Interpretation of a notice from the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians to Blood Banks and Pheresis Settings

On July 25, 2005 a member of the e-Network Forum forwarded the following email message regarding LVN scope of practice. The email message and its attachment are reproduced below exactly as received.

"This email message is to notify you that a court ruling recently occurred and may effect utilization of licensed vocational nurses in your settings.

Information concerning the ruling is attached and includes:

A summary of the court order

A copy of the original 2003 approval of the regulations from the Office of Administrative Law (these regulations have now been invalidated by the court ruling)

A copy of the regulations, as amended, in 2003. The amendments (the underlined statements) are now invalid.

(See attached file: cna_rulinginfo.pdf)

In plain English, LVNs who work in hemodialysis, pheresis and blood bank units must immediately stop administering IV medications. Registered nurses (RN) and physicians who direct the practice and functions of LVNs in these settings are also responsible to ensure that LVNs do NOT administer IV medications.

The determination that LVNs cannot administer IV medications is the result of a lawsuit brought against the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians by the California Nurses Association. The ruling was issued by the Superior Court of California in Sacramento County on July 14, 2005.

Questions regarding this decision should be directed to Ann Shuman, Supervising Nursing Education Consultant, or Suellen Clayworth, Nursing Education Consultant with the Board. They can be contacted as follows:

Suellen Clayworth, MN, RN
Nursing Education Consultant
Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive
Sacramento, CA 95833
Phone: (916) 263-7841
Fax: (916) 263-7859
Email: Suellen_Clayworth@dca.ca.gov

ANN E. SHUMAN, MS, RN
Supervising Nursing Education Consultant Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technician
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 263-7837
Fax: (916) 263-7859
Email: Ann_Shuman@dca.ca.gov"

END of email message

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