Nurse Practice Act

Nurses are a crucial component of the health care sector. It is these individuals that aid individuals, families and communities in attaining both optimum health and quality of life. While the scope of nursing varies in terms of approach, at the core of the profession is the professional credentials that by and large allow them to instill certain aspects and concepts regarding the medical arena to patients. To practice nursing, authority is provided by a social contract that in effect established both professional responsibilities and rights of the nurse to follow and maintain the competencies, code of ethics and standards given to them throughout their educational tenure. Yet, with all of the training, regulations, and guidelines that are prerequisites to field practice, it has been said that some nurses stray from the vital facets that allowed them to execute their profession in the first place.

The question may be asked as to why there are rules and regulations for nurses and the answer that will often be stated will somewhere along the spectrum of the specialized dynamics that a nurse takes on practicing. "More than 100 years ago, state governments enacted laws which protect the public's health and welfare by overseeing and ensuring the safe practice of nursing. All states and territories have enacted a nurse practice act. The [act] itself is insufficient to provide the necessary guidance for the professional development of a nurse; therefore each NPA established a board of nursing that develops rules and regulations to clarify the law" ("Nurse Practice Act, Rules & Regulations," 2013). Each state's NPA tends to vary in terms of verbiage and certain specifics, however, "all NPAs include: authority, power and composition of a board of nursing; education program standards; standards and scope of nursing practice; types of titles and licenses; requirements for licensure; [and] grounds for disciplinary action, other violations and possible remedies" ("Nurse Practice Act, Rules & Regulations," 2013). So if the Nurse Practice Act is designed to basically keep nurses in line, why do some nurses practice in the leeway of it?

It can be reasoned based on Russell (2012) that as a result of the variances between the definitions and guidelines associated with NPAs among states that are simply a lack of knowledge by the nurses as to what they should and should not be doing. Essentially, there are extensions (rules) to the act by the Board of Nursing that accompany the act that bind the nurses into many catch 22 situations regarding practice (Russell, 2012). Of course, that conclusion is based solely on the language that is outlined in the article, but that may be a viable rationale because the rules and regulations outlined by states are quite explicit in what is expected of nurses during practice. 

An example of this is the state of Connecticut. Two components of the Connecticut NPA that could be noted to support what Russell's (2012) basis is reasoned to be founded on are the use of the term practical nurses and the guidelines for nurse anesthetists. These components, among the others, will be important to my own practice as a nurse. The term practical nurse is "a person who has received a certificate and no other" ("Chapter 378* Nursing," n.d.). This is quite different than that of a registered nurse who has received a certificate of registration. Why is this a crucial element? Because it can make a difference in terms of what can and cannot be done as far as the extent of practice. In terms of nurse anesthetists, this will be an important element to know should there be a consideration in "prescrib[ing], dispens[ing] and administer[ing] drugs including controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV or V" ("Chapter 378* Nursing," n.d.). In knowing the guidelines surrounding this, it will hopefully minimize any issues that may arise while practicing in Connecticut.

Ultimately, the field of nursing is a powerful and potent one and the future of nursing relies on a nurse's ability to follow strict ethical rules and regulations. The individuals that call themselves nurses must adhere to the principles outlined by the Nurse Practice Act, for both their safety and the safety of their patients. Without following the regulations, they are in effect opening themselves up to a vast amount of issues and problems that could otherwise be avoided by following the laws to the best of their ability and understanding.

References

CHAPTER 378*NURSING. (n.d.). Retrieved August 1, 2013, from State of Connecticut General Assembly website: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/pub/Chap_378.htm#sec_20-94b

Nurse Practice Act, Rules & Regulations. (2013). Retrieved August 1, 2013, from National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. website: https://www.ncsbn.org/1455.htm

Russell, K. A. (2012). Nurse Practice Acts Guide and Govern Nursing Practice. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 3(3), 36-42.