Unsafe Interventional Radiology Practice

[ElleFur]

Hi. Looking for some career advice. I recently started working at a private- physician owned Interventional Radiology Clinic. I am an RN and was hired as a sedation IR Nurse. Since starting here- it has come to light that none of the nurses administer medications with physician orders. When I questioned administration about this- they claimed we work within ' verbal orders' but during procedures— the doctors are not giving any orders and nurses are expected to administer conscious sedation before the MD enters the room. Now, the practice claims that they can not find nurses to work so they are hiring EMT's to 'recover' patients post conscious sedation. Sometimes we are doing sheath removal for arterial puncture, placing foleys,  accessing ports, etc. Are EMT's trained to even do this??? Looking for any advice. I feel like my nursing license is on the line here ! Thank you 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Came across PA's BON revised regs --requires WRITTEN orders with physician/CRNP present in room when conscious sedation administered

https://allnurses.com/pa-updates-registered-nurse-conscious-t753595/

 

 

[floydnightingale]

Interesting. By PA I assume you mean Pennsylvania. Authority varies by state. In the ER where I worked they used physician assistants. One woman earned her NP and did pretty much what the PAs did but for whatever reason that didn't pan out and she became the head nurse educator for the department. "...either a physician or CRNP..." The "or" suggests that a physician need not necessarily be present. That's more authority than I can imagine from my experience. A PA, but more likely a resident, may be at bedside but we wouldn't even think about beginning a procedure without a staff physician present and since two RNs, and usually a pharmacist to draw up and push the meds, would be present any verbal orders were immediately charted. Different strokes for...

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Ran across Georgia BON regulations:  Registered Nurses NOT within scope of practice to provide procedural sedation unless CRNA.

Administration of Propofol, Etomidate and Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

[AGNPeaches]

In my experience radiology usually operates on VORB however sedation can not be given until a procedural "timeout" is done. And the doctor will give VORB immediately following timeout and sedation can be given at this time.