It is within the scope of an appropriately prepared and competent licensed practical nurse to perform routine and non-complex diagnostic imaging procedures under the direction of an authorized health care practitioner, or under the direction and supervision of the registered nurse, following clinical practice standards. A prescription or order from an authorized provider is required. The prescription or order may be done following standing orders. Examples of diagnostic imaging procedures include:
- Routine radiology tests (such as chest, extremity);
- Computerized axial tomography (CAT) scans;
- Fluoroscopy, including upper gastrointestinal and barium enema procedures;
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA);
- Mammography;
- Nuclear medicine such as bone scans, thyroid scans, and thallium cardiac stress tests;
- Positron emission tomography (PET); and
- Ultrasound.
While the licensed practical nurse may perform routine, diagnostic imaging procedures, because of the complexity, it is not within the scope of the licensed practical nurse to perform interventional radiology procedures. Interventional radiology is performed using minimally invasive therapies under imaging guidance. Common interventional radiology procedures include thrombolysis, needle biopsies, paracentesis, and thoracentesis. The licensed practical nurse may assist an authorized health care practitioner, or the registered nurse, in performing interventional radiology procedures. 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. See the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission's Standing Orders and Verbal Orders Advisory Opinion for additional information.