Current through Register Vol. 18, September 20, 2024
(1) Professional
conduct for nurses is behavior including acts, knowledge, and practices, which
through professional experience, has become established by practicing nurses as
conduct which is reasonably necessary for the protection of the public
interests.
(a) While working as a nurse, the
nurse will identify himself or herself with a name badge disclosing, at a
minimum, first name, first initial of last name, and license type. The
identification badge will be written in a standard bold face font with a font
size of no less than 18 point.
(b)
All nurses shall notify the board office of any change in address within ten
days of the change. Failure to notify the board of an address change may result
in a fine.
(c) All nurses are
required to report unprofessional conduct of nurses to the board.
(2) Unprofessional conduct, for
purposes of defining
37-1-307, MCA, in
addition to unprofessional conduct listed at
37-1-316,
MCA, the following being unique, is determined by the board to mean behavior
(acts, omissions, knowledge, and practices) which fails to conform to the
accepted standards of the nursing profession and which could jeopardize the
health and welfare of the people and shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
(a) failing to utilize appropriate
judgment in administering safe nursing practice based upon the level of nursing
for which the individual is licensed;
(b) failing to exercise technical competence
in carrying out nursing care;
(c)
failing to follow policies or procedures defined in the practice situation to
safeguard patient care;
(d)
failing to safeguard the patient's dignity and right to privacy;
(e) verbally or physically abusing
patients;
(f) performing procedures
beyond the authorized scope of the level of nursing and/or health care for
which the individual is licensed as defined by rules;
(g) altering and/or manipulating drug
supplies, narcotics, or patients' records;
(h) falsifying patients' records,
intentionally charting incorrectly or failing to chart;
(i) diversion of a medication for any
purpose;
(j) violating state or
federal laws relative to drugs;
(k)
intentionally committing any act that adversely affects the physical or
psychosocial welfare of the patient;
(l) delegating nursing care, functions, tasks
and/or responsibilities to others contrary to the Montana laws and rules
governing nursing and/or to the detriment of patient safety;
(m) failing to exercise appropriate
supervision over persons who are practicing under the supervision of the
licensed professional;
(n) leaving
a nursing assignment without properly notifying appropriate
personnel;
(o) practicing
professional or practical nursing as a registered or practical nurse in this
state without a current active Montana license or permit;
(p) failing to report to the board
information known to the individual regarding any possible violation of the
statutes or rules relating to nursing;
(q) a license or certificate in a related
health care discipline in Montana, another state or any jurisdiction denied,
revoked, suspended, placed on probation or voluntarily surrendered for any
reason that would constitute a basis for disciplinary action in this
state;
(r) failing to comply with
the contract provisions of the nurses' assistance program;
(s) refusing to sign for or accept a
certified mailing from the board office; or
(t) failing to participate and cooperate in a
Department of Labor and Industry investigation;
(u) failing to report to the board office
within 30 days of the date of the final judgment, order, or agency action, any
malpractice, professional misconduct, criminal, or disciplinary action in which
the nurse or the nurse's employer, on account of the nurse's conduct, is a
named party; and
(v) violating a
state or federal statute while performing or attempting to perform the practice
of nursing.
AUTH:
37-1-319,
37-8-202,
MCA IMP:
37-1-316,
37-1-319,
37-8-202,
MCA
