Responsibilities and Functions - Practical Nurse

(1) A licensed practical nurse bears full responsibility for the quality of health care she or he provides to patients or health care consumers. A licensed practical nurse within the parameters of his or her generic and continuing education and experience, may delegate nursing activities to unlicensed persons in accordance with 244 CMR 3.05. A licensed practical nurse participates in direct and indirect nursing care, health maintenance, teaching, counseling, collaborative planning and rehabilitation, to the extent of his or her generic and continuing education and experience in order to: (a) assess an individual's basic health status, records and related health data; participate in analyzing and interpreting said recorded data, and making informed judgments as to the specific elements of nursing care mandated by a particular situation; (c) participate in planning and implementing nursing intervention, including appropriate health care components in nursing care plans that take account of the most recent advancements and current knowledge in the field; (d) incorporate the prescribed medical regimen into the nursing plan of care; (e) participate in the health teaching required by the individual and family so as to maintain an optimal level of health care; (f) when appropriate, evaluate outcomes of basic nursing intervention and initiate or encourage change in plans of care; and (g) collaborate, cooperate and communicate with other health care providers to ensure quality and continuity of care.