(a) The Texas Board of Nursing (BON or Board) recognizes that changes in health care delivery have and will continue to influence the way nursing care is delivered. The Board believes that the registered nurse (RN) is in a unique position to develop and implement a nursing plan of care that incorporates a professional relationship between the RN and the client. The Board recognizes that the RN's responsibility may vary from that of the nurse providing care at the bedside of an acutely ill client to that of the nurse managing health care delivery in institutional and community settings. Assessment of the nursing needs of the client, the plan of nursing actions, implementation of the plan, and evaluation are essential components of professional nursing practice and are the responsibilities of the RN.     
      (b) The full utilization of the services of an RN, to include advanced practice registered nurses (APRN), may require delegation of selected nursing tasks to unlicensed personnel. The scope of delegation and the level of supervision by the RN may vary depending on the setting, the complexity of the task, the skills and experience of the unlicensed person, and the client's physical and mental status. The following sections govern the RN in delegating nursing tasks to unlicensed personnel across a variety of settings where nursing care services are delivered.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §224.3 adopted to be effective February 19, 2003, 28 TexReg 1384; amended to be effective January 27, 2015, 40 TexReg 381