NURSING JURISPRUDENCE AND ETHICS FOR TEXAS NURSES
STUDY GUIDE WITH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
|200 VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
2026/2027 EDITION
SECTION 1: THE TEXAS NURSING PRACTICE ACT (NPA) - FOUNDATIONS
(Questions 1-25)
QUESTION 1
The Texas Nursing Practice Act (NPA) is found in which of the following?
A) Texas Administrative Code, Title 22
B) Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 301
C) Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 241
D) Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Nursing Practice Act (NPA) is codified in the Texas Occupations
Code, Chapter 301. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) rules are found in the
Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 11, Chapter 217. It is important
to distinguish between the statutory law (the NPA itself) and the rules
promulgated by the BON to implement and enforce the NPA.
QUESTION 2
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) has the authority to do which of the following?
A) Issue nursing licenses, discipline licensees, and approve nursing education
programs
B) Set hospital staffing ratios
C) Determine physician scope of practice
D) Regulate medication aides only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The BON's statutory authority includes issuing and renewing nursing
licenses, disciplining licensees for violations of the NPA or BON rules,
approving and monitoring nursing education programs, and enforcing the rules
and regulations governing nursing practice. The BON does not set
1
,hospital staffing ratios (this is typically done by facility administration
or other regulatory bodies), determine physician scope of practice, or
regulate only medication aides.
QUESTION 3
How often can the Texas Nursing Practice Act be changed by the Legislature?
A) Every year
B) Every two years, during regular legislative sessions
C) Every five years
D) Only during special sessions called by the Governor
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Nursing Practice Act can only be changed by legislation enacted
by the Texas Legislature, which convenes for 140 days every two years
(biennially). While the Governor can convene special sessions, amendment of
the NPA during a special session has not occurred. This is why
statutory changes to the NPA only occur every two years.
QUESTION 4
Which of the following is a violation of the Nursing Practice Act?
A) A nurse delegates vital signs to a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for a
stable patient
B) A nurse practices beyond the scope of practice defined in the NPA
C) A nurse refuses an unsafe assignment
D) A nurse reports a colleague's substance abuse to the BON
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Practicing beyond the scope of practice defined in the NPA (e.g.,
prescribing without authority or performing medical diagnosis) is a direct
violation of the NPA. Delegating vital signs to a CNA for a
stable patient is within acceptable practice when proper delegation
guidelines are followed. Refusing unsafe assignments is a protected act
that does not violate the NPA. Reporting a colleague's substance abuse to
the BON is a mandatory reporting requirement, not a violation.
QUESTION 5
2
,Under the Texas NPA, the term "supervision" means:
A) The supervisor must be physically present at all times
B) The supervisor is available for consultation and direction
C) The supervisor must sign all charts
D) Direct observation by video only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under the Texas NPA, supervision means that the supervisor is
available for consultation and direction. It does not require
the supervisor to be physically present at all times, to sign all charts,
or to use video observation only. Supervision involves the nurse's
responsibility to provide guidance, direction, and oversight to ensure safe
patient care.
QUESTION 6
The definition of "professional nursing" under the Texas NPA includes all of
the following EXCEPT:
A) Observation, assessment, intervention, and evaluation of patients
B) Administration of medications as ordered by a physician
C) Acts of medical diagnosis and prescription of therapeutic measures
D) Development of the nursing care plan
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NPA specifically states that professional nursing "does not
include acts of medical diagnosis or the prescription of therapeutic or
corrective measures". Professional nursing involves observation,
assessment, intervention, evaluation, rehabilitation, care and counsel,
health teaching, administration of medications as ordered, supervision or
teaching of nursing, administration and evaluation of nursing practices,
and development of the nursing care plan.
QUESTION 7
The definition of "vocational nursing" under the Texas NPA includes:
A) Acts of medical diagnosis
B) Prescription of therapeutic measures
3
, C) Collecting data and performing focused nursing assessments
D) Independent development of the nursing care plan
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vocational nursing involves collecting data and performing focused
nursing assessments of the health status of an individual. It
also includes participating in planning nursing care needs, participating
in the development and modification of the nursing care plan, participating
in health teaching and counseling, assisting in evaluating an individual's
response to nursing interventions, and engaging in other acts that require
education and training as prescribed by board rules. Vocational
nursing does not include acts of medical diagnosis or the prescription of
therapeutic or corrective measures.
QUESTION 8
The Texas Board of Nursing consists of how many members appointed by the
Governor?
A) 9 members
B) 11 members
C) 13 members
D) 15 members
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Texas Board of Nursing consists of 13 members appointed by the
Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The board
includes both registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses, as well as
public members who are not nurses.
