My lab had a CLIA audit this week and we were informed that Phlebs cannot swab for COVID unless under supervision by an RN. She also said CLS are not allowed to swab at all?? How can I draw blood but not swab for COVID?
Is this just California?
Posted Dec 8, 2021, 8:38 PM UTC
There are no CLIA rules regarding NP collection for COVID-19 or otherwise. However California bars non RNs from collecting COVID NP swabs from what I can quickly gather. Source.Plenty of non-NP swabbing options are available, such as mid-turbinate swabbing, that may be performed by any personnel or self swabbed even in California.
We’ve been getting self collected mid-turbinate swabs but nobody updated the specimen types in the LIS ‘cause reasons. 🙃 It would be considered a minor citation because overall risk to the patient is low as the sample type is still valid. Dot your i’s and cross your t’s.
I was never trained in swabs here in CA as either a CLS or phleb so that makes sense.
The logic doesn't make sense to me, but then again, that would mean I don't have to swab anyone, which is A-OK with me.
I'd guess its a CA thing, I've been to several other states where phlebs and techs swab for things.
Guessing it’s a California thing. The community hospital I used to work for both the phlebotomists and MT/MLTs were trained to collect NP swabs on outpatients. The phlebs there are still the ones who go out to collect Covid swabs in cars for pre-surgical screens.
We don't do swabs at the facility I'm currently at. I couldn't be more grateful for it. I hated swabbing people for throats and stuff, can't imagine having to do COVIDs now.
Mmmm strep swabs, gotta make em gag
Haha what a stupid rule.
It can depend on what the manufacturer instructions on the test say - they sometimes qualify which providers can collect specimens.
Are CLS students that are RNs expected to perform RN tasks while in clinicals? This is probably a rare thing. But i’m an RN hoping to enter the CLS field next year when I start classes. Will I be expected to do more or will the expectation for me be to just do what is required of a CLS? Not really trying to do all that direct patient care either, hence, why I wanna switch into CLS.
It’s unlikely you would work in any hybrid situation except perhaps in the smallest hospitals where they would make CLS do blood draws. It’s organizationally messy to set up alternate workflows around one person having two different skill sets. Same reason why large hospitals don’t have techs drawing blood.
Can confirm this is the case in my NJ hospital as well. Our phlebs aren’t allowed to collect NP swabs. If there is no outpatient nurse available they try to call one from the floors to do it and they often refuse and the patient has to sit there for over an hour. It’s very stupid.
Big deal. You wanna wipe the patient's ass too? I'll gladly let you collect my c diff samples for me?
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Lmao so it’s perfectly fine for nurses to work as CLS but god forbid the lab specialist collect a lab specimen. I hate our profession- spineless if I’ve ever seen one.
Wait, that happens?
CLIA had that massive bs where they equated the BSN to the BS MLS and then has the cahones to say that we can’t collect an NP swab lmao.
If our profession had any balls what so ever, they would have stopped that nonsense or pushed that BS MLS is the equivalent of a nursing degree and this acceptable for us to work as nurses…but as previously stated- this field is SPINELESS.
I was just curious about the part where it sounds like you’ve seen nurses working in the lab
I haven’t ever personally seen it, but it’s the mere fact that it was declared to be legally acceptable for them to do it. I’m sure they do it in doctors offices.
If you look at the qualifications section of CLIA Subpart M, you only need a high school diploma and training to work in a moderate complexity lab.
I really don't understand the angst here. MLS working as nurses? Not a chance. Most MLS schools don't even teach phlebotomy anymore - much less any other direct patient care.
You’ve missed the point….completely.