Nursing practice in New York State is defined by State Education Law, Article 139 (the Nurse Practice Act), which states:
“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. ”
This definition authorizes RNs to execute medical orders from certain authorized healthcare providers. RNs also may function independently in providing nursing care related to casefinding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being.
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