Saturday, August 22, 2020

Protecting the Public: State Nursing Boards

 Registered nurses (RNs), vocational or practical nurses (LVNs or LPNs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and various other nursing professionals must be licensed in the states in which they practice.  In most states, it is a State Nursing Board, or the equivalent, that provides regulatory oversight of the nursing professions.  With more than four (4) million RNs, LVNs, LPNs and other nursing professionals employed in the United States, effective oversight is significant task for state licensing authorities.  These regulatory authorities protect the health and safety of the public by determining licensure qualifications for new nursing professionals, establishing standards for practitioners to follow in order to maintain their license to practice, disciplining licensees who fail to adhere to those requirements, and promoting the delivery of the high quality nursing care. In addition to nurses and other nursing professionals, in many states the Nursing Board, or its equivalent, provides regulatory oversight of various institutions that provide nurse training and education.  To find the Nursing Board, or the equivalent, serving in each state, check out our resource guide:

State Nursing Boards | Health Guide USA

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