Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024
(1) Patient assessment shall be provided in
accordance with the definitions of professional nursing and practical nursing,
as defined in the Alabama Nurse Practice Act, Section
34-21-1.
(2) The registered nurse shall conduct and
document comprehensive and focused nursing assessments of the health status of
patients by:
(a) Collecting objective and
subjective data from observations, physical examinations, interviews, and
written records in an accurate and timely manner, as appropriate to the
patient's health care needs.
(b)
Analysis and reporting of data collected.
(c) Developing a plan of care based upon the
patient assessment.
(d) Modifying
the plan of care based upon the evaluation of patient responses to the plan of
care, including:
1. Anticipating and
recognizing changes or potential changes in patient status.
2. Identifying signs and symptoms of
deviation from current health status.
3. Implementing changes in
interventions.
(3) The licensed practical nurse practicing
under the supervision of an RN, APRN, physician, or other authorized health
care provider shall deliver and participate in nursing care, to include:
(a) Completing independent or comprehensive
patient assessments of the health status of the patient under approved
standardized procedures.
(b)
Collecting objective and subjective data from observations, nursing
examinations, interviews, and written records in an accurate and timely manner,
as appropriate to the patient's health care needs.
(c) Distinguishing abnormal from normal
data.
(d) Recording and reporting
the data.
(e) Anticipating and
recognizing changes or potential changes in patient status; identifying signs
and symptoms of deviation from current health status.
(f) Reporting findings of the focused nursing
assessment to the registered nurse, licensed physician, advanced practice
nurse, or dentist.
(g)
Participating and contributing to the development, modification, and
implementation of a patient centered healthcare plan for unstable,
unpredictable, or emergent patients to include the evaluation of patient
responses, and identification of patient needs and goals.
(h) The licensed practical nurse may plan the
nursing care for a patient whose condition is stable or predictable consistent
with state and federal regulations.
