Final answer:
The question addresses the scope of responsibilities and regulatory requirements for nurses in critical care and dialysis settings, highlighting the need for dedicated staff and adherence to stringent safety protocols.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed relates to the professional responsibilities and regulatory compliance in the nursing field, specifically for a context that involves critical care environments such as ICU, CGU, Emergency, and medical-surgical units. Nurses within these environments have specific responsibilities and restrictions. Firstly, there is a need for a dedicated ICU Staff Nurse who must have on-site access to a Registered Nurse (RN) for assistance and consultation, ensuring safe and effective patient care. The scope of practice also dictates that nurses should not assume responsibility for a client care area by making client assignments or performing delegated functions outside their competency. In addition to clinical responsibilities, if a nurse is a graduate of a Canadian institution and has taken the NCLEX exam outside of Nova Scotia (NS), they must notify the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) of the exam results. This requirement is part of maintaining professional standards and allows for proper accreditation and licensure.
In a dialysis setting, the nurse may operate under the direct supervision of a registered nurse, with a focus on providing dialysis treatments which require a review of patient history, responding to patient needs, and monitoring the dialysis process. This involves tasks like taking and reporting a patient's vital signs and preparing solutions and equipment to ensure procedures are accurate and sterile.
Furthermore, during surgical procedures, a nurse will review critical items with the team, such as confirming the name of the procedure, needle, sponge, and instrument counts, specimen labeling, and addressing any equipment issues. This is part of the safety checklist to prevent medical errors and maintain a high standard of patient care.