5414.1 The practice of registered nursing means the performance of the full scope of nursing services, with or without compensation, designed to promote and maintain health, prevent illness and injury, and provide care to all patients in all settings and includes:

1. (a) Providing a comprehensive nursing assessment of the health status of a patient;
2. (b) Collaborating with a health care team to develop and coordinate an integrated, patient-centered health care plan;
3. (c) Developing a comprehensive, patient-centered health care plan, including:
4. (1) Establishing nursing diagnoses;
5. (2) Setting goals to meet identified health care needs; and
6. (3) Prescribing nursing interventions;
7. (d) Implementing nursing care through the execution of independent nursing strategies, and the provision of regimens requested, ordered or prescribed by authorized health care providers;
8. (e) Evaluating responses to interventions and the effectiveness of the plan of care;
9. (f) Designing and implementing teaching plans based on patient needs;
10. (g) Delegating and assigning nursing interventions to implement the plan of care;
11. (h) Providing for the maintenance of safe and effective nursing care rendered directly or indirectly;
12. (i) Advocating the best interest of patients;
13. (j) Communicating and collaborating with other health care providers in the management of health care and the implementation of the total health care regimen within and across care settings;
14. (k) Managing, supervising and evaluating the practice of nursing;

(l) Teaching the theory and practice of nursing;

(m) Participating in the development of health care policies, procedures and systems; and

(n) Performing other acts that require education and training consistent with professional standards as prescribed by the Board and commensurate with the registered nurse's education, demonstrated competencies and experience.

5414.2 A registered nurse may accept or perform an activity, intervention, or role that is not within the traditional nursing training or responsibility if all the following criteria are met:

(a) The activity, intervention, or role is consistent with professional standards and not prohibited by the Act or this chapter;

(b) The registered nurse has the appropriate education, knowledge, competency, and training to safely perform the activity, intervention, or role and there is documented evidence of the registered nurse's current competency;

(c) Performing the activity, intervention, or role is consistent with evidence-based nursing and health care literature;

(d) There are practice-setting policies and procedures in place to support performing the activity, intervention, or role;

(e) The activity, intervention, or role would be performed by a reasonable and prudent nurse in that setting;

(f) The appropriate resources to perform the activity, intervention, or role are available to the registered nurse; and

(g) The registered nurse is prepared to accept accountability for the activity, intervention, or role as well as the outcomes.

5414.3 A registered nurse shall ensure that a client or patient is fully informed of their role and responsibility as a registered nurse and wear a pictured identification badge with lettering clearly visible to a client bearing the name of the registered nurse and the title "Registered Nurse" or "R.N.".

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 8613 (September 3, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking Business, Occupations, and Professionals

published at 69 DCR 010990 (September 2, 2022).