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Question
What is the licensed practical nurse's role in performing nursing assessment and care plan development?
Answer

Nursing assessment may include a comprehensive nursing assessment and/or a focused nursing assessment. A comprehensive nursing assessment means collection, analysis, and synthesis of data performed by the registered nurse used to establish a health status baseline, plan care and address changes in a patient's condition as defined in the National Council State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Model Act (2012). The licensed practical nurse may perform a focused nursing assessment. A focused nursing assessment means recognizing patient characteristics that may affect the patient's health status, gathering and recording nursing assessment data and demonstrating attentiveness by observing, monitoring and reporting signs, symptoms, and changes in patient conditions in an ongoing manner to the registered nurse or other authorized medical provider. The focused assessment may include obtaining health care history information and physical assessment. The competent and appropriately trained licensed practical nurse may also perform specific assessments or screening activities, such as mental health status screening, suicidal risk screening, substance use screening, behavioral health screening, oral health screening, growth and developmental screening, neonatal abstinence syndrome scoring system, or nutritional health screening. The licensed practical nurse not analyze, synthesize, or evaluate the data or develop the nursing care plan. The licensed practical nurse is a valuable member of the health care team and should contribute to the development of the nursing care plan.

FAQ Category
Nursing Process