Ala. Admin. Code r. 610-X-6-.01

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 8, May 31, 2024

Section 610-X-6-.01 - Definitions

(1) Accountability: The state of being answerable or responsible for action.

(2) Assessment, Comprehensive: The systematic collection and analysis of data, including the physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual aspects of the patient by the registered nurse for the purpose of judging a patient's health and illness status and actual or potential health needs. Comprehensive assessment includes patient history, physical examination, analysis of the data collected, and development, implementation, and evaluation of the patient's plan of care.

(3) Assessment, Focused: An appraisal of a patient's status and specific complaint through observation and collection of objective and subjective data by the registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. Focused assessment may contribute to a comprehensive assessment performed by the registered nurse and involves identification of normal and abnormal findings, and anticipation and recognition of changes or potential changes in the patient's health status.

(4) Assignment, Licensed Nurse: The transfer of responsibility and accountability for nursing activities from one licensed nurse to another.

(5) Assignment, Unlicensed Individual: The assignment of tasks from a licensed nurse to unlicensed assistive personnel. The licensed nurse making the assignment retains accountability for accurate and timely completion and outcome of the tasks.

(6) Medication Assistant, Certified (MAC) Assignment: The assignment by a licensed nurse of medication administration duties to a MAC.

(7) Delegation: The act of authorizing a competent individual to perform selected nursing activities supportive to registered nurses or licensed practical nurses in selected situations, while retaining accountability for the outcome, if the delegation is to an unlicensed individual.

(8) Dual Relationship: Any time a licensed nurse interacts with a patient outside the nurse-patient relationship.

(9) Hospital: A facility described in Code of Ala. 1975, Section 22-21-20(1), other than a health maintenance organization, which has an organized medical staff, or which employs the services of a medical director who is a physician licensed to practice medicine in Alabama. The term hospital shall not include the private offices of physicians or dentists, whether in individual, group, registered corporation, or registered association practice.

(10) Legally Authorized Prescriber: Healthcare professional who is authorized by law to prescribe medications or other treatment modalities.

(11) May: Power, privilege, or right retained by the Board.

(12) May not: Prohibition.

(13) Moderate Sedation: The administration of pharmacological agent(s) for the purpose of inducing a medically controlled state of depressed consciousness limited to short periods of time and used for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that:

(a) Allow protective reflexes to be maintained.

(b) Retain the patient's ability to maintain a patent airway, respiratory rate, and rhythm.

(c) Permit expected responses by the patient to physical stimulation and verbal command.

(14) Organized Program of Study: An organized sequence of learning activities that provides the instructional foundation (didactic and clinical) for participants to achieve the desired learning outcomes in a given subject matter.

(15) Professional Boundary: Behavior of the licensed nurse in maintaining a therapeutic relationship with a patient for the patient's benefit, rather than behavior that shifts the focus to the licensed nurse.

(16) Qualified Instructor: An individual with the knowledge, skills, ability, experience, and expertise to present the selected topic.

(17) Responsibility: The charge to do something that is expected performance.

(18) Shall: Duty, requirement, or condition.

(19) Supervised Clinical Practice: A systematic plan for practicing the behavior or skill related to the standardized procedure under the supervision of a qualified instructor for the purpose of mastering the procedure.

(20) Supervision, Direct: Responsible licensed nurse is physically present in the facility and readily accessible to designate or prescribe a course of action or to give procedural guidance, direction, and periodic evaluation. Direct supervision by a registered nurse is required for new graduates practicing on a temporary permit.

(21) Supervision, Indirect: Responsible licensed nurse is available for periodic inspection and evaluation through physical presence, electronic or telephonic communication for direction, consultation, and collaboration.

(22) Standardized Procedure: Written policies and protocols establishing the permissible functions, activities, and level of supervision of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses for practice beyond basic nursing education preparation.

(23) Standardized Procedure Report: Document submitted annually to the Board of Nursing identifying the facility's current practices and procedures beyond basic education.

(24) Unencumbered license: An active license that has no current stipulations, conditions, or limitations.

(25) Standard Precautions: Recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to minimize the risk of transmission of pathogens.

(26) Telehealth nursing: The practice of distance nursing care using telecommunications technology.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 610-X-6-.01

Filed September 29, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed October 29, 2001; effective December 3, 2001.

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 10, July 29, 2016, eff. 9/8/2016.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVI, Issue No. 10, July 31, 2018, eff. 9/3/2018.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIX, Issue No. 12, September 30, 2021, eff. 11/14/2021.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 12, September 30, 2022, eff. 11/14/2022.

Author: Alabama Board of Nursing

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-21-2(c)(21).