Continued discussion and focus on standing orders

If you stay around long enough in this field, the issues just cycle back. This year in the annual Joint Commission Executive Briefings, the issue of standing orders once again was raised. MM.04.04.01, EP 1 defines standing orders as pre-written medication orders and specific instructions from the licensed independent practitioner (LIP) to administer a medication to a person in clearly defined circumstances. It was stated at the briefing that The Joint Commission will require “nurse initiated” standing orders to be approved by nursing leadership (CNO) and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee if medications are involved. It is not clear what standard holds this requirement; perhaps it is inherent in the nursing chapter or within the medication management chapter.  

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