(a) A
registered nurse shall:
(1) Undertake a
specific practice only if the registered nurse has the necessary knowledge,
preparation, experience and competency to properly execute the
practice.
(2) Respect and consider,
while providing nursing care, the individual's right to freedom from
psychological and physical abuse.
(3) Act to safeguard the patient from the
incompetent, abusive or illegal practice of any individual.
(4) Safeguard the patient's dignity, the
right to privacy and the confidentiality of patient information. This standard
does not prohibit or affect reporting responsibilities under 23 Pa.C.S. Chapter
63 (relating to the Child Protective Services Law), the Older Adults Protective
Services Act (35 P.S. §§
10211-10224) and other statutes
which may mandate reporting of this information.
(5) Document and maintain accurate
records.
(b) A registered
nurse may not:
(1) Knowingly aid, abet or
assist another person to violate or circumvent a law or Board
regulation.
(2) Discriminate, while
providing nursing services, on the basis of age, marital status, sex, sexual
preference, race, religion, diagnosis, socioeconomic status or
disability.
(3) Knowingly permit
another individual to use his license or temporary permit for any purpose or
knowingly permit the unlicensed person under the registered nurse's
jurisdiction or supervision to misrepresent that the individual is a licensed
nurse.
(4) Misappropriate
equipment, materials, property, drugs or money from an employer or
patient.
(5) Solicit, borrow or
misappropriate money, materials or property from a patient or the patient's
family.
(6) Leave a nursing
assignment prior to the proper reporting and notification to the appropriate
department head or personnel of such an action.
(7) Knowingly abandon a patient in need of
nursing care. Abandonment is defined as the intentional deserting of a patient
for whom the nurse is responsible.
(8) Falsify or knowingly make incorrect
entries into the patient's record or other related documents.
(9) Engage in conduct defined as a sexual
violation or sexual impropriety in the course of a professional
relationship.
(c) A
registered nurse who fails to comply with an obligation or prohibition under
this section is subject to disciplinary and corrective measures under section
14 of the act (63 P.S. §
224).
(d) The Board may, in addition to any other
disciplinary or corrective measure set forth in this section, levy appropriate
civil penalties as authorized by section 13(b) of the act (63 P.S. §
223(b)) upon a nurse found
to have engaged in conduct constituting a sexual impropriety or sexual
violation.
