RE: Lab personnel drawing blood specs via PICC

[Susan Fullana]

My statement is that of an IV nurse and yes we are passionate, protective and advocates for our patients. Of course MDs and PAs can draw blood work and work with central lines, that should go without saying. Lab personnel, phlebotomists are not licensed to administer ordered medications...only to withdraw blood so, unless a nurse is going to stand by to flush before and after.....I still would think it inappropriate. Thank you for your response though. I have never in my years of hospital and homecare experience taught or expected a patient to draw their own blood. They certainly are trained to administer their own medications but that was not the topic I was responding to. I was responding to phlebotomists and or lab techs with or without BS degrees who would be expected to administer saline and heparin---performing a nursing duty and another set of hands on a central line to potentially contaminate.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

While I am not advocating for lab personnel to work with PICCs, I believe many states do license laboratory personnel.

In California - there are state mandates for "phlebotomy courses" and there are many Bachelor of science programs  laboratory technologists, .  Another point..... you first sentence leaves out physicians and physician assistants

and PATIENTS> many are trained to deal with central lines. 

 

sorry - but perhaps your statement may have been written in passion and not in practical.

Ann

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Susan Fullana
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 8:07 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Lab personnel drawing blood specs via PICC

A nurse and only a nurse should be dealing with PICCs or any other central line. Lab personnel are not licensed. I'm not sure what your state says about it, but In CT only licensed personnel can flush catheters --as saline is considered a medication and obviously if you are using heparin that is a medication and it is not to be administered by non-licensed personnel. I am appalled that management would even suggest such a thing. Years ago we (the IV team) drew all of the central line specs---floor nurses didn't do it and I believe our infection rates with central lines was much lower. We also would refuse to go back into the line if multiple MDs would "add on" tests. They would have to wait until the next day or next scheduled test.

Susan J. Fullana

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Susan J. Fullana