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) Delegate tasks to the LPNs based on their experience and training
b) Consult the LPNs about their understanding of their scope of practice
c) Delegate tasks to the LPNs that are within the scope of practice for RNs in California
d) Seek guidance from the nurse manager about the scope of practice for LPNs
e) Make independent decisions about the scope of practice for LPNs based on personal judgment

Answer 1

The RN should seek guidance from the nurse manager about the scope of practice for LPNs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The RN should seek guidance from the nurse manager about the scope of practice for LPNs. When moving from one state to another, it is important to ensure that the tasks delegated to LPNs align with the scope of practice defined by the nurse practice act of the new state. Consulting with the LPNs about their understanding of their scope of practice can also be helpful, but ultimately, the nurse manager is responsible for clarifying the scope of practice for LPNs in the new facility.