Minnesota has long enjoyed a reputation for having one of the best healthcare systems in the United States. Many factors have contributed to this, but one of the most important is the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act.
Every licensed nurse in Minnesota must be familiar with this act to enjoy a thriving career. Both accidental and deliberate violations could jeopardize your future as a nurse. If you have any questions or concerns about the act and your actions within its context, call the Lento Law Firm at 888.535.3686 or fill out this contact form to set up a consultation.
The Basics of the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act
The Minnesota State Graduate Nurses Association gathered together in 1907 and created the first draft of the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act. Called the NPA for short, it's designed to clearly describe the requirements and responsibilities of nurses working in the state. It also explains the differences between different kinds of nurses, how they can obtain licenses, what actions are prohibited, and what can happen to a nurse's license if they violate it.
Over time, the Minnesota Board of Nursing came to oversee the act's implementation. It also investigates complaints and disciplines violators. Every nurse in Minnesota must accept it as the ultimate authority on their profession in the state, and that begins with reviewing what's expected of those who earn their licenses.
Authorized Acts
The field of healthcare employs people for many different positions, and some of their responsibilities overlap. To encourage clarity and orderliness, the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act describes the duties and expectations of nurses. Below is a list of what they are authorized to do.
Drug and Device Prescription
Depending on their condition or health status, a patient could need anything from powerful drugs to vaccines to personalized medical or therapeutic devices. Per the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, nurses can write out the prescriptions that patients need to access the medicine and machines that are best for them.
In some cases, the nurses may also personally obtain or order the prescribed items. Then, they can administer the medicines or vaccines directly to the patients, or they can assist their patients in using their devices—whichever is most appropriate for the situation.
Monitoring and Evaluating Patients
Some patients require follow-ups or prolonged stays at medical facilities. Nurses are often in charge of checking on their progress or lack thereof. They might also review the patient's personal and family health history to get a more informed understanding of their needs and potential problems.
Every checkup and evaluation must also be carefully documented. That way, nurses and other medical professionals can remain updated on the patients' needs.
Arranging Interventions and Healthcare Plans
Evaluations and checkups alone aren't going to help patients receive proper treatment. That's why nurses use the information they gather to create interventions or healthcare plans, complete with goals, timelines, and measurable criteria for improvement.
When patients meet with nurses for assessments and progress checks, the nurses may collaborate with a doctor or medical team to adjust the plans or arrange more interventions as needed.
Providing Patient Care
Nursing doesn't begin or end with medicine, machines, or paperwork. As long as patients are assigned to them, nurses must provide the care that they need. In addition to the aforementioned duties, their responsibilities may include helping with hygiene, eating, going to the bathroom, maintaining a clean and sanitary environment, and more.
Basically, a nurse's job is to do everything they can to make a patient feel comfortable and receive the treatments they require. The aim is to promote their health and sense of well-being, no matter their condition or prognosis.
Developing Policies and Systems
As proven by the very existence of the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, proper healthcare is highly dependent on thorough regulation and organization. That's why the act encourages nurses to take active roles in creating, planning, implementing, enforcing, and revising “health care policies, procedures, and systems.”
While some nurses may be motivated to take their skills to the world of politics to influence healthcare on a large scale, all nurses should apply this expectation to their current workplace and/or local communities. That way, everyone's health and sense of security can consistently improve.
Supervising and Teaching Other Nurses
Considering the challenges and complexities of nursing, it stands to reason that nurses would be responsible for mentoring and instructing students. Through combinations of formal courses and hands-on experience, aspiring nurses can learn directly from people who have advanced knowledge and skills in the field.
Nurses in senior or leadership roles also have the duty of delegating responsibilities to other nurses, assigning and supervising their work, providing feedback on their performance, and generally guiding them toward a successful and fruitful career.
Prohibited Acts
Knowing what not to do is equally as important as knowing what you should do. That's especially true for nurses, whose licenses could be subject to fines, restrictions, suspension, or revocation if they break the rules of their profession. According to the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, here's what you should avoid if you want to keep your license.
Criminal Conviction
A felony could instantly make you ineligible for employment as a nurse, per the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act. However, even misdemeanors could disqualify you, depending on whether the crimes are related to nursing.
For example, the Minnesota Board of Nursing is unlikely to trust you with caring for patients' health, finances, or confidential information if you have a history of theft, harassment, assault, and other crimes.
Harming or Neglecting Patients
Nurses are meant to support patients' comfort and health goals. If they ignore their patients, fail to fulfill their reasonable wishes or needs, commit careless errors that put their safety at risk, cause deliberate harm, or do anything else counterproductive to the goal, these nurses could undergo investigations and sanctions from the board.
It's important to note that not all harm is immediately visible or direct. Nurses can hurt patients—who are likely enduring a period of profound vulnerability if they must stay at a medical facility—simply by being unresponsive or callous.
Theft, Fraud, or Deceit
Medical facilities are filled with expensive equipment, controlled substances, private information, bank information, personal belongings, and other things that may entice thieves. Any nurse who steals or defrauds the patients or staff could face harsh discipline from the board. Obtaining items or information from patients through harassment or heavy pressure is similarly inappropriate.
