Key result
An evidence-based review explored a case example of nurses expanding their practice scope to assume physician duties, proposing steps to minimize risk and moral distress.
This article discusses the expansion of nursing practice scope and proposes steps to minimize risk and moral distress when assuming duties traditionally performed by physicians.
Nurse scope expansion needs safeguards to limit distress; leaves open safe implementation pending higher-level evidence.
The finite boundaries of the scope of nursing practice are constantly changing. One could expect that with new technology and advances in science, the interventions and assessments nurses perform will change over time. The practice of nursing is governed by nursing, however, it is often challenged by our partners in medicine, and frequently driven by time constraints or reimbursement issues. This article reviews a case example in which nurses were asked to expand their practice to assume responsibility for duties that were once traditionally performed by physicians. An evaluation of a practice problem using an evidence-based approach applying the PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) method is explored. Proposed steps to minimize risk and staff moral distress are also described.
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Davidson et al. (2007) conducted a review in Scope of nursing practice. Expanding nursing practice scope was evaluated. An evidence-based review explored a case example of nurses expanding their practice scope to assume physician duties, proposing steps to minimize risk and moral distress.
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