Law &. Ethics for Medical Careers 5th Edition by Karen Judson,Carlene Harrison

Exercise 43

ETHICS ISSUE 4: A licensed practical nurse (LPN) working the night shift in a hospital is told by her RN supervisor to administer a "push" IV (intrave­nous) medication to a patient. This duty assignment is not within the LPN's scope of practice, since state medical practice acts in the state where the LPN is employed specify that only RNs, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or physicians can administer push IV medications. The LPN objects to her RN supervisor, but the supervisor replies, "This is the night shift and we're short-handed. Just don't tell anyone on the day shift that you did it."
What should the LPN do?
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