Expanding RN Scope of Practice to Include Lumbar Puncture

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Nursing Practice
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Healthcare providers face challenges balancing high-acuity patient care, cost reduction, and specialty access.
• Expanding nursing scope of practice is a strategy to address these demands.
• A neurology department has utilized this approach for twenty years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the implementation of a quality improvement initiative.
• To enhance access to neurology services in an ambulatory clinic.
• To extend nursing practice to include lumbar puncture procedures.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement initiative was implemented in a neurology department.
• Registered nurses (RNs) received comprehensive instruction to perform lumbar punctures.
• Outcomes data were collected from 2005 to 2016.

Main Results:

• RNs competently and safely acquired new skills.
• Nursing scope of practice was expanded beyond traditional roles.
• Patient access to specialty neurology care improved.
• Healthcare costs were reduced.

Conclusions:

• Empowering RNs to perform lumbar punctures is a safe and effective strategy.
• Expanding nursing roles enhances patient access to specialty care.
• This initiative successfully reduced healthcare costs.