A registered nurse is trying to determine the appropriate care that she should provide for her obstetrical clients. Which of the following documents…

The State Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is the law that governs nursing practice within a specific state. Enacted by the state's legislature, it legally defines the scope of nursing practice, sets requirements for licensure, and establishes the standards for safe and competent care. While professional organizations provide valuable guidelines, the NPA is the definitive legal document that establishes the legal standard of practice to which a registered nurse is held accountable. All other standards are subordinate to the legal mandate of the NPA.

B. AWHONN Standards for the Nursing Care of Women and Newborns: These are professional standards of care developed by a specialty organization. They represent best practices but are not law.

C. American Nurses’ Association Standards of Maternal- Child Health Nursing: These are professional standards that define competent practice as determined by the nursing profession, not by legal statute.

D. International Council of Nurses’ Code: This code provides an international framework for nursing ethics and professional conduct, not the legally binding standard of practice in a U.S. state.

1. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). (n.d.). Nurse Practice Act. "The NPA is the law that creates a board of nursing (BON) and defines its responsibility for regulating nursing practice... The practice of nursing is a right granted by a state to protect those who need nursing care, and the NPA is the law that governs the practice of nursing." Retrieved from the NCSBN website section on the Nurse Practice Act.

2. Russell, K. A. (2017). Nurse practice acts guide and govern nursing practice. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 8(3), 36-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(17)30120-3 (See "The Legal Authority of the NPA," p. 37, para. 2).

3. Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. (Courseware). Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing. "The primary source of law affecting nursing practice is the state's Nurse Practice Act. It is the single most important piece of legislation for nurses as it defines the scope of their practice and protects public health, safety, and welfare." (This is a representative statement from typical university nursing curriculum on this topic).