Student Handbook
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LEGAL DEFINITION OF NURSING PRACTICE
Effective 1995
Education Law, Article 139 – Nursing, New York State Nurses Association.
Section 6901:
Definitions. As used in Section 6902:
- “Diagnosing” in the context of nursing practice means that identification of an discrimination between physical and psychosocial signs and symptoms essential to effective execution and management of the nursing regimen. Such diagnostic privilege is distinct from a medical diagnosis.
- “Treating” means selection and performance of those therapeutic measures essential to the effective execution and management of the nursing regimen, and execution of any prescribed medical regimen.
- “Human Responses” means those signs, symptoms and processes which denote the individual’s interaction with an actual or potential health problem.
Section 6902:
Definition of the practice of nursing:
- The practice of the profession of nursing as a registered professional nurse is defined as diagnosing and treating human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as casefinding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being, and executing medical regimens prescribed by a licensed physician, dentist or other licensed health care provider legally authorized under this title and in accordance with the commissioner’s regulations. A nursing regimen shall be consistent with and shall not vary any existing medical regimen.
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