Renewal
When do I have to renew my license?
By law, Nevada licenses and certificates expire every second birthday. Your first renewal period may be two years or less, depending on when your birthday falls in relation to the issue date of your license or certificate. If you have been selected to submit fingerprints on renewal of your license or certificate, your license/certificate is only renewed for 6 months pending receipt of the fingerprint reports.
Practice
Traditional and Non-Traditional Nursing Roles
Nurses acquire their basic knowledge, skills, and abilities while completing a nursing program. Then, as they begin working as registered, licensed, or vocational nurses, they build upon that basic knowledge and become more efficient and knowledgeable. Traditional nursing roles include providing direct client care, acting as a nursing program instructor, and working as a nurse administrator, however, there are other activities performed by nurses which use nursing knowledge and skills and may not fall within the traditional nursing roles. Volunteer positions, as well as caring for a family member or friend qualify as nursing practice in some states even if compensation has not been received. One state which recognizes volunteer positions as well as taking care of a relative is Texas.
All nurses need to comply with the Nursing Practice Act, Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations, as well as any laws, rules, or regulations applicable to the nurse's area of practice. RNs and LPNs must know and follow the rules and regulations in the state in which they are practicing for both paid and volunteer nursing positions. Professional boundaries and client confidentiality should also be top priorities. An example of a nurse who may use her specialized nursing knowledge, skills and abilities is when a nurse researcher performs health related research in support of improved practice and patient outcomes. Other examples of non-traditional nursing roles include health education, utilization review, health information technology, policy and rule writing, consulting, and writing for nursing publications such as journal articles, books or continuing nursing education programs.Licensure
What is the role of a state board of nursing?
The boards of nursing are agencies established by state governments in order to protect the public's health and welfare by ensuring the safe and effective practice of nursing. The boards of nursing create and update the standards for safe care, issue certifications, renew licenses, and through enforcement of statutes and regulations, safeguard the people from unauthorized, unqualified, and improper application of services by individuals in the practice of nursing. There are differences from state to state with regard to who determines the specific administrative responsibility of the board and who oversees the board of nursing but in general they report to either a state agency, the governor of the state, or some other state organization or official. Licensed nurses are monitored for compliance to state laws and regulations and action is taken in the event of unsafe nursing practice. Representatives who serve on a board of nursing are appointed to their position according to state laws and are usually RN, LPN or advanced practice registered nurses.
Board representatives are tasked with prescribing standards for nursing education programs, approving nursing programs preparing persons for licensure, providing for evaluation of nursing education programs and related clinical facilities, approval of examinations for licensure, issuance of nursing licenses to qualified applicants, verification of licensure status of nurses, investigation of complaints and convening of hearings upon charges calling for discipline of a licensee, creating or updating rules, regulations, policies, and practice standards, the requirements for maintaining nursing licenses, as well as taking disciplinary action on nurse licenses and enforcing the Nurse Practice Act which is a law of each state or territory. It is the responsibility of each licensed nurse to be familiar and comply with the rules, regulations, and requirements of each state they are practicing in. The Nurse Practice Act includes penalties that can happen if a licensed nurse does not follow the nursing law, the educational requirements and other qualifications needed for getting a license, what nurses are allowed to do, and the titles that can be used.
Exam
Can I take the NCLEX in a different state?
The NCLEX-PN exam is administered on a computer at approved test sites throughout the United States. First, the nurse graduate chooses a test center where to take the examination. Since all states administer the same exam, it is not required that a candidate sit for the examination in the same state in which he or she applies for licensure. Each exam is individualized according to the responses given to previous test questions but all exams follow a standard plan. A minimum of eighty-five (85) questions must be answered by a candidate in order to determine a pass or fail status. Some candidates may be answering items for up to five hours in order to finish the test. Every question is multiple choice and each item needs to be answered in order to move to the next one. Candidates with disabilities need to notify the test center in order to receive special accommodations. The NCLEX-PN exam has no more than 205 questions but you can pass with only 85 if you answer correctly. Those who fail the test can take it again but must wait at least forty-five days to retest.
Education
What does it mean for a program to be accredited or approved?
The approval of a nursing program is different than the accreditation the program receives. While both approval and accreditation are key elements of a successful nursing school, these two terms do not mean the same thing. A state's board of nursing has the power to approve nursing programs within that particular state. When a nursing program is approved by the board of nursing it means that the curriculum meets the standards set forth by the state's laws and regulations. Only students who complete a state-approved LPN program are allowed to sit for the NLCEX-PN licensing exam.
State approval of a nursing program ensures that specific standards are met, protecting both the students and the clients receiving nursing care from program graduates. A nursing program may receive recognition, gain status and earn credentials from an official agency other than the state's board of nursing. This is known as program accreditation. Accreditation focuses on program quality and excellence. National accreditation agencies for nursing programs include the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Some scholarships are available only for students who attend accredited nursing programs.
Career
Who are the major employers for LPNs?
Job growth will occur over all healthcare settings but especially those that service the geriatric population like nursing care facilities, community care facilities, and home healthcare services. In order to contain healthcare costs, many procedures once performed only in hospitals are being performed in physicians' offices and in outpatient care centers, largely because of advances in technology. As a result, the number of LPNs should increase faster in these facilities than in hospitals. Nevertheless, hospitals will continue to demand the services of LPNs and will remain one of the largest employers of these workers.
Organizations
American Nurses Credentialing Center
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas, recognize healthcare organizations for promoting safe, positive work environments, and accredit continuing nursing education organizations.
Nevada State Association of School Nurses
NASN's mission is to advance the specialty practice of school nursing to improve the health and academic success of all students.