Fraud would also include leading or allowing others to believe that your profession is something it's not. For example, as a nurse, you must not let anyone think you're a physician who has different requirements and responsibilities. Nurses must also avoid dishonest advertising of their own services or those of their workplace.
Creating an Unsafe or Unsanitary Environment
Patients rest and heal best in clean, safe, and peaceful places. Nurses are obligated to help the medical facility meet that description. This means that they shouldn't abuse drugs or alcohol—especially while on the job—nor should they engage in disorderly conduct or delegate responsibilities to someone who lacks the right training or experience.
Another important consideration is that the fields of nursing, healthcare management, and medical science are constantly evolving. The Minnesota Nurse Practice Act says that nurses must adhere to any rules, policies, or procedures that the board establishes to ensure that their work is always current with the latest knowledge and developments. This, too, is essential for promoting patients' recovery and comfort.
Poor Recordkeeping
As previously discussed, maintaining documentation of patient visits, healthcare plans, and evaluations is essential for ensuring that the patients consistently receive the right treatments. Inadequate, incomplete, or inaccurate recordkeeping can compromise the ability of a nurse, doctor, or medical team to properly care for a patient. Any nurse found guilty of this could face serious sanctions.
Sexual Relationships
The relationships between nurses and patients can be unique; sometimes, the people involved develop romantic and/or sexual feelings toward each other. Alternatively, some nurses may simply feel compelled to take advantage of vulnerable people.
Either way, sexual relationships are always inappropriate and should never be indulged, even if both parties appear to be consenting. Such relationships can lead to unhealthy attachments, loss of trust, physical injury, mental trauma, and other problems.
Practicing Outside Scope
Along the same lines as being dishonest about your job title and responsibilities, nurses should never be expected to perform tasks that they don't have the knowledge or training to do. In fact, you could get in big trouble with the board for stepping outside the scope of your approved and authorized actions as outlined by the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act.
Scopes of Practice
The healthcare industry needs many kinds of nurses to handle specific fields as well as certain levels of care, organization, and leadership. The Minnesota Nurse Practice Act includes language describing different types of nurses and what they can do.
Registered Nurse
All the authorized actions previously described pertain to registered nurses. After earning a nursing license, they can provide care, prescriptions, healthcare plans, health evaluations, and other services to patients, as well as education and supervision to new or less experienced nurses. They can work in a variety of fields, including general medicine, ophthalmology, oncology, cardiology, pediatrics, and more.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
In addition to the responsibilities of a registered nurse, clinical nurse specialists offer more advanced care and knowledge to their patients. For example, they can order, perform, supervise, and interpret diagnostic tests and provide diagnoses. They may also have a more hands-on role in disease or illness prevention and management. Sometimes, they work with communities, families, or individual patients who have particular characteristics and needs in common.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Licensed practical nurses share many of the same duties as registered nurses but to a lesser degree. Although they can't diagnose or write prescriptions for patients, they work under the guidance and direction of registered nurses to provide the care that patients need. They often assist with routine tasks as well, such as taking vitals, administering medications, changing bandages, and handling hygiene and bathroom needs.
Nurse-Midwife
Women need highly specialized care before, during, and after pregnancy, as well as with other experiences unique to the female body. That's where nurse-midwives come in. Their job is to assist women with family planning, monitor pregnancies, manage labor and deliveries, and check on sexual health. Sometimes, they order, perform, supervise, and/or interpret diagnostic tests and scans, too.
Nurse Practitioner
While nurse practitioners do take on regular nurse duties—including writing prescriptions, caring for patients, performing health evaluations, interpreting tests, and providing diagnoses—they often focus more on education, research, counseling, and disease prevention. In other words, they strive to promote public and individual health with information and advocacy.
Nurse Anesthetist
Anesthesia is essential to numerous procedures and surgeries, so there are nurses trained to know exactly how to safely provide it to patients. They must choose the right drug for each patient and figure out the correct dose to administer. If needed, they can also perform non-surgical procedures and order or interpret diagnostic tests.
Why You Should Contact the Lento Law Firm
The Minnesota Nurse Practice Act is not to be taken lightly. Compliance with it can make your career, while violations can break it. However, no one is perfect, and you shouldn't have to let a mistake, misunderstanding, or outright false accusation derail you.
The Lento Law Firm wants to ensure that you have every opportunity possible to enjoy success and use your talents to help others. Whether you have questions about the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act or need support in a case against the Minnesota Board of Nursing, reach out to the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team. Their familiarity with Minnesota nursing laws is matched only by their dedication to protecting you.
Minnesota Nurses Deserve Support
The Minnesota Nurse Act is one of the most important tools for nurses to excel and maintain the state's stellar reputation for healthcare. Nevertheless, it can also work against you if you don't fully understand it or are accused of a violation. Cover all your bases and protect yourself by calling the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team at 888.535.3686 or filling out a contact form to see how they can help.
