Can nurses interpret chest x-rays for PICC line placement and are they liable?

Question:

Dear Nancy,

Our Nurse Practice Act doesn’t specifically regulate whether nurses can interpret chest radiographs for the aim of placing a peripherally inserted central line. Our employer informed us that we were covered by our policy. We have doubts about this because this problem has not been solved. It may be very difficult to petition the State Board, and other people fear that in the event that they do, they’ll lose their jobs.

Pearl

Nancy Brent replies:

Dear Pearl,

Your best bet is to hunt advice out of your state board of nursing on whether this practice is suitable. You mentioned that your state board is difficult to petition. Although it’s unclear what this process involves, it is necessary to your scope of practice and certain affects other nurses in addition to you and your colleagues.

One option you and your board can have is to attend one among their open meetings and lift your concerns within the “new business” section or request that they be placed on the agenda to deal with the matter. Even for those who don’t receive a choice on the meeting (and it could take a while for the board to judge the practice), at the very least you have submitted it for review.

Another law to listen to is your state’s radiology practice law. Some states allow nurses to acquire a limited license in radiology with limited practice requirements. If possible, the statute often requires a course and certificate to be taken before a limited license is issued.

If you’re employed for a government facility, you’ll be able to ask the state attorney general for an opinion on the matter because the federal government facility is one among the attorney general’s clients. This opinion, if given, will protect you if it was inside the boundaries of the opinion.

You can seek advice out of your skilled nursing association. In other words, for those who work in an intensive care unit, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses may give you the chance to assist. Although such an association cannot change the scope of practice in a given state, it will probably inform the standards of practice for critical care nurses and supply a national perspective on the problem.

You may seek the advice of with a nurse or attorney in your state who works in the world of ​​regulatory law for guidance. Please keep in mind that the legal scope of practice is set by the Nursing Practice Act, not by the employer.

Kind regards,
Nancy