Virginia Nursing Standards
Nursing Regulations in Virginia
Natasha Hill
Breckenridge School of Nursing
Abstract
Nursing is a medical profession that is highly regulated by the states Board of nursing. The Board of nursing consists of experienced professionals and civilians who are responsible for formulating and regulating laws governing various aspects of the profession. Principles include details pertaining to nursing education requirements, licensure qualifications, and rules governing the practice of nursing. The code of Virginia includes the Nursing Practice Act (NPA) which encompasses these laws in extensive detail as a reference for current and prospective practitioners. It defines several aspects of the scope …show more content…
of nursing practice, along with requirements for new graduates to obtain a license. Responsibilities of board members and requirements for schools of nursing are also detailed within the Nursing Practice Act. The NPA serves as a statute that should be implemented in its entirety by its practitioners to avoid disciplinary action for failure to adhere to the laws pertaining to the scope of nursing.
Nursing practice is known as the act of providing care to patients and requires specialized education and skills attained from principles in biological, social, and behavioral nursing sciences (§ 54.1-3000). It involves implementation of a nursing care plan in regards to the patient’s medical condition with or without compensation. The Nursing Practice Act details the scope of practice for registered nurses and regulations that specify implementation of the care plan according to the law. The scope of practice for registered professional nurses is the performance of nursing acts in observation, care and counsel of individuals who are ill or injured. It includes the delegation of appropriate nursing tasks and procedures to unlicensed trained persons (§ 54.1-3000). They should be empowered to promote and teach health to other people along with providing care when necessary without compensation. Advanced practice nurses have similar roles but more privileges. According to code § 54.1-2957 “advanced practice nurses are registered nurses with post-graduate education who receive specialized training that allows them to practice independently or in partnership with doctors”. They are usually nurse practitioners recognized by the Board of Medicine and Nursing. Many concentrate in primary care services, though there are many advanced practice nurses who specialize in a particular field such as acute care, and midwifery. Due to their post graduate education, they are allowed to prescribe medication to patients whereas professional registered nurses can’t. Obtaining a license to practice nursing requires successful completion of a nursing diploma or associate degree from an approved professional nursing program. Requirements for new graduates to obtain a new license include graduation from a four year high school or equivalent, successful completion of a writing examination as required by the Board, no involvement in acts deemed as grounds for disciplinary action as described in the NPA, and a satisfactory score on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (§ 54.1-3011). Activities that can lead to disciplinary action such as denial, revocation or suspension of a nurse’s license include fraud or deceit in attempting to obtain a license or certificate, abuse or negligent practice, or misappropriation of a patient 's or resident 's property, conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral improbity, unprofessional conduct, and the use of drugs or alcohol to extent that person is rendered as unsafe to practice (§ 54.1-3007). According to § 54.1-3011A, licensure must be renewed two times a year to avoid license to lapse. The Board mails renewal forms to licensee’s home, and requires that it be mailed back by a certain deadline with a renewal fee. If licensee has allowed license to lapse, they must prove to board that they are capable to practice in a competent manner along with payment of any fees. Requirements for schools of nursing are also regulated within the NPA.
Any institution wanting to offer a nursing education program must receive approval by the Board prior to establishment. They must prove that they are prepared to meet minimum standards outlined by the Board for a professional nursing curriculum. It must also meet other standards as may be established by law. Some regulations imposed to become board approved include core curriculum, administrative and clerical responsibility, and the accurate reporting of activities (§54.1-3006.1). The Board of Nursing is composed of thirteen members of various nursing professions and three citizens, all with a term length of four years. Each board member is subject to the conditions listed in §54.1-3003 which includes citizenship and being a practicing nurse with recent experience (§54.1-3003). The board is responsible for upholding the regulations and standards that have been discussed throughout this essay; requirements for licensing, scope of practice, approval of programs, and much more. The board is required to keep detailed records and is responsible for the expedition of processes within reason. Privacy is a huge concern within the medical community, and the practice of nursing is no exception. This body essentially chooses what upcoming nurses are capable of by setting the guidelines for training and approving the programs that produce them. They have the power and duty to provide periodic surveys of educational programs, deny or withdraw approval from educational programs for failure to meet prescribed standards, and set guidelines for the collection of data by all approved nursing education programs and to compile this data in an annual report (§ 54.1-3005). They conduct surveys and consult for different education programs so that the best possible service is attained at all times
(§54.1-3005).
