Patient Education - is it a legal requirement?

[GLAllen]

I'm writing my MSN thesis on patient education and I'm having a lot of trouble finding out if this statement is TRUE:

"The Nurse Practice Acts of all 50 states consider patient education to be an important responsibility and function of the professional registered nurse, making it a legal responsibility."

Does anyone know if that is true? I am licensed in KS and MO, and can't find any mention of providing patient education in either Nurse Practice Act. I have emailed both boards of nursing and am hoping they respond soon!

Thanks for any help anyone can provide!

[RNsydneygirl]

I'm not licensed in the US, so don't know specifics, however nurse to patient education is something we do all the time and comes with consenting for a procedure or administration of medication; you wouldn't give insulin without explaining to a cognitively well patient what it's for, would you.

Not sure if this is the answer you're after but hope it helps.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Look at the patient bill of rights and the patient's right to informed consent, where there are patient rights, there are healthcare provider obligations.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

patient education is a requirement in Texas. Go to their website (Welcome to the Texas Board of Nursing Website) and search for delegation. There is a rule on what CANNOT be delegated to unlicensed personnel. I take that to mean it must be done by the licensed nurse.

[AJJKRN]

Here's an example that I can think of. It is my understanding that my state mandates the nurse to give any Pt a vaccine information handout (VIH) sheet prior to giving them any vaccinations. So in essence, if a nurse were to administer a vaccine without providing a Pt the approved education on said vaccine then the Pt or maybe even the state's legal system in turn could hold the nurse legally accountable if something went wrong and the Pt hadn't been fully informed/educated about the vaccination. Sound about right?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

LOL - please note... all AN'ers that continually snipe at TX & express the perception that we're essentially substandard. The Texas NPA is the most fully developed/rigorous in the US. First state with mandated Peer Review process (30 years ago); Ks joined us a few years back. We remain the only state with a legally defined nurse-patient duty that cannot be subordinated by the physician-patient duty. :)

[dishes, BSN, RN]

@glallen, there may be an overview of the legal and ethical aspects of patient education in health education textbooks. Some authors who have written textbooks specific to nursing and patient education are; Susan Bastable, Fran London and Sally Rankin.