I think that RRT's are gaining more responsibility to pick up for some of the lack of nurses.  Personally, from the last hospital I worked at, RRT's were changing dressings and working in the ER in the capacity of a nurse, but doing these things under the RN's license.  It's like picking a surgeon for your carpal tunnel surgery which could be a hand surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, a neurologist, or a plastic surgeon: who is the best and most well qualified?  It's that way in nursing too.  Who is the best and most well qualified person to place a PICC?  Probably, an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist.  But, who is more available and can be trained to do the same?  An RN.  Yet, where my sister works as and RN, she is not allowed to pull them out.  As a soon to be nurse anesthetist, I think the RRT should not be placing them, but thats just me.  I would like to see the article link as well to explain why RRT's are even remotely qualified to do it.  Nothing against them, they certainly have there role, but I don't believe its with placing PICCs.  I think they are getting pushed to do more to keep there jobs in an ever changing economy.

thanks for sharing.


-----Original Message-----
From: jgk1278@...
To: nursebob@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, 15 May 2009 6:12 pm
Subject: Re: PICC Line Placement