IN Nurse Practice Act - Oxygen Monitoring ?

[Gingerlilly1]

Looking for an answer regarding oxygenation monitoring by RN's and LPN's in Indiana who are home health nurses. Does anyone know if using a portable pulse ox monitor is within the nurse practice act for RN's and LPN's or is a doctor's order needed? Thanks!

[caliotter3]

To obtain the equipment to keep in the home a doctor's order is needed. I noticed recently that the information was recorded in documentation for a patient. Since there was no oximeter present in the home, nor an order on the care plan, I asked a nurse already working the case. She told me that the nurse who recorded the readings was using her own oximeter. I believe there could be problems without an order and without calibrated equipment. I doubt that something this specific would be addressed in a nurse practice act. I would send a written inquiry to the Board and see how they respond.

[KateRN1]

Per Medicare guidelines, you must have an order to perform pulse oximetry.