Recently, in collaboration with the State Board for Nursing, the New York State Department of Health has issued new regulations regarding the role of licensed practical nurses in the administration of blood and blood products
Note: A licensed practical nurse can only perform transfusions following satisfactory completion of a transfusion training program meeting criteria specified by the Department of Health and the State Education Department, and only when a registered nurse, or a physician or other person authorized by law to manage transfusion reactions is immediately available on-site. The LPN is expected to participate annually in a refresher course in such procedures.
It is also an expectation that LPNs administering blood and blood products will have satisfactorily completed the state mandated IV medication course for LPNs prior to taking the transfusion training program. Information on the course for training licensed practical nurses in the administration of blood and blood products is attached to this Nursing Practice Alert.
Download the amendment (.pdf format; Adobe Acrobat Reader required) from the State of New York Department of Health.
For questions, contact Education, Practice and Research: 518.782.9400, ext. 282.