentor seared this into my brain-

Do nothing for which you are not licensed!

I have repeated this diddy to myself many times over the past five years when asked to perform a procedure that I legally cannot.

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