Question

Define the scope of practice for an RN. How can an RN decide if an assigned task or type of care is in their scope? Give an example of 5 skills or care parameters that are within RN scope of practice and 5 skills or care parameters that are not within the RN scope of practice.

Answer 1

.Scope of practice describes the services that a qualified health professional is deemed competent to perform, and permitted to undertake – in keeping with the terms of their professional license.

The nursing Scope of Practice is defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA) as, "the ‘who,' ‘what,' ‘where,' ‘when,' and ‘how' of nursing."

scope of nursing practice reflects all of the roles and activities undertaken by registered nurses to address the full range of human experiences and responses to health and illness. This includes: health promotion, health protection, health maintenance, health restoration, rehabilitation, and palliation.

b)The "Five Rights of Delegation" that must be used when assigning care to others are:The "right" person

The "right" task

The "right" circumstances

The "right" directions and communication and

The "right" supervision and evaluation.

In other words, the right person must be assigned to the right tasks and jobs under the right circumstances. The nurse who assigns the tasks and jobs must then communicate with and direct the person doing the task or job. The nurse supervises the person and determines whether or not the job was done in the correct, appropriate, safe and competent manner.

Nurses may also delegate tasks to those with a more narrow scope of practice. For example, an RN might delegate PO med passes to the LPN. An LPN may delegate tasks such as ambulating or feeding a patient to the CNA.

examples of RN assign duties to LPN

Independently assess, monitor and revise the nursing plan of care for patients of any kind.

Initiate, administer, and titrate both routine and complex medications.

Perform education with patients about the plan of care.

Admit, discharge and refer patients to other providers.

>Some activities that are appropriate to delegate to UAPs/NAPs include:

clerical duties.

selected care tasks such as ambulation, feeding, mouth care, and bathing.

data gathering such as intake and output and vital signs.

RN duties

some additional skillsets for an RN include: Administer and monitor patient medications (including IV) Perform and lead an emergency response using BLS (Basic Life Support), ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), and/or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Wound care as assessment.