Can a LVN initiate/develop the nursing care plan?
Staff recommends you review Rule 217.11, Standards of Nursing Practice, as well as the Guideline for LVN Scope of Practice (available on the “Nursing Practice Information” section of the BON web site under “Scope of Practice.”) Rule 217.11(2)(A)(ii) and (iii) clarifies that LVNs may not initiate care plans, but they should contribute to the planning and carrying out of nursing care and participate in the development of and modifications to the ongoing nursing care plan. Only the RN may develop the initial nursing care plan and make nursing diagnoses [Rule 217.11(3)(A)(ii) and (iii)]. This difference between LVN and RN scope of practice is based on differences in educational preparation of nurses licensed at each level as defined in the Differentiated Entry Level Competencies for Graduates of Basic Nursing Education Programs in Texas (DELC). DELC may be viewed in its entirety or downloaded from the “Nursing Education Information” page of the BON web site.
