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Committee clears technical change to nursing scope language on LPN assessments
Summary
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 89 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after lawmakers approved language clarifying how registered nurses may delegate focused assessment tasks to licensed practical nurses.
The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee on an undisclosed February date voted to send House Bill 89 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation, approving language that clarifies how registered nurses may delegate focused assessment tasks to licensed practical nurses.
Representative Healy, who presented the measure, told the committee the bill replaces ambiguous phrasing that said LPNs could “contribute to” assessments with wording that recognizes RNs may delegate “appropriate delegated focused assessments.” She said the change aligns statutory language with the department’s administrative rules, which use the term “assess.”
The change aims to make clear that an RN remains responsible for a patient’s overall assessment but may ask an LPN to perform a specific, limited set of tasks (for example, taking vital signs or assessing skin) as part of a delegated, focused assessment. “Focus means just, again, that list, and delegated is also,” Representative Healy said, explaining that the word “appropriate” was added after consultation with nursing stakeholders to avoid assigning tasks outside an LPN’s scope.
Senator Brandon Shippey asked whether the bill’s phrase “performing appropriate delegated focused assessments” differs in practice from the statement of purpose language “performing delegated assessments.” Healy replied the practical difference is minimal; “appropriate” and “focused” clarify that delegated tasks should be limited and within the LPN’s scope of practice.
Senator Blaylock moved to send House Bill 89 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; Senator Wintrow seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The measure is a technical, scope-of-practice cleanup rather than a substantive expansion of LPN duties. The committee did not record any amendments or requests for additional fiscal or regulatory analysis during the hearing.
The committee proceeded to its next agenda item following the vote.
