I am asked regularly to assist with vitals clinics in assisting living and memory care facilities. I am not a nurse or even an MA. Is it legal for me to take a blood pressure or weight of a patient and record it for the required monthly vitals in such a community as an outside vendor?
Just to clarify, it is certainly not that I am not comfortable in doing so, or that I am not trained to do so, my question was more of a legal aspect as to rather this is within the law being that I am not a family member or a clinician.
I have worked for agencies that stated that it is not legal to touch a patient if you are not a clinician and agencies who state that vital clinics are okay.
In short, I am very competent in providing the services, the question is rather it is legal?
The law is vague, it states that family members or MA’s can provide these services, it doesn’t clarify rather a non skilled healthcare services representative is legal to provide these services.
I have assisted in more vitals clinics than I can count over the 30 years of my career, I am curious as to why some employers say that it is not legal to do so and others say it is fine?
You would, if not using an AUTOMATIC BP device (which is more or less the norm these days) be trained and tested to do blood pressure, but if your hearing is intact and you can see, this is a simple procedure. Not rocket science at all, and not a medical procedure.
If you do not feel confident about the ability to learn this skill regarding BP, or to record measurements, or to weigh people, you may be in the wrong job.
I would discuss this with your administration to see if you have or can learn the proper skills to do this. Not a lot more difficult than making a bed, really.
I assume your employer is being contracted by these facilities.
If you don't feel you have the qualified credentials, you probably have a supervisor who is responsible for your work.
Do your mean outside contractor, where you are paid by the facility.