Rpns authorized to start and monitor Ivs?

[Mamacojo]

I am an lpn in the states and am looking into moving to canada. I am wondering if rpns there are authorized to administer meds

and start iv's there. I am not certified. Graduated before this was offered. Thank you for your input.

[OttawaRPN]

First off, in Canada, we have two terms describing the Practical Nurse - Registered Practical Nurse (RPN in Ontario) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN in rest of Canada.) In the western provinces the acronym RPN represents Registered Psychiatric Nurses - something we don't have in Central and Eastern Canada. Confused, yet?

Just to simplify things, I'll use the terms RPN/LPN to describe practical nurses in Canada. As an LPN from the states, you have to apply to the regulatory body for nurses in the province you wish to work, to determine your eligibility - please keep in mind that educational requirements of LPNs in the states is less intensive than Canadian standards so you may be required to return to school to upgrade, however all Canadian practical nurses write the same national registration exam (CPNRE.)

But alas, I haven't answered your question, have I? IV therapy including starting IVs, taking blood for culture, and hanging IV meds are part of the scope of practice of Ontario RPNs (sorry can't say for certain about the other provinces, maybe someone else can clarify) but whether or not you would be able to perform these functions depends entirely on hospital policy. In other words, some hospitals allow it and others don't. The hospitals that do allow it will offer you in-house training, if required.

Hope that helps.

[loriangel14, RN]

I am an RPN in Ontario and administering meds,starting IVs and hanging IV meds are taught in school but we need extra in house training, usually offered by the employer to become certified to start IVs.It is about 2 hours of theory and three witnessed starts and you are good to go.

[Fiona59]

Yup, out west we do it. In my hospital, take the same course the RNs are required to take and then three supervised starts and off you go.

We monitor blood transfusions, just don't spike the bag. Travisol requires an RN to spike as well. But seeing as blood and travisol both require a two nurse verification process it's no biggie to have an RN spike the bag, walk back to the room with you, hang it on the IV pole and leave.

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

Nope, IV starts and meds are not in the scope of an LPN in BC. Probably in the next few years, but not right now.