TITLE 6 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
CHAPTER 63 SCHOOL PERSONNEL - LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
FOR ANCILLARY AND
SUPPORT
PERSONNEL
PART 16 LICENSURE FOR SCHOOL LICENSED
PRACTICAL NURSES, GRADES PRE K-12
6.63.16.1 ISSUING AGENCY: Public Education Department (PED)
[6.63.16.1 NMAC - N, 05-28-04; A, 07-01-08]
6.63.16.2 SCOPE: This rule governs licensure for school
licensed practical nurses, grades Pre K-12.
[6.63.16.2 NMAC - N, 05-28-04; A, 07-01-08]
6.63.16.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Sections 22-2-1, 22-2-2, 22-10A-3, and
22-10A-17, NMSA 1978.
[6.63.16.3 NMAC - N, 05-28-04]
6.63.16.4 DURATION: Permanent
[6.63.16.4 NMAC - N, 05-28-04]
6.63.16.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: May 28, 2004, unless a later date is cited in
the history note at the end of a section.
[6.63.16.5 NMAC - N, 05-28-04]
6.63.16.6 OBJECTIVE: This rule establishes the requirements for
school licensed practical nurses, grades Pre K-12, for persons seeking such
licensure.
[6.63.16.6 NMAC - N, 05-28-04; A, 07-01-08]
6.63.16.7 DEFINITIONS:
A. “Administration of medications” is a
process as defined in Paragraph (2) of Subsection A of 16.12.2.7 NMAC whereby a
prescribed drug or biological agent is given to a patient/client by a person
licensed to administer medications. The
administration of medications is a procedure which requires a knowledge of
anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. When administering a medication, the licensed
person is required to assess the patient/client’s health status and disease
process before and after the administration of the medication and to evaluate
the patient/client’s response to the drug or biologic agent.
B. "Assessment”
as defined in Paragraph (8) of Subsection A of 16.12.2.7 NMAC means the review
and interpretation by a licensed individual of specific data necessary
to determine the patient/client 's care and treatment needs.
C. “Assisting an individual to take a
medication” implies that the individual is responsible for his own care or
parent/legal guardian/surrogate can determine if the individual is receiving
the expected response from the medication.
The definition of administration of medications by licensed persons as
defined above should not be confused with assisting an individual to take a
medication.
D. “Competency in nursing” as defined
by Paragraph (3) of Subsection C of 16.12.2.7 NMAC, is the ability to perform
skillfully and proficiently the role of the licensee. The role encompasses essential knowledge,
judgment, attitudes, values, skills and abilities, which are varied in range and
complexity. Competency is a dynamic
concept and is based on educational training, preparation, and expertise.
E. “Delegation” means that the nurse
shall assign/delegate to licensed and unlicensed persons only those nursing
functions which that person is prepared, qualified, or licensed to perform.
(1) The nurse is accountable
for assessing the situation and is responsible for the decision to delegate or
make the assignment.
(2) The delegating nurse is
accountable for each activity delegated, for supervising the delegated function
or activity, and for assessing the outcome of the delegated function or activity.
(3) The nurse may delegate
nursing activities other than the specific functions of medication
administration, assessment, evaluation and nursing judgment to non-licensed
persons, except for the administration of medications as provided for in
Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of 16.12.2.12 NMAC.
F. “Licensed practical nursing” as defined
in Subsection I of Section 61-3-3, NMSA 1978, means the practice of a directed
scope of nursing requiring basic knowledge of the biological, physical, social
and behavioral sciences and nursing procedures, which practice is at the
direction of a registered nurse, physician, or dentist licensed to practice in
this state. This practice includes but is not limited to:
(1) contributing to the
assessment of the health status of individuals, families and communities;
(2)
participating in the development and modification of the plan of care;
(3) implementing appropriate
aspects of the plan of care commensurate with education and verified
competence;
(4) collaborating with other
health care professionals in the management of health care; and
(5) participating in the
evaluation of responses to interventions.
G. “Nursing Practice Act” means Chapter
61, Article 3 NMSA 1978 regulating the practice of nursing, schools of nursing,
hemodialysis technicians and medication aides in the state.
H. “Professional registered nursing” as
defined in Subsection M of Section 61-3-3, NMSA 1978, means the practice of the
full scope of nursing requiring substantial knowledge of the biological,
physical, social and behavioral sciences and of nursing theory and may include
advanced practice pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act. This practice includes but is not limited to:
(1) assessing the health
status of individuals, families, and communities;
(2) establishing a nursing
diagnosis;
(3) establishing goals to meet
identified health care needs;
(4) developing a plan of care;
(5) determining nursing
interventions to implement the plan of care;
(6) implementing the plan of
care commensurate with education and verified competence;
(7) evaluating responses to
interventions;
(8) teaching based on the
theory and practice of nursing;
(9) managing and supervising
the practice of nursing;
(10) collaborating with other
health care professionals in the management of health care; and
(11) conducting nursing
research.
I. “Scope of practice” as defined in
Subsection O of Section 61-3-3, NMSA 1978, means the parameters within which
nurses practice based upon education, experience, licensure, certification and
expertise.
