The statement outlines four key points regarding the role of RNs:
• RNs enhance patient safety and quality care, thus they are essential and irreplaceable in ambulatory settings.
• RNs are responsible for all aspects of professional nursing services within an organization, are familiar with — and abide by — state practice acts and other professional standards.
• RNs provide leadership and coordination of care and services by delegating tasks as appropriate to licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel in ambulatory care settings.
• RNs are fully accountable in ambulatory care settings for all nursing services and outcomes of care provided under their direction.
Carol Rutenberg, chair of the AAACN task force that wrote the statement, points out that under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more patients will be accessing care in ambulatory settings, creating the need for more of these specialty RNs to coordinate patient care and provide self-care strategies to promote wellness.
Read the news release about AAACN’s position statement on RNs.
Read other coverage about nurses:
– Proposed Legislation Seeks to Penalize Hospitals That Repeatedly Violate Hospital Staffing Law