Can the licensed practical nurse perform a lumbar puncture?

The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission determines it is beyond the scope of the licensed practical nurse to lead this activity due to the complexity of the procedure. The licensed practical nurse may assist an authorized health care practitioner or the registered nurse in performing a lumbar puncture, following clinical practice standards. The licensed practical nurse should use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if these activities are within the licensed practical nurse's legal and individual scope of practice.