NR226-Legal Implications in Nursing
Practice-Chapter 23 verified to pass
2025/2026
Legal Implications in Nursing Practice - correct answer ✔Safe and competent nursing practice requires
clinical reasoning and an understanding of the legal framework of health care, the specific state's Nurse
Practice Act, and the scope and standards of nursing care.
As patient care pr
actice innovations and new health care technologies emerge, the principles of negligence and
malpractice liability are being applied to challenging new situations.
Nurses should practice nursing armed with the skills that are the outcomes of informed critical thinking.
Sources of law: - correct answer ✔Statutory law (Nurse Practice Act)
-Criminal law (felonies or misdemeanors)
-Civil law
Regulatory law (administrative law)
Common law (judicial decisions)
Legal Limits of Nursing - correct answer ✔As a professional nurse you need to understand the legal
limits of nursing and the professional standards of care that affect nursing practice.
Standards reflect the knowledge and skill ordinarily possessed and used by nurses actively practicing in
the profession.
,Statutory law - correct answer ✔Include the Nurse Practice Act found in all states.
The Nurse Practice Act describes and defines the legal boundaries of nursing practice in each state.
The Nurse Practice Act of each state defines the scope of nursing practice and expanded nursing roles,
sets education requirements for nurses, and distinguishes between nursing and medical practice.
Criminal laws - correct answer ✔are meant to prevent harm to society and to provide punishment for
crimes. These are categorized as felonies or misdemeanors.
A felony - correct answer ✔Is a serious offense that results in significant harm to another person or
society in general.
Carry penalties of monetary restitution, imprisonment for greater than 1 year, or death.
Examples of Nurse Practice Act violations that may carry criminal penalties include misuse of a
controlled substance or practicing without a license.
A misdemeanor - correct answer ✔Is a crime that, although injurious, does not inflict serious harm.
For example, parking in a no-parking zone is a misdemeanor violation of traffic laws.
Usually has a penalty of a monetary fine, forfeiture, or brief imprisonment.
Civil Law - correct answer ✔Protect the rights of individuals and provide for fair and equitable
treatment when civil wrongs or violations occur.
, The consequences of civil law violations are damages in the form of fines or specific performance of
good works such as public service.
Nursing negligence or malpractice is an example of a civil law violation.
Regulatory law - correct answer ✔Also known as administrative law, defines your duty to report
incompetent or unethical nursing conduct to the Board of Nursing.
Common law - correct answer ✔Results from judicial decisions concerning individual cases.
Most of these revolve around negligence and malpractice.
Standards of care - correct answer ✔Legal guidelines for defining nursing practice and identifying the
minimum acceptable nursing care
Best known comes from the American Nurses Association (ANA)
Set by state and federal laws that govern where nurses work
Joint Commission requires policies and procedures (P&Ps).
The American Nurses Association (ANA) (2010) - correct answer ✔develops standards for nursing
practice, policy statements, and similar resolutions. These standards outline the scope, function, and
role of the nurse in practice.
In a malpractice lawsuit or negligence - correct answer ✔a nurse's actual conduct is compared to
nursing standards of care to determine whether the nurse acted as any reasonably prudent nurse would
act under the same or similar circumstances.
Practice-Chapter 23 verified to pass
2025/2026
Legal Implications in Nursing Practice - correct answer ✔Safe and competent nursing practice requires
clinical reasoning and an understanding of the legal framework of health care, the specific state's Nurse
Practice Act, and the scope and standards of nursing care.
As patient care pr
actice innovations and new health care technologies emerge, the principles of negligence and
malpractice liability are being applied to challenging new situations.
Nurses should practice nursing armed with the skills that are the outcomes of informed critical thinking.
Sources of law: - correct answer ✔Statutory law (Nurse Practice Act)
-Criminal law (felonies or misdemeanors)
-Civil law
Regulatory law (administrative law)
Common law (judicial decisions)
Legal Limits of Nursing - correct answer ✔As a professional nurse you need to understand the legal
limits of nursing and the professional standards of care that affect nursing practice.
Standards reflect the knowledge and skill ordinarily possessed and used by nurses actively practicing in
the profession.
,Statutory law - correct answer ✔Include the Nurse Practice Act found in all states.
The Nurse Practice Act describes and defines the legal boundaries of nursing practice in each state.
The Nurse Practice Act of each state defines the scope of nursing practice and expanded nursing roles,
sets education requirements for nurses, and distinguishes between nursing and medical practice.
Criminal laws - correct answer ✔are meant to prevent harm to society and to provide punishment for
crimes. These are categorized as felonies or misdemeanors.
A felony - correct answer ✔Is a serious offense that results in significant harm to another person or
society in general.
Carry penalties of monetary restitution, imprisonment for greater than 1 year, or death.
Examples of Nurse Practice Act violations that may carry criminal penalties include misuse of a
controlled substance or practicing without a license.
A misdemeanor - correct answer ✔Is a crime that, although injurious, does not inflict serious harm.
For example, parking in a no-parking zone is a misdemeanor violation of traffic laws.
Usually has a penalty of a monetary fine, forfeiture, or brief imprisonment.
Civil Law - correct answer ✔Protect the rights of individuals and provide for fair and equitable
treatment when civil wrongs or violations occur.
, The consequences of civil law violations are damages in the form of fines or specific performance of
good works such as public service.
Nursing negligence or malpractice is an example of a civil law violation.
Regulatory law - correct answer ✔Also known as administrative law, defines your duty to report
incompetent or unethical nursing conduct to the Board of Nursing.
Common law - correct answer ✔Results from judicial decisions concerning individual cases.
Most of these revolve around negligence and malpractice.
Standards of care - correct answer ✔Legal guidelines for defining nursing practice and identifying the
minimum acceptable nursing care
Best known comes from the American Nurses Association (ANA)
Set by state and federal laws that govern where nurses work
Joint Commission requires policies and procedures (P&Ps).
The American Nurses Association (ANA) (2010) - correct answer ✔develops standards for nursing
practice, policy statements, and similar resolutions. These standards outline the scope, function, and
role of the nurse in practice.
In a malpractice lawsuit or negligence - correct answer ✔a nurse's actual conduct is compared to
nursing standards of care to determine whether the nurse acted as any reasonably prudent nurse would
act under the same or similar circumstances.
