Jail psych nurse ethics question

[amyphee]

I need some advice from some experienced jail nurses. I interviewed for a position at a jail recently, and it is likely that I will be offered the job. It is for a part time psych nurse. During the interview, I was told some things about the position that bothered me. I didn't ask for clarification at the time, but I want to know if this is standard practice. This job is with a regional company that contracts with that particular jail. The administrator of the medical program told me that I will be seeing patients and determining if they need medication. She mentioned various protocols and drug formularies, but stated that I can pretty much order whatever I wanted and start administering it. I wouldn't have to wait for the MD to sign off on it, but that he would sign off on anything I ordered as long as it wasn't anything "crazy". Isn't this practicing medicine without a license? I only have a BSN and RN license. Is this standard practice at a jail? The nurse decides what the inmates need and then just gets the MD to sign off on it. Please, I am very interested in this position, but this is worrying me.

Thanks!

[angelj]

An RN can prescribe medications under standardized procedures defined by the Board of Nursing in the State of California if the SP's are according to the Board's requirements. In any other state, check with your State Board of Nursing as to your scope of practice as an RN and check if your board allows RN's to prescribe medications based on "protocols". Be very careful as many correctional facilities who use "protocols", signed off by physcians

who have no legal authority whatsoever to do this under state licensing requirements. RN's are legally and ethically bound to follow their authorized scope of practice under their state license. Practicing ourside your scope of practice of your license means that you can be held accountable by your licensing board and in civil litigation. A physician's license never covers an RN license in any state, legally. Each license is governing by your state licensing board.