Nina, 
 
I'll stop laughing in a million years. 
 
Since when does the Chief of Radiology dictate the "Practice of Nursing" for your state and facility?  That's a new one on me.
 
All kidding aside. 
 
I always thought it was the State Board of Nursing.  Does your State Board of Nursing have an appendix section stating something like "advanced practices and procedures that can be documented and competencies provided the RN may perform these procedures?"  Our Alaska State State Board of Nursing has a position statement that addresses this:
 
Formal programs of study that are designed to extend and expand upon basic registered nurse preparateion.  Sugn courses of study extend and expand the knowledge base of practice and provide for supervised practice in applying new knowledge in new ways.  New practice scopes are defined by the program's educational objectives. 
 
The parameters ofthe practice scopes are defined by basicational preparation and advanced or specialty education.  Within this scope of practice, all nurses can remain current and increase their expertise and skill in a variety of ways, e.g., practice experience, in-service education, and continuing education. Practice responsibility, acountability and relative levels of independence are also expanded in this way.
 
We also have documented education and certifications of courses we took to use ultrasound.  Bard was the ones that set up our class.  There are multiple other courses out there.  Nancy Moureau has a Ultrasound class that I know of.  We have had some of our PICC RN's attend this and get the certificate and then presented this to our Nursing Administration and State Board of Nursing and we are placing PICC's in our facility with their blessing.  We also have developed a yearly competency for PICC placement that included the Ultrasound items.  This also included check-off's for all three Ultrasounds we have and how they differ and their use. 
 
Check your facilities Nursing guidelines, policies and procedures.  Also go to your Nursing administration with a Action Plan, educational opportunites,  implementation plan to train and document such training for your nurses, along with yearly competency or whatever your facility needs.  Check out your state board of Nursing statutes and regulations for a position statement on advanced procedures, and specialty practices.  These are prior to obtaining a NP or advanced practice degree.  This is simply expanding your practice and specialty. 
 
Let me know if this helps.
 
Betsy Harmon RN CRNI
Vascular Access Team
Critical Care Unit
Alaska Native Medical Center
Anchorage, Alaska
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 7:48 AM
Subject: Ultrasound "certification"?

I have been told by the Chief of Radiology at the hospital where I work that "RNs cannot us portable ultrasound unless they are certified by the Board of Radiology to use the devices".
 
OK, stop laughing.
Yes, they don't want RNs placing PICCs here........can you tell?
 
Be that as it may, I need to find some way to prove to them that this is not the case if RNs are using ultrasound to "assess vessel patency and assist in guidance of the introducer needle".
 
Of course the Board of Radiology in Wyoming is limited to the Board of Radiology Techs.
I'm trying to avoid an opinion statement by the Board of Registered Nursing, so I'm asking if anyone has any ideas for me......
 
Thanks!
Nina E.

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