scope of practice issues for CNA'S/LVN'S

Nurses General Nursing

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Has anyone had problems with nurses/supervisors expecting something outside of your scope of practice? I've heard of it happening at the LTC I left when I went to LVN school. One CNA told me she was expected to pass meds to someone, told the nurse she couldn't because it was outside of her scope of practice in CA, and got wrote up for pt. neglect by the DON. She quit after that.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Six years ago I was working as an unlicensed aide in California and one of my duties was to pass oral medications to six developmentally-disabled adults.

I now live in Texas where medication aides are utilized in the nursing homes. Since I'm now a nurse, I pass the Coumadin, do fingersticks, insulin injections, and tube feedings. The medication aide passes all of the oral pills.

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In IL CNA's can't handle anything medicated at all. I have to agree with whoever said standard practice for CNA's should be he same throughout the country. But, I do things outside my scope all the time...sometimes you just have to be careful who is watching. And I'm sorry, I don't care how much training you have, CNA's shouldn't be passing meds in any state. Which leads me to my next question...what do the nurses do???

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Arblunt, did they ask you to do a tube feeding and then hang you for it?

grrrrrrr! I sense you have been through some hard times.

And Retired RN, I appreciate your posts and your perspective from years of experience. I think we have gained a lot in technology, but have lost some of the teamwork. There is just so much turnover and whatnot.

yes chadash they did that why when im waiting for the day when im suppose to go in front of the state board im going to tell them that if its against the state law than why aren't all of them doing what they suppose to do?
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Six years ago I was working as an unlicensed aide in California and one of my duties was to pass oral medications to six developmentally-disabled adults.

I now live in Texas where medication aides are utilized in the nursing homes. Since I'm now a nurse, I pass the Coumadin, do fingersticks, insulin injections, and tube feedings. The medication aide passes all of the oral pills.

i know a facility that got into trouble for letting aides do supposties. they got a huge fine.
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Wouldn't it be nice if there were a standardized national set of regulations regarding the education and duties of CNAs?

I agree. The regulations are different in different states. And the regulations about what a CNA can and can't do should be followed. The regulations are there for patient safety.

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Specializes in Almost everywhere.
But, I do things outside my scope all the time...sometimes you just have to be careful who is watching.

That could really come back to haunt you someday.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

My CNAs also do certain simple treatments such as applying Laniseptic to reddened areas of the residents' skin and rubbing Xenaderm on stage one pressure ulcers. Since the aides change the diapers of my geriatric patients, it is more convenient for them to rub the ointments on the bottoms of the patients.

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.
yes chadash they did that why when im waiting for the day when im suppose to go in front of the state board im going to tell them that if its against the state law than why aren't all of them doing what they suppose to do?

Is the nurse that told you to do the tube feeding going before the board also?

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Is the nurse that told you to do the tube feeding going before the board also?

this wasn't a nurse ok. this was at a group home ok. there was a client that was in her 20's who had a g-tube in her tummy. will like i said i wasn't train to do it or was i license for it. the person that was train was having problems with the tube feeding. when she call the manager for help the manager ask who there with her, and she told her yes i was there, so the manager ask why i couldn't help will i told her i wasn't train or am i license to do so. so i got fired for not helping to tube feed.

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there are places that would have people to come in and do things for the clients,residents. when they are not train,or license or certified to do ok.

this here what pisses me off,im sure its going to piss alot more ok. people are being hired off of the street to come in and take care of the clients in a group home. none of these are having back ground check. right away they are on their passing meds with no training, their doing tube feeding with no training, their doing stand up lifts, or hoyer lifts with no training. they only get one day of paper work and their on there own. if anyone chokes, falls, if the place catch on fired. you're fired right away and than you're reported to the state board. this is really happen. some could be certified some don't have to be.

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.
this wasn't a nurse ok. this was at a group home ok. there was a client that was in her 20's who had a g-tube in her tummy. will like i said i wasn't train to do it or was i license for it. the person that was train was having problems with the tube feeding. when she call the manager for help the manager ask who there with her, and she told her yes i was there, so the manager ask why i couldn't help will i told her i wasn't train or am i license to do so. so i got fired for not helping to tube feed.

Oh, now I understand what happened. You were fired because you refused to help with the tube feeding. Why would this be a state board problem? What kind of assistance did they ask for?

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Oh, now I understand what happened. You were fired because you refused to help with the tube feeding. Why would this be a state board problem? What kind of assistance did they ask for?
they asking me if i knew how to get kiks out of a tube,and i couldn't because i didn't know what to do. when i told the manager why i didn't help the other girl. the manager told me herself she didn't know how to tube feed either and that she didn't have a license either.
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