A local healthcare facility's disaster response plan is activated following a mass casualty incident (MCI). The nursing supervisor directs a practical nurse to independently perform initial triage for a large influx of ambulatory survivors arriving at the main entrance. Which action is most appropriate for the practical nurse to take?
- Inform the supervisor that initial disaster triage falls outside the practical nurse scope of practice and request a different assignment.Answer
- BAccept the assignment and use a standard disaster algorithm to categorize the survivors based on airway and circulation.
- CDon examination gloves, followed by an isolation gown and a face mask, before approaching the group of survivors.
- DDirect all ambulatory survivors to proceed immediately to a designated waiting area without an initial airway and breathing check.
Answer
The practical nurse must decline the triage assignment because performing initial triage requires advanced assessment skills and clinical judgment that exceed the practical nurse scope of practice.
In any setting, including mass casualty incidents, initial triage and comprehensive assessment require advanced clinical judgment that falls exclusively within the registered nurse (RN) or provider scope of practice. The practical nurse must ensure client safety and professional compliance by declining tasks that exceed their legal scope and requesting an appropriate alternative assignment, such as providing basic first aid or monitoring clients who have already been triaged.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Practical Nurse Scope of Practice in Disaster Triage