RN Requirement?

[busyrninva]

Just have a question? Is there any law or legislation that states that there HAS to be a RN on the floor each shift? Just wondering becuase there have been times when there wasn't one on our floor and the nursing supervisor would grace us with her presence to sign the LPN's diagnosis evaluations and sign the charts that say that they were reviewed by a RN. We use to have a charge nurse to do this on our 35 bed floor but the new owners of the hospital will not allow the staff for a charge nurse. Anyone know if this is legal?

[JenRose]

Hi,

I noticed your post. I once asked the same question, and was told that 1 RN on the work schedule, every 24 hours is legal. That was a while ago, and the rules may have changed.

Jeni

[BarbPick]

From the nurse practice act here, I can only go by the meds. An RN has to be close by to do an IV push medication. If an RN is out of the area, like home health, LPN's are only allowed to push Hep lock solution and saline. If the patient needs IVP lasix at home, it is put in a 50cc piggy back bag. that said, I guess the supervisor in house can be off the floor, and able to be paged.