[NPInfo] Re: [NP-Clinical] Legal question

[nursinglaw at aol.com]

Many state boards of nursing have advisory opinions on the role of nurses in IV conscious sedation.? Before indicating an opinion based solely on work experience, go out to your state board of nursing website and see whether your state has an opinion.

Also, the ANA has an opinion on the nurses role in IV conscious sedation.? This opinion has been used (along with other nursing association opinions) to address federal policy issues related to nurses and pain management.


Winifred Carson-Smith, Esq.
nursinglaw at aol.com
202-232-5193
202-232-5194(fax)



-----Original Message-----
From: Getcoffee at aol.com
To: np-clinical at nurse.net; npinfo at nurse.net
Sent: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 1:42 am
Subject: [NPInfo] Re: [NP-Clinical] Legal question



Hi,
We used to do that kind of monitoring (RN's) in the hospital- "conscious  
sedation." We were credentialled- meaning we had to have knowledge about airway  

protection, medications, monitoring, etc. We had more of a protocol for  
monitoring vital signs, etc. Basically, we did them when we felt it was  
necessary; 
depending on the procedure, agents used, et. At the very least, full  vital 
signs were taken every 15 minutes. Oxygen was a standard if surgeon  requested 
or if there saturation dropped below a certain percentage. EKG  monitoring was 
decided by the nurse; i.e. if the patient had a cardiac hx past  or present. 
We were all ACLS certified in case of respiratory failure or  complications. 
We didn't have/need orders for this. Many of the surgeons just  wanted us to 
take care of it so they could concentrate on the surgery;  especially since it 
was our "expertise." Does that help some?
 
Lynn, ANP, PMHNP
 
 
In a message dated 1/30/2008 5:09:59 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
prispunnyfnp at metrocast.net writes:

in an office setting (ophthalmologist), while  doing a procedure under 
"monitored anesthesia" (local w/sedation) , would you  consider it a nursing 
intervention to monitor vital signs? 
1.   the only people in the room are the  patient, surgeon, RN, and a tech 
(no anesthesiologist or  anesthetist) 
2.   the "monitoring" is defined as VS,  pulse ox, and EKG--since the surgeon 
can't do the surgery and the monitoring,  the next licensed person is the RN. 
3.   so, is  the monitoring  a  nursing intervention or is it something that 
requires a doctor's  order? 
before you answer, I'm not trying to paint the RN  as being anything more 
than an office nurse.   (the doc and RN are  husband and wife, which really 
complicates things) 
looking forward to your  opinion




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