The mission of state/regional boards of nursing is the protection of the public through the regulation of nursing practice. This is achieved by setting standards for the education and licensure of nurses, and enforcing rules and regulations that govern nursing practice to ensure that nurses meet the highest standards of professionalism and competency.
Key regulations that impact nursing practice include:
- Nurse practice acts: These acts define the scope of practice for nurses and establish the requirements for licensure.
- Nursing standards of practice: These standards outline the level of care that nurses are expected to provide to their patients.
- Nursing ethics codes: These codes guide nurses in their professional conduct and decision-making.
How key regulations impact nursing practice:
- Nurse practice acts: Nurse practice acts define the specific tasks that nurses are authorized to perform. This helps to ensure that nurses are providing care that is safe and effective.
- Nursing standards of practice: Nursing standards of practice provide nurses with guidance on how to provide safe and effective care to their patients. This helps to ensure that nurses are meeting a minimum standard of care.
- Nursing ethics codes: Nursing ethics codes help nurses to make sound ethical decisions in their practice. This helps to ensure that nurses are acting in the best interests of their patients.
Impact of key regulations on nursing practice:
- Increased safety for patients: Key regulations help to ensure that nurses are providing safe and effective care to their patients. This is done by setting standards for education, licensure, and practice.
- Improved quality of care: Key regulations help to improve the quality of care that nurses provide to their patients. This is done by providing nurses with guidance on how to provide safe and effective care, and by holding nurses accountable for their actions.
- Protection of the public: Key regulations help to protect the public from harm. This is done by ensuring that nurses are qualified to provide care, and by holding nurses accountable for their actions.
Examples of how key regulations impact nursing practice:
- Nurse practice acts: Nurse practice acts define the scope of practice for nurses. For example, in some states, only nurse practitioners are authorized to prescribe medications. This helps to ensure that patients are receiving care from qualified healthcare professionals.
- Nursing standards of practice: Nursing standards of practice provide nurses with guidance on how to provide safe and effective care. For example, the American Nurses Association (ANA) has standards of practice for nurses who care for patients with diabetes. These standards provide nurses with guidance on how to manage patients’ blood sugar levels, prevent complications, and educate patients about their condition.
- Nursing ethics codes: Nursing ethics codes help nurses to make sound ethical decisions in their practice. For example, the ANA’s Code of Ethics for Nurses states that nurses have a duty to provide care to all patients, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation. This helps to ensure that nurses are treating all patients with respect and dignity.
