,Nursing
Scope and
Standards
of Practice
4th Edition
, The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a national professional association. This
publication reflects the position of ANA regarding the scope and standards of nursing
practice and should be reviewed in conjunction with state board of nursing regulations.
State law, rules, and regulations govern the practice of nursing, while Nursing: Scope and
Standards of Practice, 4th Edition guides registered nurses in the application of their
professional skills and responsibilities.
About the American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the only full-service professional organization
representing the interests of the nation’s 4.2 million registered nurses through its
constituent/state nurses associations and its orga nizational affiliates. The ANA advances
the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the
rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and
by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on healthcare issues affecting nurses
and the public.
American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Copyright © 2021 ANA. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
used in any form or any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publisher.
ISBNs
Print 978-0-9993088-6-8
ePDF 978-0-9993088-7-5
ePUB 978-0-9993088-8-2
Mobi 978-0-9993088-9-9
SAN: 851-3481