The practice of practical nursing is defined in Section 961 of Chapter 11, Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. According to this law, practical nursing is the performance, for pay, of acts in the care, treatment or observation of the ill and for the maintenance of the health of others and the promotion of health care. They may also instruct patients. Such lists tend to limit practice.
Scope of practice is a fluid concept.
It changes as knowledge and technology expand. Licensed Practical Nurses are not to carry out orders written or given by physician s assistants, unless they are countersigned within 24 hours. LPNs may serve as First Surgical Assistant but they may not suture. LPNs, when serving as First Surgical Assistant, may not suture, dissect, or cauterize. Delegation of tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel always includes the provision that there is written documentation of skills and competency readily available for the LPN to review for each individual to whom the task is delegated and the skills and competency are re-evaluated every six months.