A nurse is providing an in-service to a group of newly licensed nurses on standards of practice and the role of the Board of Nursing (BON). Which of the following information should the nurse include?
A.
Regulates and monitors laws set by the Nurse Practice Act.
B.
Establishes a protocol for care to provide for a specific health problem.
C.
Promotes excellence in nursing education.
D.
Determines competencies for the nurses to achieve before licensure.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is A. Regulates and monitors laws set by the Nurse Practice Act.
Explanation:
The Board of Nursing (BON) plays a crucial role in regulating the practice of nursing within a state. The Nurse Practice Act is a key piece of legislation that outlines the scope of nursing practice, including the legal boundaries within which nurses must operate. The BON is responsible for enforcing these laws to ensure public safety and effective nursing practice.
- Regulatory Role: The BON monitors compliance with the Nurse Practice Act, ensuring that nurses adhere to established legal standards. This includes investigating complaints against nurses, enforcing disciplinary actions when necessary, and ensuring that nursing practices are safe and ethical.
- Licensure: The BON sets the requirements for licensure, ensuring that only qualified individuals can practice as nurses. This involves determining the necessary educational credentials, examination requirements, and ongoing competency assessments to maintain licensure.
- Scope of Practice: The BON defines the scope of nursing practice, which varies by state. This includes outlining what tasks and responsibilities nurses are legally permitted to perform, ensuring that they are appropriately trained and competent to execute those tasks.
- Education Standards: While promoting excellence in nursing education (option C) is important, it is more accurately the role of educational accrediting bodies rather than the BON itself. The BON does, however, approve nursing programs to ensure they meet certain educational standards.
- Protocols for Care: Establishing specific protocols for care (option B) is typically the responsibility of healthcare institutions or clinical practice guidelines, not the BON.
- Competency Determination: While the BON does oversee licensure requirements (option D), it does not directly determine competencies. Instead, it ensures that educational programs adequately prepare nurses to meet the competencies necessary for practice.
In summary, the primary responsibility of the BON is to regulate nursing practice according to the Nurse Practice Act, thereby ensuring safe and effective nursing care. This foundational role underscores the significance of compliance with legal and ethical standards in nursing.