Fundamentals of Nursing Q 246
The scope of nursing practice is legally defined by:
A. State nurses practice acts
B. Professional nursing organizations
C. Hospital policy and procedure manuals
D. Physicians in the employing institutions
Correct Answer: A. State nurses practice acts
Every state and territory in the US sets laws to govern the practice of nursing. These laws are defined in the Nursing Practice Act (NPA). The NPA is then interpreted into regulations by each state and territorial nursing board with the authority to regulate the practice of nursing care and the power to enforce the laws. Fifty states, District of Columbia and 4 United States (US) territories, have state boards of nursing (BON) that are responsible for regulating their individual NPA.
Option B: Professional organizations and associations in nursing are critical for generating the energy, flow of ideas, and proactive work needed to maintain a healthy profession that advocates for the needs of its clients and nurses, and the trust of society.
Option C: From patient discharge procedures to maintaining the hygiene of the staff workers, policies and procedures are comprehensive guidelines to ensure the organization is complying with the rules and regulations. The maintenance of policies also ensures reduced risk of accidents, improves efficiency, and helps maintain a sound working environment for patients, staff, and visitors.
Option D: Collaboration, between physicians and nurses, means cooperation in work, sharing responsibilities for solving problems, and making decisions to formulate and carry out plans for patient care. Although the provision of healthcare is becoming more complex, collaboration among healthcare workers can be a path to improve the quality of healthcare services especially in hospitals in which the environment is characterized by ongoing interaction among professionals.