To assist nurses, employers and patients, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has developed a Scope of Practice Decision-Making Framework to be used when determining whether a particular nursing activity is within the nurse’s scope of practice. It is very straightforward. Most states have implemented/recommended this decision-making algorithm, and I encourage all nurses to use it in…
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Correctional Nurse Scope of Practice Scenario One
To assist nurses, employers and patients, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has developed a Scope of Practice Decision-Making Framework to be used when determining whether a particular nursing activity is within the nurse’s scope of practice. It is very straightforward. Most states have implemented/recommended this decision-making algorithm, and I encourage all nurses to use it in…
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Mr. Stone: Heat-Related Illness
Mr. Stone is a 32 year old male who arrived at the prison about 3 months ago from the county jail, where he had been incarcerated for the past 18 months. There, he was diagnosed with hypertension and anxiety, and has been adherent to his medication regimen of amlodipine and fluoxetine. He was enrolled in the facility chronic disease clinic…
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Ms. Rand: Skin Rash and Fatigue
subjective Ms. Rand, a 35 year old female, is seen in Nurse Sick Call for a Health Service Request Form complaining of a skin rash with lesions that occurred after she went on outside rec in the direct sun. She included that this has happened before when she spent time in the sun, but not recently, and definitely not this…
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Mr. Castro: Nausea
Mr. Castro is a 28-year-old male who has been incarcerated at the county jail for the last 16 days. He denied medical and mental health problems during the Receiving Screening. He admitted to daily use of marijuana, but denied other drugs and alcohol. Today, you received the Health Services Request form he submitted last evening documenting a 24 hour history…
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