| Protocols |
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| Introduction |
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Oregon laws allow nurses to use Nursing Treatment Protocols. Oregon DOC Health Services has written Nursing Treatment Protocols consistent with the guidelines set by the Oregon Board of Nursing and the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners. Oregon DOC Health Services chooses to use this accepted practice to enhance inmate health care.
Oregon DOC Health Services wants to ensure that use of Nursing Treatment Protocols enhances medical care directed by a physician and does not replace it. All applications of Nursing Treatment Protocols that apply the use of prescription medications are reviewed by the practitioner the next working day (but not more than 72 hours). Oregon DOC Health Services requires additional training in physical assessment and the use of treatment protocols for the nurses. It is recognized that nursing staff are responsible to review the changes that have been implemented. Oregon DOC Health Services requires that all nurses that use the protocols be individually reviewed and approved for this privilege by the Chief Medical Officer of the institution that the nurse works at, and that this approval needs to be renewed at set intervals. If an individual is seen for the same problem twice without expected resolution or improvement they are referred to a practitioner. If an inmate requests to be seen by a practitioner they will be scheduled.
The majority of the Nursing Treatment Protocols actually result in using OTC treatments or with a referral to a practitioner. Frequently, the inmate patient’s first access to health care is the initial encounter with the nursing staff during the sick call/triage process. This encounter is the first chance to intervene and often resolve the inmate patient’s health complaint. The last review found that 80% of the inmate patient’s health concerns were addressed during the sick call process and 75% of the health complaints were resolved with the use of the nursing treatment protocols. The effectiveness of the health care team is enhanced by empowering nurses to apply their knowledge and skills necessary to utilize the nursing treatment protocols.
The Nursing Treatment Protocols have been in place for many years. The inception and subsequent reviews and revisions of the nursing treatment protocols have been the concerted effort of many staff within the health services program. The following is a list of those who assisted in the most recent review and update: Dr. Steve Shelton, Dr. Mike Puerini, Dr. Greg Shook, Margaret Collatt, Jackie Wick, Eileen Perkins, Mary Raines, Susan Guerrero, Karen Ireland, Barbara Casey-Stallings and Cindy Mills.
To obtain copies of the Nursing Treatment Protocols; please contact Tonya Sly:
Tonya.m.Sly@doc.state.or.us
503.378.5512
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