Q What are the considerations nurses should evaluate before delegating tasks to nonnursing care providers?

A Peg Currie, RN, BSN, MA replies:

Everyone remembers their nursing licensure examination and the feeling of overwhelming relief once the passing scores were in. Although that was a great feeling, ongoing licensure carries with it some significant responsibilities. The nursing license is the individual agreement between the nurse and state governing bodies committing the nurse to function competently and within the Nurse Practice Act.

Each state has a nursing quality governing body known as the Board of Nursing or the Nursing Care Quality Commission. These governing bodies are responsible for defining nursing practice and overseeing licensure, quality, and ongoing nursing competency. The key role for these governing bodies is to serve to protect the public.

The Nurse Practice Act is the basic enabling law for licensure and the definition of nursing practice in the...

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