School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities Practice Guidelines

specialized judgment and skill based on knowledge and application of the principles ofbiological, physical and social sciences.While the Registered Nurse has autonomy in providing nursing care she/he must have aprescription from a practitioner authorized to prescribe and treat in order to administermedications and/or treatments that require substantial specialized judgment and skill based onknowledge and application of the principles of biological, physical and social science.Licensed Practice Nurses/Licensed Psychiatric Technician NursesThe Nurse Practice Act requires the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Licensed PsychiatricTechnician Nurse (LPTN) to work under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN,) AdvancedPractice Nurse (APN,) physician or dentist:A.C.A. 17-87-102 (5) Practice of practical nursing means the performance forcompensation of acts involving the care of the ill, injured, or infirm or thedelegation of certain nursing practices to other personnel as set forth inregulations established by the board under the direction of a registeredprofessional nurse, an advanced practice nurse, a licensed physician, or a licenseddentist, which acts do not require the substantial specialized skill, judgment andknowledge required in professional nursing.The Arkansas State Board of Nursing Position Statement 98-6 Scope of Practice DecisionMaking Model defines the LPN/LPTN scope of practice as:“The delivery of healthcare services which are performed under the direction of theprofessional nurse, licensed physician or licensed dentist, including observation,interventions, and evaluation, fall within the LPN/LPTN scope of practice”The Arkansas State Board of Nursing Position Statement 98-6 Scope of Practice DecisionMaking Model defines the LPN/LPTN scope of practice as:“The delivery of healthcare services which require assessment, diagnosis, planning,intervention, and evaluation fall within the professional nurse scope of practice.”Based on these references, under the direction of an RN, APN, physician, or dentist the LPNmay provide healthcare services that do not require assessment, diagnosis or planning.Statutes in the Education Chapter of the Arkansas Code require the school to provide individualhealthcare plans (IHP) for students with healthcare needs. The statute also requires those whoare providing the care in the IHP to be trained and licensed in accordance with the appropriateprofessional licensing statutes and rules. The IHP inherently requires assessment, diagnosis andplanning. The RN and APN have these skills within their professional scope of practice.A chart within these guidelines identifies nursing procedures that students could require whileattending school. Included in the chart is identification of those who are qualified to perform thetask with supervision and inservice education. Nursing procedures that specifically require theLPN to be supervised include:• Naso-gastric (N/G) Feeding and Monitoring• Gastrostomy Feeding and Monitoring• Jejunostomy Tube Feeding14