PA NURSE PRACTICE ACT Booklet review Scope of

PA NURSE PRACTICE ACT • Booklet review • Scope of practice

Pa Code Professional and Vocational Standards, State Board of Nursing(BON) � http: //www. pacode. com/secure/data/049/chapter 21/c hap 21 toc. html

INFORMED CONSENT: • Voluntary authorization by pt/legal rep • Based on mutual consent of ALL parties • Key is pt comprehension • Based on common law right of persons to be free from harmful/offensive touching • Mandates to physician the separate legal duty to disclose needed material facts in understandable terms • Should be description of available alternatives and their risks

PT MUST RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: • Brief but complete explanation of tx/procedure • Name/qualifications of person performing procedure • Explanation of serious harm that may occur • Explanation of alternative therapies • Explanation that the pt can refuse therapy/procedure without having alternative care or support discontinued • Pts can still refuse, even AFTER procedure/therapy has begun

NURSE INVOLVEMENT: • Obtain consent by communicating with pt, explaining procedures and obtaining pt permission verbally • Pts’ refusal of procedure must be respected • Some hosp permit nurses to obtain pt signature on consents, while others avoid this as potential liability • PCPs may legally delegate obtaining informed consent to nurses but they are still accountable • Age of consent = 18 • If incompetent, legal guardian/rep appointed

PATIENT SELF-DETERMINATION ACT • Involves right of individual to decide what will or will not happen to their bodies • Usually addressed in issues surrounding death/dying, but concerns all aspects of consent and its refusal • Synonymous with autonomy

ADVANCE DIRECTIVE: • Living will • All states/DC have some form • Addresses personal instructions for care, general lifesustaining procedures, and terminal illness • Must be 18 and of sound mind • Only effective when dr/hosp receives copy • Online form of advance directive: • http: //www. caringinfo. org/stateaddownload

PA STATE BOARD OF NURSING INFRACTIONS: • 22 pgs county by county