Offering community education events

Nurses General Nursing

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I am about to take my LPN boards soon. I recently moved into a community that is filled with retired and elderly people. The community used to offer certain health checks to its residents (like blood pressure). I was curious to know, if I wanted to do informational classes like about diabetes or high blood pressure and do regular BP checks, would I have to have some sort of supervision from an RN or MD? Are there rules for this? I have checked my states Nurse Practice Act and I don't see anything in regards to this. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Justin

i am not sure that you would be able to just sort of do some independent things. Depending on your scope, you then have to do something about it if there's a blood pressure that is high, low, that type of thing. It could fall under the "first initial assessment" regulations in your practice act.

What I would research though is to do wellness clinics with an MD's office, a pharmacy, urgent care, local assisted living facilities--there are endless facilities that do this type of community outreach. Even your local gym, weight control meetings, even school sports all use this type of service--camps and after school activities as well.

I would also think you would enjoy home health.

Good luck!

Oh, and a PS--i would look into becoming Diabetes certified, or certifications in nutrition--whatever your interest would be.....may make you more marketable....

http://www.nflpn.org/certification.html

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I would speak to your BON. The department of health may also be able to provide you with resources (ie pt education pamphlets, guidelines they use when they do community screenings). I was just reading an article about how in a neighborhood near me an LPN and an RN have started an outreach program of going into barber shops and checking customer's BP and providing healthy lifestyle tips. These nurses had no physician involved, but I would think you would want to know what free/low cost clinics were near by if you needed to refer someone that could not afford healthcare

Specializes in retired LTC.

Information from previous postersis right on. I would add you might want to check about volunteering with your local Red Cross, American Heart or Cancer Society, etc.

Be aware that you may need specialized (which you may or may not be able to obtain). Under some circumstances, you could be considered as an independent consultant.

Might just be most prudent to tag along with an established/recognized organization. Offer them suggestions about a perceived need and they might be able to work with you. But freelancing as you suggest may not be a good idea as such.

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