NUR 139 EXAM 1 LEGAL ASPECTS, SCOPE OF PRACTICE & DELEGATION STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS, VERIFIED ANSWERS & NCLEX REVIEW
Nurse Practice Act - correct answer ✔✔each state has one; includes responsibilities of RN, LPN,
etc
need to know for delegation
accountability
need to know what you CAN and CANT do (scope of practice)
Administrative Law: State board of nursing - correct answer ✔✔each state; where you can
practice and what you can do
Public law - correct answer ✔✔relationships btw individuals and the gov't (criminal public law)
Private/civil law - correct answer ✔✔relationships among individuals and individuals
Tort law - correct answer ✔✔enforces duties/rights among individuals that arent based on a
contracted agreement (common sense...aka nurses shouldn't commit battery)
Nurses as witnesses vs defendant - correct answer ✔✔Witness: employer will usually provide
this attorney to support and provide counseling to the nurse
Defendant: provide your own attorney
Nursing practice acts in detail - correct answer ✔✔Regulation of nursing practice is done to
protect the *public* ; if nurses follow this act, there will be safe competent nursing care
(determined by each state); controls licensing requirements
Scope of practice - correct answer ✔✔Determined by nursing practice acts
, RN scope of practice - correct answer ✔✔IVs, new patients, critical care, new diagnosis
LPN scope of practice - correct answer ✔✔no IVs (unless trained to do so), typically long term
care, not as many skills/education = can't do as much
Credentialing - correct answer ✔✔licensure, certification and accreditation
License - correct answer ✔✔legal permit allowing a person to practice a profession
MUST have a license to practice nursing
*it is a privilege NOT a right* they can take it away
Certification - correct answer ✔✔voluntary practice of validating that an individual nurse has
met minimum competencies
Accreditation - correct answer ✔✔all states require accreditation bu state board of nursing in
regards to nursing programs
Mutual Recognition Model - correct answer ✔✔multi-state license (nurse licensure compact)
Standards of Care - correct answer ✔✔in order to protect the public; skills and learning
commonly possessed by members of a profession; legal guidelines for a nursing practice
(internal vs external)
Internal standards - correct answer ✔✔education
External standards - correct answer ✔✔nursing practice act; federal
2026/2027 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS, VERIFIED ANSWERS & NCLEX REVIEW
Nurse Practice Act - correct answer ✔✔each state has one; includes responsibilities of RN, LPN,
etc
need to know for delegation
accountability
need to know what you CAN and CANT do (scope of practice)
Administrative Law: State board of nursing - correct answer ✔✔each state; where you can
practice and what you can do
Public law - correct answer ✔✔relationships btw individuals and the gov't (criminal public law)
Private/civil law - correct answer ✔✔relationships among individuals and individuals
Tort law - correct answer ✔✔enforces duties/rights among individuals that arent based on a
contracted agreement (common sense...aka nurses shouldn't commit battery)
Nurses as witnesses vs defendant - correct answer ✔✔Witness: employer will usually provide
this attorney to support and provide counseling to the nurse
Defendant: provide your own attorney
Nursing practice acts in detail - correct answer ✔✔Regulation of nursing practice is done to
protect the *public* ; if nurses follow this act, there will be safe competent nursing care
(determined by each state); controls licensing requirements
Scope of practice - correct answer ✔✔Determined by nursing practice acts
, RN scope of practice - correct answer ✔✔IVs, new patients, critical care, new diagnosis
LPN scope of practice - correct answer ✔✔no IVs (unless trained to do so), typically long term
care, not as many skills/education = can't do as much
Credentialing - correct answer ✔✔licensure, certification and accreditation
License - correct answer ✔✔legal permit allowing a person to practice a profession
MUST have a license to practice nursing
*it is a privilege NOT a right* they can take it away
Certification - correct answer ✔✔voluntary practice of validating that an individual nurse has
met minimum competencies
Accreditation - correct answer ✔✔all states require accreditation bu state board of nursing in
regards to nursing programs
Mutual Recognition Model - correct answer ✔✔multi-state license (nurse licensure compact)
Standards of Care - correct answer ✔✔in order to protect the public; skills and learning
commonly possessed by members of a profession; legal guidelines for a nursing practice
(internal vs external)
Internal standards - correct answer ✔✔education
External standards - correct answer ✔✔nursing practice act; federal
