Nurse Practice Act

Nurse Practice Act

• Statutes legislated by the state to regulate the practice of nursing within that state
• Each nurse is responsible for knowing the provisions of the act for the state in which they work

Regulatory Provisions

• Educational requirements for nurses
• Scope of nursing practice for LPN and RN
• Licensure requirements for the protection of the public
• Grounds for disciplinary action
• Rights of the nurse licensee if a disciplinary action is taken

Licensure and Examination

• Graduates of accredited schools must pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) prior to beginning professional practice for LPN or RN
• Exams are conducted by NCSBN

Standard of Care

• A set of guidelines under which the nurse should practice
• Failure to follow policy and procedure (standard of care) puts the nurse at risk for legal action
• Defined by American Nurses' Association (ANA)
• Outlines and describes a competent level of care for registered nurses to follow
• Includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation

Disciplinary Action

• A board of nursing can revoke or suspend a registered nurse's license for:
  • Unprofessional conduct
  • Breach of client confidentiality
  • Failure to use sufficient knowledge
  • Physical or verbal abuse
  • Improper duties
  • Delegating care to unlicensed personnel
  • Inaccurate record maintenance
  • Falsification of client records
  • Leaving assignments without proper notification