Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses:
A Quality Review
This revised version aims for clarity, conciseness, and a more professional tone,
focusing on the core legal and ethical principles for Texas nurses.
1. Reinsertion of Permanently Placed Feeding Tubes (BON Position
Statement 15.24): For a nurse to reinsert a gastrostomy tube, it is within
their scope of practice provided that:
o The tube has been in place for at least 8-12 weeks, establishing a
mature fistulous tract.
o The nurse has a specific physician's order for the reinsertion.
o The nurse has successfully completed specific competency training
and validation for this procedure. (Revised from A)
2. Role of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON): Unlike nursing and healthcare
specialty associations, the BON's primary function is to:
o Protect and promote the welfare of the people of Texas by
regulating the practice of nursing. (Revised from D)
3. Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) Role in Care Planning (Board Rule
217.11): According to the Standards of Nursing Practice, an LVN's scope of
practice includes:
o Participating in the modification and development of the nursing
care plan. (Revised from C)
, 4. Clarifying Medication Orders: A nurse who contacts a physician to clarify
a medication order is:
o Fulfilling their professional duty to ensure patient safety. (Revised
from A)
5. Job Abandonment (Board Rule 217.12, Unprofessional Conduct): While
the BON does not explicitly use the term "job abandonment" in its rules,
guidance regarding a nurse's responsibilities related to this issue and conduct
that may be reportable to the Board is found in:
o Paragraph (12) of Board Rule 217.12. (Revised from C)
6. Maintaining Professional Boundaries: An example of a nurse
MAINTAINING appropriate professional boundaries with a client is when
the nurse:
o Rewards a patient with a small, appropriate item (like a team
mascot) for achieving rehabilitation goals. (Revised from A)
7. Minimum Licensure for Job Responsibilities: An advertisement requiring
independent work, expertise in developing nursing care plans (including
establishing nursing diagnoses), and the ability to complete comprehensive
nursing assessments necessitates, at a minimum, a valid:
o Registered Nurse (RN) license. (Revised from D)
8. Nurse Stealing Narcotics and Self-Injecting: In a situation where a nurse
is caught stealing and self-injecting narcotics while on duty and admits to
chemical dependency, the Nursing Practice Act (NPA) requires:
o The nurse to be reported to the BON. (While Peer Review may be
involved, the initial reporting to the BON is paramount due to
potential harm and impairment.) (Revised from B to emphasize
reporting to BON)
A Quality Review
This revised version aims for clarity, conciseness, and a more professional tone,
focusing on the core legal and ethical principles for Texas nurses.
1. Reinsertion of Permanently Placed Feeding Tubes (BON Position
Statement 15.24): For a nurse to reinsert a gastrostomy tube, it is within
their scope of practice provided that:
o The tube has been in place for at least 8-12 weeks, establishing a
mature fistulous tract.
o The nurse has a specific physician's order for the reinsertion.
o The nurse has successfully completed specific competency training
and validation for this procedure. (Revised from A)
2. Role of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON): Unlike nursing and healthcare
specialty associations, the BON's primary function is to:
o Protect and promote the welfare of the people of Texas by
regulating the practice of nursing. (Revised from D)
3. Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) Role in Care Planning (Board Rule
217.11): According to the Standards of Nursing Practice, an LVN's scope of
practice includes:
o Participating in the modification and development of the nursing
care plan. (Revised from C)
, 4. Clarifying Medication Orders: A nurse who contacts a physician to clarify
a medication order is:
o Fulfilling their professional duty to ensure patient safety. (Revised
from A)
5. Job Abandonment (Board Rule 217.12, Unprofessional Conduct): While
the BON does not explicitly use the term "job abandonment" in its rules,
guidance regarding a nurse's responsibilities related to this issue and conduct
that may be reportable to the Board is found in:
o Paragraph (12) of Board Rule 217.12. (Revised from C)
6. Maintaining Professional Boundaries: An example of a nurse
MAINTAINING appropriate professional boundaries with a client is when
the nurse:
o Rewards a patient with a small, appropriate item (like a team
mascot) for achieving rehabilitation goals. (Revised from A)
7. Minimum Licensure for Job Responsibilities: An advertisement requiring
independent work, expertise in developing nursing care plans (including
establishing nursing diagnoses), and the ability to complete comprehensive
nursing assessments necessitates, at a minimum, a valid:
o Registered Nurse (RN) license. (Revised from D)
8. Nurse Stealing Narcotics and Self-Injecting: In a situation where a nurse
is caught stealing and self-injecting narcotics while on duty and admits to
chemical dependency, the Nursing Practice Act (NPA) requires:
o The nurse to be reported to the BON. (While Peer Review may be
involved, the initial reporting to the BON is paramount due to
potential harm and impairment.) (Revised from B to emphasize
reporting to BON)
