RN Scope of Practice and State Laws

[HealinghandsRN]

hello all, this might sound really stupid to u but i am having a hard time finding rn's scope of practice in this state. i have gone to the board of nursing site and look at the nurse practice act but that is not what i am looking for........i want to see a detailed list of what exactly is in our scope of proctice. please inform me if u can where i can actually see the scope. the nurse practice act gives a short paragraph but does not go into details. as i said earlier, i hope u don't think i am ignorant....but i have been spending alot of time and getting nowhere.

if anyone can give me the site for the above information i would greatly appreciate it. thanks again.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

there is no specific list of tasks permited under nj, delaware or pa regulations like some states have.

new jersey board of nursing statutes

{nurse practice act}

guidelines for: determining scope of nursing practice

and

making delegation decisions

new jersey state nurse association

national student nurse association

[HealinghandsRN]

there is no specific list of tasks permited under nj, delaware or pa regulations like some states have.

new jersey board of nursing statutes

{nurse practice act}

guidelines for: determining scope of nursing practice

and

making delegation decisions

new jersey state nurse association

national student nurse association

ohhh no wonder why i can't find it. i remember learning in nursing school that we are not legally allowed to give lab results to anyone (except the doctor, of course) then, if there is no specifics where would this information come from?? and did u ever hear of such a thing? thanks .........will u be able to tell me your opinion on cpr for ie in a ltc facility......a policy telling u to do cpr "no matter what"if they are not a dnr, the "no matter what" is contrary to the american heart associations policy stating to do cpr unless (and then gives the conditions u would not start cpr) what do u go by ....i would think u would follow the aha policies............?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

There is no specific info in state practice act re who you are permitted to give lab orders/values to. If there is not a "lab policy" in your facilities policy and procedure manual, practice standards would be based on nursing textbook the facility identifes as a "reference text". (JCAHO requirement).

Most hospitals have a "Critical lab result" policy too.

Usual practice is;

1. Physician orders lab work

a. upon admission to a facility

b. patient exam performed + labs ordered.

c. change in condition noted by nurse, reported to physician and lab

ordered.

2. Unit clerk/nurse takes off order and fills out lab requestion slip.

3. Phlebotomist/nurse obtains lab test and sends to department.

4. Lab departemtn perfoems test and results faxed/delivered to unit. If "critical lab result" called to nursing unit; nurse taking lab report makes decision to notify physician or hold off until AM dependent upon patients condition.

5. Charge nurse/Supervisior should be notified of critical labs outside ICU type setting.

6. Specialty areas like oncolocgy, nursess often discuss lab results with patients as part of treatment protocals. Otherwise it is the physician who informs the patients of lab results.

7. Lab results are reported to next nurse caring for patient as part of patient report.

RE CPR in LTC facilites: Must follow facility policy re performing CPR on all patients without DNR order.

That said, someone can always bring to management's attention current AHA CPR guidelines and volunteer to assist policy/procedure committee on updating policy to reflect guidelines. New/Revised policies then need to be reviewed by facility board of directors and approved before implimentation.