Nurse Practice Acts

PhotoCredit: Louisville.edu

I. Definition - passed by each state legislature to regulate the practice of nursing in that state
II. Nurse practice acts define:

• Scope of practice
• Education
• Licensure
• Professional misconduct

1. Negligence
2. the Impaired Nurse
3. the Nurse who violates boundaries

III. Administered by the Board of Nursing in each state:

• The nurses must know how their state defines professional misconduct
• For professional misconduct, the state board of nursing imposes penalties (in order of severity)

1. On probation
2. Censured
3. Reprimanded
4. License suspended
5. License revoked