Section 1300.APPENDIX A   Minimal Skills List for Registered Professional Nurses

The minimal skills for registered professional nurses taking remedial education in accordance with Sections 1300.35 and 1300.41 are as follows:

a)         Nursing Care Plan

Take a complete history and do a complete physical assessment, including all body systems, to develop a nursing care plan.

b)         Standard Precautions and Infection Control

Demonstrate aseptic technique, isolation technique, reverse isolation technique and central line site care.

c)         Medications

Demonstrate ability to calculate dosages.  Prepare and administer oral, ear, eye, subcutaneous, intramuscular, Z-track (method of injection), and intradermal medications.  Identify and utilize different types of needles, syringes, vials, ampules and tubex.

d)         Intravenous (IV) Therapy

Set up equipment for starting an IV and demonstrate ability to start an IV.  Demonstrate ability to start, stop and adjust intravenous pump. Demonstrate understanding of blood administration procedures and, if available, start a blood administration.

e)         Fluids

Calculate intake and output for complex conditions:  intravenous, hyperalimentation, bladder irrigations and nasogastric tube.

f)          Cardiovascular System

Locate all pulses and demonstrate use of Doppler.  Set up the equipment for central line insertion.

g)         Pulmonary System

Perform chest percussion, postural drainage and coughing.  Demonstrate tracheostomy care and suctioning.  Collect a sputum specimen.  Monitor chest drainage and closed chest drainage systems.  Transport patients with oxygen. Describe different types of oxygen administration equipment.  Do preoperative teaching, including deep breathing, coughing and pursed lip breathing.

h)         Gastrointestinal System

Insert nasogastric tube.  Administer tube feeding and medications by nasogastric tube.  Identify ileostomy and colostomy appliances.

i)          Genitourinary System

Identify types and general sizes of catheters.  Describe procedure for male and female catheterization and do catheterization (if available).  Set up post TUR irrigation and do post transuretheral resection (TUR) irrigation. Collect urine specimens.

j)          Neurological and Musculoskeletal Systems

Demonstrate range of motion exercises and crutch walking.  Demonstrate proper turning of patients, e.g., a hip replacement patient.

k)         Endocrine System

Do self-monitoring of blood glucose.

l)          Reproductive Systems

Perform episiotomy care.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 8582, effective April 21, 2006)