Veinapuncture: Certified or not???

[miss_nurse2004]

Question, please: I am an LPN, cross trained in x-ray and lab years ago in a doctor's office. The facility where I work now has the LPN draw labs on their own residents. Our nursing consultant was here a month ago, and I asked her about certification...and she told me that I should NOT be drawing blood unless I was certified in Veinapuncture/IV therapy. I've never had the IV therapy class or been certified in either...but I know how. She said that unless you had your certification on file with your employer, you shouldn't draw labs. Now, my RN supervisor has informed me that "all lpn's are responsible for drawing their own labs...ALL lpn's". Specifically, she was talking to me. My employer keeps talking about getting an IV therapy course for all the lpn's who need it, but it's expensive so they keep putting it off. (We don't have to be cpr certified, either, which completely shocked me...)

I work in Arkansas. Is anyone familiar with rules/regulations as far as what lpn's can/can't do when it comes to veinapuncture/iv therapy/portacaths? I was even told a couple of times to flush a port...and I had no idea as to what that included. So I refused.

[J Lynn]

I just got my I V certification while I'm still in school. And we had IV therapy class and CPR certification. That surprises me too that you didn't get that opportunity. I know i've heard that training actually starts when you start working and out of school. If that's true I 'm one that needs alot more training.

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

Question, please: I am an LPN, cross trained in x-ray and lab years ago in a doctor's office. The facility where I work now has the LPN draw labs on their own residents. Our nursing consultant was here a month ago, and I asked her about certification...and she told me that I should NOT be drawing blood unless I was certified in Veinapuncture/IV therapy. I've never had the IV therapy class or been certified in either...but I know how. She said that unless you had your certification on file with your employer, you shouldn't draw labs. Now, my RN supervisor has informed me that "all lpn's are responsible for drawing their own labs...ALL lpn's". Specifically, she was talking to me. My employer keeps talking about getting an IV therapy course for all the lpn's who need it, but it's expensive so they keep putting it off. (We don't have to be cpr certified, either, which completely shocked me...)

I work in Arkansas. Is anyone familiar with rules/regulations as far as what lpn's can/can't do when it comes to veinapuncture/iv therapy/portacaths? I was even told a couple of times to flush a port...and I had no idea as to what that included. So I refused.

I would try looking up your state board of nursing on the web and see if you can get some answers. Each state has its' own scope of practice regulations/laws. Certainly, if you don't know how to do something- don't! Usually, being certified for blood-drawing means being observed to have a few successful blood-draws by a already certified person, in my experience. I would try to ask more questions of the supervisors and staff development staff at your place of employment also.

[Alast]

In Ar. an LPN has to be IV Cert. to start, maintain and or monitor a patient or resident in LTC. A record of this Cert is to be in your file. You also have to be trained to draw blood and a record of this training needs to be in your file. This is per your nurse practice act. Your consultant is right. Now do I know this. lol I am an instructor in IV Therapy for LTC nurses in the state of Ar. If you will e-mail me I will be glad to help you out with when a class in your area is coming up and most of the time these classes are paid for by a company that services your facility.

[TinyNurse, RN]

sounds like you need an IV therapy class...... most nh will pay for this for their lpns...... take the class and then feel comfortable about drawing your own labs.

xo Jen