It is within the scope of practice for CMAs to do a peripheral catheter insertion. This is found on the websites for their organizations. However, many times a physician will expect them to go farther and mix and administer IV fluids and medications and that is not in their scope. So they must know when to say no. Apparently knowing when to say no is not taught to most of them. I am frequently asked to provide training to medical and nursing assistants. I refused at first but have been looking into this. I have decided to put together a course on venipuncture skills and also to include a thorough discussion of what they should and should not be doing with infusion therapy, but I have not gotten started with it yet. Also, the rules about delegation of tasks are very different between nurses and physicians. So you might need to check that aspect from your state nursing and medical board.
This is a question for your state board of Nursing which oversees their licenses. Often, any person working for an MD in the MD office can do whatever is delegated and taught to them by the MD...it is covered under HIS license. However, the state board may have written specific tasks into their scope of practice for CNAs.
It is within the scope of practice for CMAs to do a peripheral catheter insertion. This is found on the websites for their organizations. However, many times a physician will expect them to go farther and mix and administer IV fluids and medications and that is not in their scope. So they must know when to say no. Apparently knowing when to say no is not taught to most of them. I am frequently asked to provide training to medical and nursing assistants. I refused at first but have been looking into this. I have decided to put together a course on venipuncture skills and also to include a thorough discussion of what they should and should not be doing with infusion therapy, but I have not gotten started with it yet. Also, the rules about delegation of tasks are very different between nurses and physicians. So you might need to check that aspect from your state nursing and medical board.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
www.hadawayassociates.com
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Lynn,
Your opinion is appreciated and respected. Thanks!
Chris Cavanaugh, RN, BSN, CRNI, VA-BC
Kathy Kokotis
Bard Access Systems
You will find this book on www.amazon.com
"Intravenous Infusion Therapy for Medical Assistants"
Dianne L. Josephson American Association for Medical Assistants
Thomson Delmar Learning is the publisher
Printed 2005
Hope that helps
Kathy Kokotis
Kathy Kokotis
Bard Access Systems