Can Non-Licensed Individual Supervise RN and LVN?

[Nonie76]

This has come across my plate and I don’t know the answer.  One of my friends office has an offsite person who does QA/ QI on documentation.  This person is NOT a nurse, not licensed of even clinical.  Yet, they submit directives for corrections  and required documentation needed for clinical patients this organization treats….  It smells out of line.  Also there is no RN supervisor ever.. only and LVN office manager who directs the nurses! 

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I've known some nursing homes to have non-nurse directors of nursing, so I think that a company can't appoint a supervisor no matter what their credentials. However, if you feel they're asking you to go against your nursing training or something you feel is out of your scope, I would definitely seek guidance from a nurse.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Putting my coder/ Utilization Review/Quality improvement and Home Health Central Intake Manager hat on:

A coder/ medical records specialist (non-nurse) can review DOCUMENTATION to ensure meets  accepted coding and medical records guidelines for payment and services provided along with practice guidelines.  They can not tell you how to PRACTICE as a nurse: perform procedures, accept verbal/medical orders, supervise practice activities, medication administration + management, etc.

LVN's  as office manager can direct ADMINISTRATIVE  and clerical tasks: scheduling, approving time off, payroll, front office management, assigning office tasks, developing office policies, performance evals,  etc.  They can not supervise your actual practice. They function under the direction of  onsite physician or offsite health system manager.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

It depends on state regulations. WI for instance has very specific language regarding LPN's in a supervisory role that only applies to LTC. In short the LPN can supervise non-care related tasks but can not supervise nursing care performed by the RN.  Honestly it's been so long since I read the nurse practice act, especially for LPN's since I've never worked as one that I am not certain what the language is that addresses LPN supervisors in an office/clinic setting.

I do think all states have some sort of similar language addressing LPN's and non-nurses in a supervisory role. It might take some time to wade through your states nurse practice act for both RN and LPN, somewhere in there the scope of practice is addressed.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

4 hours ago, kbrn2002 said:

It depends on state regulations. WI for instance has very specific language regarding LPN's in a supervisory role that only applies to LTC. In short the LPN can supervise non-care related tasks but can not supervise nursing care performed by the RN.  Honestly it's been so long since I read the nurse practice act, especially for LPN's since I've never worked as one that I am not certain what the language is that addresses LPN supervisors in an office/clinic setting.

I do think all states have some sort of similar language addressing LPN's and non-nurses in a supervisory role. It might take some time to wade through your states nurse practice act for both RN and LPN, somewhere in there the scope of practice is addressed.

Agree 100%:  Check your states practice act!  Link to all states board of nursing at bottom each allnurses page.

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

I am, which does make things difficult sometimes. I am a school nurse and my direct supervisor is an administrator with absolutely zero medical experience or knowledge. It can make for some interesting and spirited conversations..