Can a nurse perform a lumbar puncture?

Nurses performing diagnostic lumbar puncture can help to reduce the cost of the procedure.

Who is qualified to perform a lumbar puncture?

A doctor, nurse practitioner (NP), nurse anesthesiologist, or physician assistant (PA) performs a lumbar puncture.

What is the nurse’s role during a lumbar puncture?

One of the responsibilities of the nurse during a lumbar puncture is to provide information and instructions before, during and after the procedure. It will decrease fear and anxiety among the patient and their families, and it will also lessen the occurrence of potential complications post-lumbar puncture.

Can the ER do a lumbar puncture?

Lumbar Puncture is a procedure commonly performed in the emergency department. It provides important diagnostic information but has a significant number of limitations and complications.

Can an LPN assist with a lumbar puncture?

A physician, advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), or physician’s assistant (PA) performs a lumbar puncture. A registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) is present during the procedure to assist in positioning the child and in assessing the child’s status.

What level should a lumbar puncture be?

Therefore a lumbar puncture is generally performed at or below the L3-L4 interspace. As a general anatomical rule, the line drawn between the posterior iliac crests often corresponds closely to the level of L3-L4. The interspace is selected after palpation of the spinous processes at each lumbar level.

What can a lumbar puncture tell you about the patient?

A lumbar puncture can help diagnose serious infections, such as meningitis; other disorders of the central nervous system, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis; or cancers of the brain or spinal cord.

What position should the nurse position the client after the lumbar puncture?

Place the patient in a lateral recumbent position, with her knees flexed toward her abdomen, her chin flexed onto her chest, and her back at the edge of the bed or examining table.

What position should patient be in after lumbar puncture?

Positioning — An LP can be performed with the patient in the lateral recumbent or prone positions or sitting upright. The lateral recumbent or prone positions are preferred over the upright position because they allow more accurate measurement of the opening pressure.

What are contraindications for lumbar puncture?

Absolute contraindications for performing a LP include infected skin over the puncture site, increased intracranial pressure (ICP) from any space-occupying lesion (mass, abscess), and trauma or mass to lumbar vertebrae.