RN Scope of Practice and State Laws

there is no specific list of tasks permited under nj, delaware or pa regulations like some states have.

new jersey board of nursing statutes

{nurse practice act}

guidelines for: determining scope of nursing practice

and

making delegation decisions

new jersey state nurse association

national student nurse association

There is no specific info in state practice act re who you are permitted to give lab orders/values to. If there is not a "lab policy" in your facilities policy and procedure manual, practice standards would be based on nursing textbook the facility identifes as a "reference text". (JCAHO requirement).

Most hospitals have a "Critical lab result" policy too.

Usual practice is;

1. Physician orders lab work

a. upon admission to a facility

b. patient exam performed + labs ordered.

c. change in condition noted by nurse, reported to physician and lab

ordered.

2. Unit clerk/nurse takes off order and fills out lab requestion slip.

3. Phlebotomist/nurse obtains lab test and sends to department.

4. Lab departemtn perfoems test and results faxed/delivered to unit. If "critical lab result" called to nursing unit; nurse taking lab report makes decision to notify physician or hold off until AM dependent upon patients condition.

5. Charge nurse/Supervisior should be notified of critical labs outside ICU type setting.

6. Specialty areas like oncolocgy, nursess often discuss lab results with patients as part of treatment protocals. Otherwise it is the physician who informs the patients of lab results.

7. Lab results are reported to next nurse caring for patient as part of patient report.

RE CPR in LTC facilites: Must follow facility policy re performing CPR on all patients without DNR order.

That said, someone can always bring to management's attention current AHA CPR guidelines and volunteer to assist policy/procedure committee on updating policy to reflect guidelines. New/Revised policies then need to be reviewed by facility board of directors and approved before implimentation.