Work Cited
Ingalls, J. R., & Douglas, J. P. (2013, 11 21). Virginia Board of Nursing. Retrieved from Virginia.gov. nursing, n.c. (2014). Aprns in the U.S. Retrieved from NCSBN
Natasha Hill
Breckenridge School of Nursing
Abstract
Nursing is a medical profession that is highly regulated by the states Board of nursing. The Board of nursing consists of experienced professionals and civilians who are responsible for formulating and regulating laws governing various aspects of the profession. Principles include details pertaining to nursing education requirements, licensure qualifications, and rules governing the practice of nursing. The code of Virginia includes the Nursing Practice Act (NPA) which encompasses these laws in extensive detail as a reference for current and prospective practitioners. It defines several aspects of the scope …show more content…
of nursing practice, along with requirements for new graduates to obtain a license. Responsibilities of board members and requirements for schools of nursing are also detailed within the Nursing Practice Act. The NPA serves as a statute that should be implemented in its entirety by its practitioners to avoid disciplinary action for failure to adhere to the laws pertaining to the scope of nursing.
Nursing practice is known as the act of providing care to patients and requires specialized education and skills attained from principles in biological, social, and behavioral nursing sciences (§ 54.1-3000). It involves implementation of a nursing care plan in regards to the patient’s medical condition with or without compensation. The Nursing Practice Act details the scope of practice for registered nurses and regulations that specify implementation of the care plan according to the law. The scope of practice for registered professional nurses is the performance of nursing acts in observation, care and counsel of individuals who are ill or injured. It includes the delegation of appropriate nursing tasks and procedures to unlicensed trained persons (§ 54.1-3000). They should be empowered to promote and teach health to other people along with providing care when necessary without compensation. Advanced practice nurses have similar roles but more privileges. According to code § 54.1-2957 “advanced practice nurses are registered nurses with post-graduate education who receive specialized training that allows them to practice independently or in partnership with doctors”. They are usually nurse practitioners recognized by the Board of Medicine and Nursing. Many concentrate in primary care services, though there are many advanced practice nurses who specialize in a particular field such as acute care, and midwifery. Due to their post graduate education, they are allowed to prescribe medication to patients whereas professional registered nurses can’t. Obtaining a license to practice nursing requires successful completion of a nursing diploma or associate degree from an approved professional nursing program. Requirements for new graduates to obtain a new license include graduation from a four year high school or equivalent, successful completion of a writing examination as required by the Board, no involvement in acts deemed as grounds for disciplinary action as described in the NPA, and a satisfactory score on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (§ 54.1-3011). Activities that can lead to disciplinary action such as denial, revocation or suspension of a nurse’s license include fraud or deceit in attempting to obtain a license or certificate, abuse or negligent practice, or misappropriation of a patient 's or resident 's property, conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral improbity, unprofessional conduct, and the use of drugs or alcohol to extent that person is rendered as unsafe to practice (§ 54.1-3007). According to § 54.1-3011A, licensure must be renewed two times a year to avoid license to lapse. The Board mails renewal forms to licensee’s home, and requires that it be mailed back by a certain deadline with a renewal fee. If licensee has allowed license to lapse, they must prove to board that they are capable to practice in a competent manner along with payment of any fees. Requirements for schools of nursing are also regulated within the NPA.
Any institution wanting to offer a nursing education program must receive approval by the Board prior to establishment. They must prove that they are prepared to meet minimum standards outlined by the Board for a professional nursing curriculum. It must also meet other standards as may be established by law. Some regulations imposed to become board approved include core curriculum, administrative and clerical responsibility, and the accurate reporting of activities (§54.1-3006.1). The Board of Nursing is composed of thirteen members of various nursing professions and three citizens, all with a term length of four years. Each board member is subject to the conditions listed in §54.1-3003 which includes citizenship and being a practicing nurse with recent experience (§54.1-3003). The board is responsible for upholding the regulations and standards that have been discussed throughout this essay; requirements for licensing, scope of practice, approval of programs, and much more. The board is required to keep detailed records and is responsible for the expedition of processes within reason. Privacy is a huge concern within the medical community, and the practice of nursing is no exception. This body essentially chooses what upcoming nurses are capable of by setting the guidelines for training and approving the programs that produce them. They have the power and duty to provide periodic surveys of educational programs, deny or withdraw approval from educational programs for failure to meet prescribed standards, and set guidelines for the collection of data by all approved nursing education programs and to compile this data in an annual report (§ 54.1-3005). They conduct surveys and consult for different education programs so that the best possible service is attained at all times
(§54.1-3005).
Work Cited
Ingalls, J. R., & Douglas, J. P. (2013, 11 21). Virginia Board of Nursing. Retrieved from Virginia.gov. nursing, n.c. (2014). Aprns in the U.S. Retrieved from NCSBN