J. “Supervision/direction” as defined
in Paragraph (5) of Subsection S of 16.12.2.7 NMAC, means initial verification
of a person’s knowledge and skills in the performance of a specific function or
activity followed by periodic observation, direction and evaluation of that
person’s knowledge and skills as related to the specific functions or activity.
[6.63.16.7 NMAC - N, 05-28-04; A, 07-01-08]
6.63.16.8 REQUIREMENTS: Persons seeking licensure as a school licensed
practical nurse (LPN) pursuant to the provisions of this rule shall meet the
following requirements:
A. high school diploma or equivalency;
and
B. minimum 18 years of age; and
C. current valid American red cross,
American heart association or national safety council certification in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and
D. completion of a state approved or nationally
accredited program of study for practical nursing; and
E. current valid practical nursing
license issued by the New Mexico board of nursing or any successor licensing
board for nurses; or license from another state based on current compact state
license according to New Mexico nursing board rule 16.12.2 NMAC, and
F. minimum of one year of supervised
clinical nursing experience, outside of a school setting; and
G. verification by the public school superintendent
or private school official that a local orientation related to assigned duties,
and facilitated by the PED licensed registered nurse, was satisfactorily
completed.
[6.63.16.8 NMAC - N, 05-28-04; A, 07-01-08]
6.63.16.9 CONTINUING LICENSURE FOR SCHOOL
LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES: Persons
holding a valid level 1 school licensed practical nurse and seeking a level 2
license shall meet the following requirements:
A. A completed application for
continuing New Mexico licensure shall be submitted to the PED.
B. The superintendent of the local
school district or the governing authority of the state institution or private
school by which the applicant has been most recently employed as of the date of
application for continuing licensure must submit verification that the
applicant satisfactorily demonstrates the competencies for school licensed
practical nurse.
C. A copy of a valid practical nursing
license shall be submitted with the application for continuing New Mexico
licensure.
[6.63.16.9 NMAC - N, 05-28-04; A, 07-01-08]
6.63.16.10 COMPETENCIES FOR ENTRY LEVEL SCHOOL
LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES: The
principle role of the school licensed practical nurse is to assist the PED licensed
registered nurse with the implementation of the school health program, by
providing practical nursing care for students in the health room, and by
meeting the complex needs of medically fragile/severely disabled students. This
includes, but is not limited to, nursing procedures, medication administration,
assisting in the assessment and monitoring of the health and immunization
status of students, and communicating effectively with parents, students,
medical providers and school staff.
These functions may be carried out in the health room or classroom,
traveling to and from school, and on field trips for community based
instruction.
A. Contributes to the assessment of the
health status of individual students and schools.
(1) uses basic nursing
knowledge to assess and monitor the status of individual students;
(2) participates in the
routine health screening, and assists in the assessment of screening results;
(3) assists in the assessment
of the immunization status of the student population.
B. Participates in the development of
the nursing plan for care for individual students and the school population.
(1) assists with the
development of individualized health/emergency care plans;
(2) assists with school
planning related to health and safety.
C. Implements aspects of the nursing
plan of care, commensurate with education and verified competency, under the
direction and supervision of the PED licensed registered nurse.
(1) provides nursing/medically
prescribed interventions including, but not limited to: tube feeding, urinary
catheterization, glucose monitoring, tracheal suctioning, nebulizer treatment,
peak flow measurement and ventilator care;
(2) administers medications to
students who are unable to self administer their medications in compliance with
the Nursing Practice Act;
(3) assists in the
implementation of policies and procedures regarding the control of communicable
diseases in schools;
(4) prepares and maintains
accurate and complete records and reports as required by law, state directives,
district policy and administrative regulations.
D. Collaborates with PED licensed
registered nurses, health assistants, site administrators, school staff,
parents and students regarding the provision of health care for individual
students and the school population as a whole.
E. Participates in the evaluation of
responses to nursing interventions.
F. Maintains professional competence
through individual and staff training, in-service educational activities and
self-selected professional growth activities.
G. Shares the responsibility for the
care of district inventory, as well as the proper and safe use of facilities,
equipment and supplies, reporting safety hazards promptly.
H. Maintains confidentiality in
accordance with state and federal laws and district policy.
I. Demonstrates effective interpersonal
and communication skills (written and oral) with diverse populations.
[6.63.16.10 NMAC - N, 05-28-04; A, 07-01-08]
6.63.16.11 NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT: All persons issued a license as school
licensed practical nurses, grades Pre K-12, by the PED shall continuously hold
a license issued by the board of nursing for so long as they hold licensure
issued by the PED.
A. Should this underlying license
expire, be suspended or revoked, or its renewed or initial issuance denied, a
person seeking or holding a license as a school licensed practical nurse,
grades Pre K-12 from the PED shall notify the local school superintendent and
the professional licensure bureau (PLB) in writing within fourteen (14)
calendar days of such suspension, revocation, denial or expiration.
B. Suspension, revocation, denial or
expiration of the license issued by the board of nursing shall constitute just
cause for discharge or termination from employment, and for suspension,
revocation or denial of renewed or initial issuance of an instructional support
provider license.
[6.63.16.11 NMAC - N,
05-28-04; A, 07-01-08]
HISTORY OF 6.63.16
NMAC: [RESERVED]
