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Lists of Tasks a Nurse Can/Cannot
Perform
Where can I find a list of tasks that RNs and LPNS can or cannot
perform?
The Alabama Nurse Practice Act
and the Alabama Board of Nursing’s Administrative Code are written broadly
so that they can apply to nursing practice in any setting. As such, the ABN
does not provide lists of tasks. There are two keys to knowing what
procedures/tasks a nurse, regardless of classification, can perform:
- The nurse’s basic education
- The facility/agency/company
policies and procedures
In 2001 the Alabama Board of
Nursing realized that agencies and facilities needed to expand the scope of
practice for nurses as new procedures and treatments were developed. After much
deliberation, the Board adopted the Standardized Procedure Rule found in the
Alabama Administrative Code, Chapter 610-X-6-.05 (and copied below for your
convenience.) This rule requires that a facility/agency apply for and receive
approval for standardized procedures for practice beyond basic nursing
education. The Standardized Procedure directs that agencies/facilities develop
a policy and procedure that is approved by the chief nursing administrator, the
chief medical officer and the chief executive officer as demonstrated by their
signature on the application form. Additionally, the agency/facility must
provide an organized program of study for staff, supervised clinical practice
and demonstration of competency that prepares nursing staff to expand the scope
of practice for this selected procedure. |
