Is this out of my scope?

[optimist]

I know in NC, the role of teaching is reserved for the RN with the LPN being allowed to reinforce. Well my sister who works in the school system asked me to participate in her classroom, coming in as a nurse to teach a preK class about handwashing.The nurse who usually works for the school is spread pretty thin between multiple schools and isnt able to. I was wondering, as an LPN would it be out of my scope of practice to teach children the importance of handwashing and how to prevent the spread of germs?

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Anybody can walk into a school and teach kids about washing their little hands.

[belgarion]

Personally I don't see a thing wrong with it. It's not like you would be doing patient education on changing a wound dressing or teaching a nursing class about central line care.

The problem is there are just way too many people these days whose lives are so dull they have to go around looking for things to report on other people. I think the key phrase is "coming in as a nurse to teach". That would be what the BON would probably look at should some overly anal parent or school official decide to make an issue of it.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I agree, how silly. But ain't it the way of the world. I'd email your BON. Yes it's ridiculous that you'd even have to consider it a potential problem. A license can be like leg irons.

[skimpstah]

You're going in to teach about handwashing...you happen to be a nurse...instead of, going in as a nurse to teach about handwashing.

[belgarion]

You're going in to teach about handwashing...you happen to be a nurse...instead of, going in as a nurse to teach about handwashing.

True. Leave the nurse part out of it and you could be a food service person. They have to know proper hand washing tecniques as well.

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

I don't think it should be a problem but why not call the BON? When I lived in NC and had such questions, I called the BON in Raleigh and they were VERY helpful. I'm not sure of the role of LPN as I never became familiar with that part of the act.

[CathyLew]

I don't think it should be a problem but why not call the BON? .

except if you ask the BON, then you are brining in more red tape...they may think they have to cover their butts and put some restriction on this. I agree with the posters who said keep the nurse thing out of the reason you were brought there.... but you can use it when you talk to the children. As in... as a nurse, I wash my hands to.....

when I was a vet tech, I used to go in my mom's elementary classes all the time and give talks on general dog care--how to walk up to a strange dog, ear and nail care, the importance of training....etc... but I never said I was an expert or gave my credentials to the school. I was just a guest speaker. Not an expert, who would be held responsible if some kid got bit by the family dog three months later...and mentioned my name.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

you are not teaching patients. You are not planning care. You are doing a community service.

[karray]

The practice cunsltant at BON is an edcelleent resource. I consult her all the tme. In this day and age, I say better safe than sorry.

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

you are not teaching patients. You are not planning care. You are doing a community service.

But in community/public health nursing, the community itself is a patient...

[sharpeimom]

i'd compare it to the times i spoke to the cub scout pack that meets in the church across the street about basic dog care, approaching a strange dog safely, walking and bathing a dog, etc. one snowy night when their speaker couldn't make it. about two years later, i was an impromptu cat care speaker. both

times, i was flagged down while dog walking and spoke off the top of my head.

i didn't speak as a rn, vet tech, or expert anything. i was simply a dog and cat "mom" sharing info, and that's the kind of teaching i think the op will be doing with the munchkins.