Question
Can the school registered nurse delegate non-credentialed assistive personnel to perform blood glucose fingersticks?
Answer
The school law does not provide an exception for the registered nurse in the kindergarten through twelve grade, public and private school setting (RCW 28A.210 Common School Provisions: Health-Screening and Requirements) to delegate the task of performing a blood glucose capillary stick. RCW 28A.210.330 allows a parent to authorize a parent-designated adult (PDA) to perform this task. The law allows a school staff person to volunteer to be a PDA or the parents can select a person not employed by the school to be the PDA. The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission recommends the registered nurse use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if an activity is within their scope of practice.
FAQ Category
School Nursing
Audience