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Six-Step Decision-Making Model

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In order for a nurse in Texas to determine whether or not a particular action is within their scope of practice they must first consider the obligation to upholding patient safety. After all, the mission of the Texas Board of Nursing focuses on protecting and promoting the health of its citizens by ensuring every licensed nurse in their state is competent to practice safely (Texas Board of Nursing [TBON], 2013a). The scope of practice is wide-ranging and integrates a full spectrum of care (Bungay, Masaro, & Gilbert, 2014). In efforts to guide a nurse in deciphering whether an action is capable of fostering patient safety, a flowchart from the Board of Nursing is made available and can be referred to as the Six-Step Decision-Making Model for Determining Nursing Scope of Practice (TBON, n.d.). Each step is comprised of a question, if the answer is no at any point the nurse may discontinue going down the flowchart with the determination to not follow through with the action (TBON, n.d.). However, if the answer is yes the nurse is to continue asking themselves the relevant questions to determine the appropriateness of the action (TBON, n.d.).
The questions to ask oneself starts with asking if the activity is …show more content…

Board of Nurse Examiners case due to the correlation and importance of promoting patient safety regardless of facility policy or physician’s orders (TBON, 2013b). The focus and emphasis of a nurse’s obligation is to devote their skills and expertise to promote patient safety and abiding by the Nursing Practice Act. The standing element to consider in this case is the unclear lines of when a nurse’s duty officially kicks in for a patient (TBON, 2013b). Following this case it has been further clarified that a nurse is to apply their knowledge, skills and abilities in providing safe and effective care to their patients regardless of any standing organizational policies or orders given by physicians (TBON,

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