Nurse Practice Act Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Nurse Practice Act?
The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is a federal law that defines the scope of practice for registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical or vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs). The NPA serves to protect the public from unsafe nursing practices by establishing standards for education, licensure, and practice. It also establishes the authority of state boards of nursing to enforce these standards.The NPA requires that all RNs and LPNs/LVNs be licensed in order to practice nursing in any state. Each state board of nursing sets specific requirements for licensure, including educational prerequisites and clinical experience requirements. The NPA also specifies standard levels of care related to medical diagnosis and treatment that must be met in order for a nurse to be considered competent and legally qualified to provide care. This includes standards relating to documentation, communication with other healthcare professionals, preventative health measures, and emergency response protocols. In addition, the NPA requires all RNs and LPNs/LVNs who are employed by healthcare organizations such as hospitals or long-term care facilities to follow their employer’s policies related to patient safety, quality assurance, infection control protocols, medication administration procedures, delegation of tasks among staff members, educating patients about their treatments or condition management strategies. Lastly the NPA outlines grounds for disciplinary action should a nurse fail comply with the provisions set forth within it including but not limited too; unprofessional conduct; negligence; incompetence; violation of any legal duties or responsibilities; failure to cooperate with an investigation conducted by a state board of nursing or other regulatory body; prescription drug diversion or misuse; fraudulently obtaining a license through false statements or documentation ; use of alcohol while on duty resulting in impaired performance ; sexual misconduct with patients ; criminal convictions related directly to one’s professional activities as a nurse. Overall ,the Nurse Practice Act serves as an important component in protecting patient safety while providing necessary guidance regarding what is expected from registered nurses when providing care. It provides clear boundaries on what constitutes safe practice while at the same time allowing flexibility within those boundaries so that nurses can best serve each unique patient’s needs without fear retribution from their employers or licensing boards .