The following supervisory contingencies are to be in place. The graduate nurse:

 

May not be considered as staff to meet the Public Health Code requirements;

 

Cannot accept charge responsibilities;

 

May not take verbal orders;

 

Must be the second nurse on a nursing care unit;

 

Must be under the immediate supervision of a registered nurse (on the same unit);

 

May transcribe medication orders if the following criteria are met:

 

Policies and procedures are in place;

 

Organized staff development program which includes skill validation has been successfully completed; and

 

transcription is co-signed by a registered nurse.

 

May administer medications once competency has been validated by the facility (under the supervision of a registered nurse who is on the same unit); and

 

Co-signing by a licensed nurse of controlled substances proof of use sheets is not required.

 

This is not a Declaratory Ruling, nor is it binding on any party. The Connecticut Board of Examiners in Nursing will not be precluded from adjudicating the issue in a contested case forum should the necessity arise.

 

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Department's Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section (860) 509-7552.