Nursing Standards of Professional Practice

• Standards of Professional Practice include guidelines specific to the practice of nursing.
• Standards of Professional Practice establish professional expectations and protect nurses, clients, and facilities.
• Nurses are accountable for maintaining ethical values and conduct.

Standards of Practice

• General standards of nursing practice apply to all nurses.
• Nursing specialties also have practice standards.
• Standards of Nursing Practice and Standards of Professional Performance are included in the American Nurses Association (ANA) standards.
• The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a professional organization for registered nurses.
• The ANA has established standards for nursing practice and professional performance .

The Nursing Process

• The basis for decision-making and actions is the nursing process.
• Standards of practice correspond with the nursing process.
• The five steps of the nursing process are assessment, analysis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Nurse Practice Acts (NPAs)

• Nurse Practice Acts regulate nursing within each state and territory in the United States.
• State boards of nursing execute Nurse Practice Acts.
• NPAs determine the scope and standards based on professional licensure
• NPAs identify titles (RN, LPN, LVN, APN) and definitions.
• NPAs establish requirements for nursing licensure.

Scope of Practice

• Nursing practice is regulated with a two-step process.
• The state legislature passes the NPA to regulate nursing practice in their state.
• The NPA sets general guidelines, and each state creates rules/regulations to explain or detail the NPA.
• A regulatory body enforces rules; for example, the state board of nursing (BON).
• The state legislature identifies a regulatory body, such as the BON.

The Quality and Safety Education for Nursing (QSEN) Institute

• The Quality and Safety Education for Nursing (QSEN) Institute was created to improve quality and safety in nursing.
• Six core competencies are necessary for healthcare workers to maintain quality and safety.
• QSEN began in 2005, based on the Institute of Medicine's 2003 core competencies for all health clinicians to provide quality care

QSEN Six Competencies

• Patient-centered care
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Evidence-based practice (EBP)
• Quality improvement (QI)
• Safety
• Informatics

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) BSN Essentials

• The AACN represents baccalaureate (bachelor’s degree), graduate, and postgraduate nursing schools in the United States.
• The AACN Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Essentials has nine essentials outlining the curriculum and competencies for graduates.
• Programs with prelicensure baccalaureate programs are essential to the expected curriculum.

AACN BSN Essentials

• Liberal Education for Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice
• Basic Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Care and Patient Safety
• Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice
• Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technology
• Healthcare Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments
• Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration for Improving Patient Health Outcomes
• Clinical Prevention and Population Health
• Professionalism and Professional Values
• Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice

Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN)

• NAPNES (National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service) sets the standards for LPN/LVN education and practice.
• The key competencies are: professional behaviors, communication, assessment, planning, and caring interventions.
• The Standards of Practice and Educational Competencies of Graduates of Practical/Vocational Nursing Programs provides a program outline.

Nursing Licensure

• Each state has a duty to protect the clients receiving care.
• The state requires nurses to be licensed
• Practicing nursing requires periodic license renewal.
• Nursing requires a state license, but the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is one multi-state license.

Certification

• Nurses can demonstrate proficiency through certificate programs or national certification in a specialty.
• Options for nurses following licensure include certificate programs or certification in a specialty.
• Certificate programs provide instruction and usually end with a test.

Credentialing

• A credentialing process confirms an individual's abilities to practice as a health professional.
• Completing a study program and demonstrating abilities that meet standards of care are elements of credentialing.

Explore guidelines for nursing practice standards that protect nurses, clients, and facilities. General and specialty standards align with the nursing process. Learn how the ANA sets standards for nursing and professional performance.