Does a licensed practical nurse require an order to perform Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Food and Drug Administration tests such as a human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), urine dipstick, occult blood screening, or blood glucose capill

The licensed practical nurse does not practice nursing independently. A licensed practical nurse must have direction from an authorized health care practitioner or a registered nurse to perform tests such as a human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), urine dipstick, occult blood screening, blood glucose capillary tests or other CLIA approved waiver under the CLIA criteria. Any CLIA waived test involving puncturing the skin requires an order from an authorized health care practitioner. The 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.