What are the nurse practice acts?
All states and territories legislated a nurse practice act (NPA) which establishes a board of nursing (BON) with the authority to develop administrative rules or regulations to clarify or make the law more specific. Rules and regulations must be consistent with the NPA and cannot go beyond it.
What is the function of the nurse State Practice Act?
The NPA gives authority to regulate the practice of nursing and the enforcement of law to an administrative agency or BON that is charged with maintaining the balance between the rights of the nurse to practice nursing and the responsibility to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens (Brous, 2012 …
What is a state nurse practice act is an example of?
The 51 Nurse Practice Acts representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia are examples of statutes. These Nurse Practice Acts define and limit the practice of nursing, stating what constitutes authorized practice as well as what exceeds the scope of authority.
How many hours can a nurse legally work in a day in Massachusetts?
The law prohibits a nurse from working more than 16 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period. Nurses still may work overtime voluntarily, but if the nurse works 16 consecutive hours, the nurse must be given at least eight consecutive hours of off-duty time immediately after the worked overtime.
What is the single most important part of any Nurse Practice Act?
originated to protect the public at large, define the practice of nursing, give guidance within the scope of practice issues, and set standards for the nursing profession. This is the single most important piece of legislation for the nurse because the practice act affects all facets of nursing practice.
What is the difference between the Nurse Practice Act and scope of practice?
Scope of practice refers to the professional activities defined under state law. The scope of practice for nurses is determined by each state’s nurse practice act. These standards of care are guidelines and are not law unless referred to in state nurse practice acts.
What behaviors can affect a nurse’s license?
You can lose your nursing license for different reasons in different states, but disciplinary cases are usually grouped into one of these categories:
- Practice related.
- Abuse.
- Boundary violations.
- Sexual misconduct.
- Drug related.
- Fraud.
- Positive criminal background checks.
What is the longest shift a nurse can work?
14 consecutive hours
Even when a nurse voluntarily works overtime, the maximum shift is 14 consecutive hours. Furthermore, after a nurse’s shift, the employer must provide at least 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time. This is with or without overtime. The law doesn’t prohibit nurses from voluntarily working overtime.
Can nurses work 80 hours a week?
This depends on the hospital and their policy around working hours for nurses and of course the shift pattern they use. A nurse working 12- hour shifts three days per week will work 36 hours in a week but some hospitals will insist on a 40 hour work week or 80 hours in two weeks.
Who is the Nurse Practice Act enforced by?
[1] The boards enforce these laws as defined by their respective state or territorial legislative bodies. The legislative body gives the board of nursing the power to discipline nurses who violate the nursing laws and regulations.
What is the purpose of the Nurse Practice Act?
The purpose of the Nursing Practice Act is to regulate the practice of nursing at the state level and protect the public. It sets standards about scope of practice for RN’s, LPN ‘s, and NP’s. “The Nurse Practice Act lists all of the duties and role of a nurse, except the legal and ethical ones.
What is the Massachusetts Nursing Practice Act?
The Massachusetts Nurse Practice Act is comprised of the laws and regulations that govern APRN practice and were accordingly reviewed. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Laws , (MGL chapter 112 including sections 80B through 80I) stipulate the conditions under which an APRN may practice.
How to become nurse practitioner in Massachusetts?
The steps for becoming an NP in Massachusetts involve completing graduate school, taking a national certification examination, and becoming authorized to practice in the state. For those who have completed these steps, there are numerous nurse practitioner jobs available in Massachusetts. Careers abound for NPs in general and specialized disciplines.
What is a Nurse Practice Act (NPA) course?
A Nurse Practice Act is the state legislation that describes state-specific nursing regulations and the powers and duties of that state’s board of nursing. The courses were developed by each state’s board of nursing. They cover state laws, regulations and history, the licensure process and the disciplinary procedure in each state. Each course allows you to earn approximately 2.0 contact hours. To navigate to the NPA courses: Open the Catalog