Can the licensed practical nurse perform a sterile speculum examination and obtain specimens for cytologic, such as a Papanicolaou (PAP) smear, in a pregnant patient?

The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission determines it is beyond the scope of a licensed practical nurse to perform a sterile speculum examination. The licensed practical nurse may assist an authorized health care practitioner, or the registered nurse, in performing a sterile speculum examination, including obtaining cytology specimens, following clinical practice standards. The licensed practical nurse should use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if these activities are within the nurse's legal and individual scope of practice.