Registered Nurse

SCOPE OF PRACTICE

The scope of practice of a registered nurse shall entail the following acts or procedures, which may be performed by scientifically based physical, chemical, psychological, social, educational and technological means applicable to health care practice:

1. The diagnosing of a health need and the prescribing, provision and execution of a nursing regimen to meet the need of a patient or group of patients or, where necessary, by referral to a registered person;
    
2. the execution of a program of treatment or medication prescribed by a registered person for a patient;
    
3. the treatment and care of and the administration of medicine to a patient, including the monitoring of the patient’s vital signs and of his reaction to disease conditions, trauma, stress, anxiety, medication and treatment;
    
4. the prevention of disease and promotion of health and family planning by teaching to and counselling with individuals and groups of persons;
    
5. the prescribing, promotion or maintenance of hygiene, physical comfort and re-assurance of the patient;
    
6. the promotion of exercise, rest and sleep with a view to healing and rehabilitation of a patient;
    
7. the facilitation of body mechanics and the prevention of bodily deformities in a patient in the execution of the nursing regimen;
    
8. the supervision over and maintenance of a supply of oxygen to a patient;
    
9. the supervision over and maintenance of fluid, electrolyte and acid base balance of a patient;
    
10. the facilitation of the healing of wounds and fractures, the protection of the skin and the maintenance of sensory functions in a patient;
     
11. the facilitation of the maintenance of bodily regulatory mechanisms and functions in a patient;
     
12. the facilitation of the maintenance of nutrition of a patient;
     
13. the supervision over and maintenance of elimination by a patient;
     
14. the facilitation of communication by and with a patient in the execution of the nursing regimen;
     
15. the facilitation of the attainment of optimum health for the individual, the family, groups and the community in the execution of the nursing regimen;
     
16. the establishment and maintenance, in the execution of the nursing regimen, of an environment in which the physical and mental health of a patient is promoted;
     
17. preparation for and assistance with operative, diagnostic and therapeutic acts for the patient;
     
18. the co-ordination of the health care regimens provided for the patient by other categories of health personnel;
     
19. the provision of effective patient advocacy to enable the patient to obtain the health care he needs;
     
20. care of the dying patient and the care of a recently deceased patient within the execution of the nursing regimen.