Senior Housing Management
SOP# N144 Revision 1
Effective Date: April 15, 2005
Reviewed Date: September 19, 2006
Prepared By: ARA Approved by: CAM
Title: Teaching the Performance of Tasks for an Anticipated Emergency
Purpose: OAR 851-047-0040 states that the Registered Nurse may teach tasks to an unlicensed person which prepare the person to deal with an anticipated emergency.
Policy: A reasonably anticipated emergency is an emergency that can be anticipated due to a resident’s history, a physician’s judgment that has been communicated on the behalf of the resident to the facility, or the communication of an interested party that a health condition exists which may create an emergency for a resident. Examples of such conditions are frequent skin tears, skin breakdown, respiratory changes, seizures or an allergic reaction. When the facility is notified that such a condition exists, the facility’s R.N. should:
1. Assesses the probability that an unlicensed person will encounter an emergency situation.
2. Teach the emergency procedure
3. Leave detailed step by step instructions how to respond to the anticipated emergency. This does not include the administration of injectable medications by the intramuscular route except as provided in ORS 433.800 - 433.830, Programs to Treat Allergens and Hypoglycemia.
4. Periodically evaluate the unlicensed person’s competence regarding the anticipated emergency situation.
The above steps should be followed for all newly admitted residents, residents returning from another level of care, and residents, or their families, who have indicated that there is a probability that a health emergency can be reasonably anticipated. OAR 851-047-0040 also states that the responsibility, accountability and authority to teach for an anticipated emergency remains with the Registered Nurse.
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