Question: Can the restorative aide document the resident's restorative program in the clinical record? Does a physician have to order restorative nursing services?
Answer: If your state's practice act permits, a restorative aide's progress notes (countersigned by the licensed nurse) will suffice to document the restorative program once the treatment objectives and purpose have been established (p. 194 of the August 2003 updated Resident Assessment Instrument user's manual).
Restorative services are nurse-driven and do not require a physician's order (p. 191 of the RAI user's manual).