The chain of command in nursing exists for reason. We as nurses know what the chain of command is because we learned about it in nursing school and it was reinforced at nursing orientation as provided in the facility specific nursing policies & procedures.
A nurse contacted me this week after he was fired for not following the chain of command in a nursing home. He had a complaint about a EMS worker and instead of discussing the issue and complaint with his immediate nursing supervisor in the nursing home, the nurse contacted the supervisor of the EMS worker directly.
What do you think based on the facts given? Is this appropriate?
For a refresher on the basics of the nursing chain of command, click here.
Dayna,
Thank you for you question however, I do not provide legal advice on this blog. My suggestion would be for you to contact the Practice Department for the Georgia Nurses Association for assistance or contact the Center for American Nurses at www.centerforamericannurses.org.
Posted by: latonia | November 10, 2008 at 10:42 AM
I am looking for verbage on the scope of practice for LPN changing medication dosage without a written MD order. We are in the state of Georgia, medication was insulin, dose was changed based on patient request. Is this legal or is it practicing medicine without a license?
Posted by: dayna | November 10, 2008 at 10:34 AM