Describe the roles of the nurse for the program you are currently enrolled Identify the scope of practice for the nurse in the state where you intend to practice Using the Nurse Practice Act for the state where you intend to practice, compare and contrast the scope of practice for the LPN and RN
Professional Identity of the Nurse- Role of the Nurse and Scope of Practice
Nurses are an important element of health care. They provide care services to patients and people within communities that are in need of care. Nursing roles include collaborating and assisting physicians and other healthcare workers in improving patient and population health outcomes. Nursing roles vary from simple roles, such as providing direct care to patients, to the management and leadership of nursing and health care systems. This paper describes the roles of registered nurses (RNs) and the scope of practice for RNs in Minnesota State and compares and contrasts the scope of practice for LPNs and RNs as per the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act.
Roles of a Registered Nurse (RN)
RNs provide services. They provide consultations and other family care services at the primary care in rural and urban settings. The development of the RN role has greatly contributed to the accessibility of health care services as well as the development of accountability in health care (McNee, 2020). The roles of RNs are defined by their State’s Board of Nursing and the existing policies on nursing and RNs’ scope of practice. RNs’ roles include carrying out physical assessments and diagnostic tests on patients, collaborating with medical teams to deliver quality and safe care, providing bedside care, recording the symptoms of the patients, recording their medical history, and supporting and educating patients (Health Research Policy, 2022). Additionally, RNs operate medical equipment, monitor the development of patient health, and administer medications and treatments under physician supervision.
Scope of Practice for Registered Nurses in Minnesota
The Minnesota Nurse Practice Act (Minnesota NPA) defines the scope of practice nurses of various qualifications are authorized to practice. However, nurses have the responsibility to ensure that they practice professionally, are accountable, and ensure that they provide care as per their authority, education, and competency (Minnesota Board of Nursing, n.d.). According to the Minnesota Board of Nursing Nurse Practice Act-Minnesota Statute Section 148.171 (Minnesota Board of Nursing, 2020), RNs are legalized to perform disease diagnoses across the states. The Minnesota NPA also allows RNs to collect, analyze, and synthesize patient health data to determine the patient’s health status and establish a diagnosis. RNs are also authorized to add new diagnoses to an existing diagnosis as well as add or develop new care plans to fit in with a new diagnosis or the patient’s health status. In addition, RNs are also authorized to operate medical equipment within the wards or during the management of patients. The RNs, as per their broader scope of practice, are allowed to administer medications within the state of Minnesota. Additionally, RNs in Minnesota are permitted to develop personalized nursing interventions for individual patients to improve existing or new care plans