Is it within the scope of practice of the registered nurse to administer the OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire in accordance with the OSHA Respirator Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) and perform a respiratory fit?

It is within the scope of the appropriately prepared and competent registered nurse to perform the OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire and perform a respiratory fit test, under the direction of an authorized health care practitioner, following clinical practice standards. The registered nurse should use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if the activity is within the nurse’s legal and individual scope of practice. Please see the regulations for OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluations. The registered nurse may perform the evaluation and/or respiratory fit testing following standing orders. The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission’s Standing Orders and Verbal Orders Advisory Opinion provides additional guidance and recommendations.