Performace Eval

There is a big difference between a clinical performance evaluation and an occupational performance evaluation. Only an RN, or higher level of licensure, can judge the clinical performance of a RN. Anyone can judge the occupational performance of an RN.

Example, a LVN cannot judge a registered nurse's performance on inserting an IJ but a LVN can be the supervisor of a RN and judge if they are meeting expecting performance standards such as attendance, patient satisfaction etc.

I doubt there is a specific law concerning this but that is the professional standard, review the California NPA to make sure though.

This is an apples/oranges comparison, and here's why.

State nurse practice acts do not regulate employers' internal processes for measuring employees' performance. Employee performance reviews are an internal mechanism to review performance against established job descriptions, adherence to organizational policies, etc. An individual nurse may report to someone within the organization who holds no clinical licensure or healthcare-related professional certification.

Clinical performance can only be evaluated by an individual who is 'qualified' to do so. This means that the evaluator must have in-depth knowledge of the scope of practice & expected level of the evaluatee's performance. So, it is just not possible for an LV/PN or other clinician to evaluate an RN's clinical nursing performance.

OP is correct -operational - performance (following procedures, use of equipment, compliance with policies, etc) can be evaluated by anyone with the appropriate administrative authority.