The nursing laws and rules allow the of the competent and appropriately trained registered nurse from obtaining and submitting capillary or venous blood specimens for lead screening, hepatitis B screening or other employee health tests. An order is required from an authorized health care practitioner for laboratory tests involving puncturing of the skin. Standing orders may also be followed to direct occupational health activities. The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission’s Standing Orders and Verbal Orders Advisory Opinion provides additional guidance and recommendations. The registered nurse should use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if specific activities are within the nurse’s legal and individual scope of practice.