Title
Human Resources Department and the Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve and adopt the revised Health and Human Services Agency department-specific class specification of Registered Nurse; and
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 071-2020 to:
a) Approve the addition of 1.0 FTE Registered Nurse allocation in the Health and Human Services Agency;
b) Approve the deletion of a vacant 1.0 FTE Licensed Vocational Nurse I/II allocation in the Health and Human Services Agency; and
c) Abolish the classifications of Licensed Vocational Nurse I and II.
FUNDING: State and Public Health Realignment Revenue.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The professional Registered Nurse classification provides better utility for meeting accepted public health standards and greater service flexibility. The critical differentiations between Registered Nurse and Licensed Vocational Nurse is the ability of the Registered Nurse to perform assessments beyond basic symptoms and biological parameters; administer independent nursing interventions based on that assessment; exercise independent judgment and decision making within the realm of preventive health intervention; and to provide education and assess client understanding to achieve the "informed consent" threshold and to do so without direct supervision, direction, or an established care plan. The Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Division, has identified two main benefits to using the Registered Nurse classification, rather than the Licensed Vocational Nurse classification:
1. Significantly reduces potential County liability related to the Licensed Vocational Nurse exceeding scope of practice either intentionally or unintentionally given that the public health practice arena is much more fluid than the very structured acute care or facility oriented practice setting. In carrying out basic assessment (data collection) and executing interventions, the Licensed Vocational Nu...
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