Question

A nurse moves from California to Arkansas and due to having 20 years of experience as a registered nurse is immediately placed in charge of the telemetry unit. The staffing consists of LPNs and two unlicensed assistive personnel. The RN is unsure of the scope of practice of the LPNs and reviews the nurse practice act for Arkansas, which lacks clarity on some tasks. The RN should:

a. query the state nursing association to determine their stance on the role of LPNs.
b. ask the LPNs on the unit to list what tasks they routinely performed.
c. contact the state board of nursing to determine legal scope of practice for LPNs.
d. refer to California's nurse practice act because the scope of LPNs/LVNs is consistent across the United States.

Answer 1

The registered nurse should contact the state board of nursing to determine the legal scope of practice for LPNs in Arkansas.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct course of action for the registered nurse (RN) in this situation is to contact the state board of nursing to determine the legal scope of practice for LPNs. The nurse practice act for each state provides guidelines and regulations for the nursing profession, including the scope of practice for different levels of nursing professionals.

While querying the state nursing association or asking the LPNs on the unit for information may be helpful, the most accurate and authoritative source for determining the scope of practice for LPNs is the state board of nursing. California's nurse practice act is specific to that state and may not be applicable in Arkansas, so it would not provide the necessary information in this case.