(1) Purpose of
Scope of Practice:
(a) To establish
acceptable levels of safe practice for the nurse practitioner.
(b) To serve as a guide for the Board to
evaluate nurse practitioner practice.
(c) To distinguish the scope of practice of
the nurse practitioner from that of the registered nurse.
(2) The role of the nurse practitioner will
continue to expand in response to societal demand and new knowledge gained
through research, education, and experience.
(3) The nurse practitioner provides holistic
health care to individuals, families, and groups across the life span in a
variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities and
community-based settings.
(4)
Within his or her specialty, the nurse practitioner is responsible for managing
health problems encountered by the client and is accountable for health
outcomes. This process includes:
(a)
Assessment;
(b)
Diagnosis;
(c) Development of a
plan;
(d) Intervention;
and
(e) Evaluation.
(5) The nurse practitioner is
independently responsible and accountable for the continuous and comprehensive
management of a broad range of health care, which may include:
(a) Promotion and maintenance of
health;
(b) Prevention of illness
and disability;
(c) Assessment of
clients, synthesis and analysis of data and application of nursing principles
and therapeutic modalities;
(d)
Management of health care during acute and chronic phases of illness;
(e) Admission of his/her clients to hospitals
and/or health services including but not limited to home health, hospice, long
term care and drug and alcohol treatment;
(f) Counseling;
(g) Consultation and/or collaboration with
other health care providers and community resources;
(h) Referral to other health care providers
and community resources;
(i)
Management and coordination of care;
(j) Use of research skills;
(k) Diagnosis of health/illness status;
and
(l) Prescribing, dispensing,
and administration of therapeutic devices and measures, including legend drugs
and controlled substances as provided in the Nurse Practice Act, consistent
with the definition of the practitioner's specialty category and scope of
practice.
(6) The nurse
practitioner scope of practice includes teaching the theory and practice of
advanced practice nursing.
(7) The
nurse practitioner is responsible for recognizing limits of knowledge and
experience, and for resolving situations beyond his/her nurse practitioner
expertise by consulting with or referring clients to other health care
providers.
(8) The nurse
practitioner will only provide health care services within the nurse
practitioner's scope of practice for which he/she is educationally prepared and
for which competency has been established and maintained. Educational
preparation includes academic coursework, workshops, or seminars, provided both
theory and clinical experience are included.
