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Do directives expire?
I’m an RN working in a hospital that uses directives to authorize nurses to perform certain procedures. Can directives be used indefinitely or do they expire?
CNO does not specify the length of time that directives can be in effect. When the evidence, laws or CNO standards change, you should consider whether a directive needs to be reviewed.
The practitioner who authorized a directive, or an organization where a directive is implemented, may have set an expiry (or review date) for the directive. If this is the case, then you should consult with whoever set the expiry or review date if you have questions about it.
If you think a directive is no longer valid, follow up with an ordering practitioner for clarity about applying the directive. You could also work with your organization to develop a process for revising directives so they reflect changes to clinical evidence, regulation or CNO standards.
