So this was an interesting topic today

mrsboots87 · Oct 23, 2014

If I am understanding correctly, then yes, that would reflect back on the nurse. While a student, we fall under the UAP category since we are unlicensed. Not exactly, but as for delegation purposes, that would be what most closely describes what we are as student nurses. Anyway, when the RN delegates a task to a UAP, the RN is still responsible for that task per practice acts. The RN should be checking the EMR to see that the task has been completed and charted on, and even check back with the UAP to ensure it was done properly.

For example, if during that neuro check, the patient was disoriented, their grips were weak or null on the right but strong on the left, and their face is drooping on the right, then it would be vital for the nurse to know this in order to intervene and get the doc quickly. But if the nurse never checked with the UAP and never checked the chart to see these findings, or even re assessed the patient themselves, then they wouldn't know and there would be a good chance of some very serious harm coming to that patient from likely stroke. They then wouldn't intervene because they didn't know and the patient could be harmed. If it were brought to court, saying "I asked the student nurse to assess and they didn't" wouldn't cut it. This would be the RNs fault and they would be liable since they are ultimately responsible for that patient's care, not the UAP or nursing student. We, as students, are there to learn and may not always see the importance of some assessment findings. That is why the patient's nurse or our clinical instructor needs to be checking on us.

mrsboots87 · Oct 23, 2014

Forgot to add: Also, even if the student nurse did do the neuro checks and all finding were normal. If this is not charted on, then it would appear as if NO neuro checks were done. My instructor always says that the way it is seen by the law is that "if it wasn't charted, then it wasn't done"