QUESTION 9
A nurse who fails to renew their license and continues to work for two weeks
may face:
A) No consequence if less than 30 days
B) Administrative penalty up to $5,000 and possible disciplinary action
C) Automatic jail time
D) License reinstated after paying a late fee
4
STUDY GUIDE WITH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
|200 VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
2026/2027 EDITION
SECTION 1: THE TEXAS NURSING PRACTICE ACT (NPA) - FOUNDATIONS
(Questions 1-25)
QUESTION 1
The Texas Nursing Practice Act (NPA) is found in which of the following?
A) Texas Administrative Code, Title 22
B) Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 301
C) Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 241
D) Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Nursing Practice Act (NPA) is codified in the Texas Occupations
Code, Chapter 301. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) rules are found in the
Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 11, Chapter 217. It is important
to distinguish between the statutory law (the NPA itself) and the rules
promulgated by the BON to implement and enforce the NPA.
QUESTION 2
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) has the authority to do which of the following?
A) Issue nursing licenses, discipline licensees, and approve nursing education
programs
B) Set hospital staffing ratios
C) Determine physician scope of practice
D) Regulate medication aides only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The BON's statutory authority includes issuing and renewing nursing
licenses, disciplining licensees for violations of the NPA or BON rules,
approving and monitoring nursing education programs, and enforcing the rules
and regulations governing nursing practice. The BON does not set
1
,hospital staffing ratios (this is typically done by facility administration
or other regulatory bodies), determine physician scope of practice, or
regulate only medication aides.
QUESTION 3
How often can the Texas Nursing Practice Act be changed by the Legislature?
A) Every year
B) Every two years, during regular legislative sessions
C) Every five years
D) Only during special sessions called by the Governor
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Nursing Practice Act can only be changed by legislation enacted
by the Texas Legislature, which convenes for 140 days every two years
(biennially). While the Governor can convene special sessions, amendment of
the NPA during a special session has not occurred. This is why
statutory changes to the NPA only occur every two years.
QUESTION 4
Which of the following is a violation of the Nursing Practice Act?
A) A nurse delegates vital signs to a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for a
stable patient
B) A nurse practices beyond the scope of practice defined in the NPA
C) A nurse refuses an unsafe assignment
D) A nurse reports a colleague's substance abuse to the BON
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Practicing beyond the scope of practice defined in the NPA (e.g.,
prescribing without authority or performing medical diagnosis) is a direct
violation of the NPA. Delegating vital signs to a CNA for a
stable patient is within acceptable practice when proper delegation
guidelines are followed. Refusing unsafe assignments is a protected act
that does not violate the NPA. Reporting a colleague's substance abuse to
the BON is a mandatory reporting requirement, not a violation.
QUESTION 5
2
,Under the Texas NPA, the term "supervision" means:
A) The supervisor must be physically present at all times
B) The supervisor is available for consultation and direction
C) The supervisor must sign all charts
D) Direct observation by video only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under the Texas NPA, supervision means that the supervisor is
available for consultation and direction. It does not require
the supervisor to be physically present at all times, to sign all charts,
or to use video observation only. Supervision involves the nurse's
responsibility to provide guidance, direction, and oversight to ensure safe
patient care.
QUESTION 6
The definition of "professional nursing" under the Texas NPA includes all of
the following EXCEPT:
A) Observation, assessment, intervention, and evaluation of patients
B) Administration of medications as ordered by a physician
C) Acts of medical diagnosis and prescription of therapeutic measures
D) Development of the nursing care plan
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NPA specifically states that professional nursing "does not
include acts of medical diagnosis or the prescription of therapeutic or
corrective measures". Professional nursing involves observation,
assessment, intervention, evaluation, rehabilitation, care and counsel,
health teaching, administration of medications as ordered, supervision or
teaching of nursing, administration and evaluation of nursing practices,
and development of the nursing care plan.
QUESTION 7
The definition of "vocational nursing" under the Texas NPA includes:
A) Acts of medical diagnosis
B) Prescription of therapeutic measures
3
, C) Collecting data and performing focused nursing assessments
D) Independent development of the nursing care plan
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vocational nursing involves collecting data and performing focused
nursing assessments of the health status of an individual. It
also includes participating in planning nursing care needs, participating
in the development and modification of the nursing care plan, participating
in health teaching and counseling, assisting in evaluating an individual's
response to nursing interventions, and engaging in other acts that require
education and training as prescribed by board rules. Vocational
nursing does not include acts of medical diagnosis or the prescription of
therapeutic or corrective measures.
QUESTION 8
The Texas Board of Nursing consists of how many members appointed by the
Governor?
A) 9 members
B) 11 members
C) 13 members
D) 15 members
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Texas Board of Nursing consists of 13 members appointed by the
Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The board
includes both registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses, as well as
public members who are not nurses.
QUESTION 9
A nurse who fails to renew their license and continues to work for two weeks
may face:
A) No consequence if less than 30 days
B) Administrative penalty up to $5,000 and possible disciplinary action
C) Automatic jail time
D) License reinstated after paying a late fee
4
