NUR 2101 Legal Principles in Nursing Exam |
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Terms in this set (54)
Legal Principles in Nursing *Nurses need to understand the law to protect
themselves from liability and to protect their
patients.
*Nurses need not fear the law, but rather should
view it as the foundation for understanding what
society expects from professional nurses. Safe
nursing practice includes an understanding of the
legal boundaries within which nurses practice.
*As health care evolves, the legal implications for
health care evolve as well. An understanding of the
implications of the law supports critical thinking on
the nurse's part.
Legal Limits of Nursing *Sources of Laws
*Nurse Practice Act
Sources of Laws *Common Law (Decisions made by judges
*Statutory Law (Statutes made by Government
,Common Law are based on judicial decisions or case law
precedent.
An example of a judicial decision that guides health
care practice is Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113, 1973), in
which the U.S. Supreme Court identified time
periods in which elective termination of a
pregnancy is legal.
Statutory Law are rules codified by legislative bodies of
government.
An example of a federal statute that affects health
care practice is the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), which protects the rights of handicapped
individuals (ADA, 1995).
Nurse Practice Acts Statutes enacted by state legislatures
Regulates the practice of nursing in each state
, Nurse Practice Acts (Detailed) Nurse Practice Acts are examples of statutes
enacted by state legislatures to regulate the
practice of nursing.
The Nurse Practice Acts of each state define the
scope of nursing practice and expanded nursing
roles, set educational requirements for nurses, and
distinguish between nursing practice and medical
practice.
Nurse Practice Acts establish a regulatory agency,
such as a State Board of Nursing, which uses the
principles of administrative law to guide the
regulation of nursing practice.
A State Board of Nursing has the power to suspend
or revoke a nurse's license if the nurse's conduct
violates provisions of the licensing statute. Criminal
law violations, even if unrelated to nursing, may
jeopardize your license status. Nurses are
responsible for knowing the their state's practice
act as it governs their own practice.
Federal Statutory Issues in Nursing *Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Practice Act
*Americans With Disabilities Act
*Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor
Act
*Patient Self-Determination Act
Questions and Answers | Verified Solutions | 2026
Edition | Pass Guaranteed
Save
Terms in this set (54)
Legal Principles in Nursing *Nurses need to understand the law to protect
themselves from liability and to protect their
patients.
*Nurses need not fear the law, but rather should
view it as the foundation for understanding what
society expects from professional nurses. Safe
nursing practice includes an understanding of the
legal boundaries within which nurses practice.
*As health care evolves, the legal implications for
health care evolve as well. An understanding of the
implications of the law supports critical thinking on
the nurse's part.
Legal Limits of Nursing *Sources of Laws
*Nurse Practice Act
Sources of Laws *Common Law (Decisions made by judges
*Statutory Law (Statutes made by Government
,Common Law are based on judicial decisions or case law
precedent.
An example of a judicial decision that guides health
care practice is Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113, 1973), in
which the U.S. Supreme Court identified time
periods in which elective termination of a
pregnancy is legal.
Statutory Law are rules codified by legislative bodies of
government.
An example of a federal statute that affects health
care practice is the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), which protects the rights of handicapped
individuals (ADA, 1995).
Nurse Practice Acts Statutes enacted by state legislatures
Regulates the practice of nursing in each state
, Nurse Practice Acts (Detailed) Nurse Practice Acts are examples of statutes
enacted by state legislatures to regulate the
practice of nursing.
The Nurse Practice Acts of each state define the
scope of nursing practice and expanded nursing
roles, set educational requirements for nurses, and
distinguish between nursing practice and medical
practice.
Nurse Practice Acts establish a regulatory agency,
such as a State Board of Nursing, which uses the
principles of administrative law to guide the
regulation of nursing practice.
A State Board of Nursing has the power to suspend
or revoke a nurse's license if the nurse's conduct
violates provisions of the licensing statute. Criminal
law violations, even if unrelated to nursing, may
jeopardize your license status. Nurses are
responsible for knowing the their state's practice
act as it governs their own practice.
Federal Statutory Issues in Nursing *Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Practice Act
*Americans With Disabilities Act
*Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor
Act
*Patient Self-Determination Act
