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What is the legal nurse to patient ratio in Texas?

What is the legal nurse to patient ratio in Texas?

Texas: On the basis of the Health and Safety Code Chapter 257, Nurse Staffing, Texas law requires that each medical center organizes a committee on nurse staffing of which 60% must be nurses who provide direct care to patients for more than 50% of their duty hours.

Can a nurse whose license has expired practice in Texas?

It is illegal to practice nursing after your license has expired. Continuing competency requirements must be completed within the last two years before the before the expiration date of the license.

Are nurses allowed to tell patients their diagnosis?

As a staff nurse, you do not have the authority to admit a patient and provide a diagnosis unless after all of the requirements of your policy are met, you make a nursing diagnosis. If you have not reviewed your institution’s policy and procedure on admissions, you should do so.

Who can pronounce death in Texas?

An RN and/or an APRN can pronounce death when a patient is not receiving artificial means of life support and has a properly documented do-not-resuscitate/out of hospital do-not-resuscitate physician’s order if the employer has policies and procedures in place to acknowledge that the RN and/or APRN may pronounce death.

How do I keep my nursing license active when not working in Texas?

If your license has been inactive for less than four years, you may reactivate the license by submitting proof of having completed 20 contact hours of acceptable CNE or a current approved national nursing certification in your prior area of practice within the two years immediately preceding application for …

What happens if you let your nursing license expire in Texas?

If you do not renew your license before the expiration date, your license will go into delinquent status, and you cannot practice/work as a nurse with a delinquent license. You will not be able to practice nursing until your license is successfully renewed and placed into an active/current status.

What happens if you forget to renew your nursing license in Texas?

If, however, you didn’t get your application submitted by the last day of your expiration month, you’ll need to go through the delinquent renewal process. In addition to the typical charges for a license renewal, you’ll also pay a late fee for reactivating from delinquent status.

Can an LPN make a diagnosis?

Specifically, registered nurses can make a nursing diagnosis that identifies a condition—not a disease or disorder—as the cause of a client’s signs or symptoms.

Can a nurse prescribe medication?

The answer is a resounding YES! Nurse practitioners can prescribe medication, including controlled substances, in all 50 states and Washington DC. Practice authority is the ability of an NP to work to the extent of his or her training, education, and certification.

When does the Texas Board of Nursing stop accepting paper applications?

The Texas Board of Nursing launches new online Texas Nurse Portal on June 15, 2020. The Texas BON ceased accepting paper licensure applications on May 29, 2020. Paper applications received before this cutoff date will be processed by June 5, 2020. The Texas.gov online system was discontinued on June 4, 2020.

When does Texas Board of Nursing go online?

The Texas.gov online system was discontinued on June 4, 2020. The new Texas Nurse Portal will be up and running on Monday, June 15, 2020. On this date, all licensees will be able to create a profile and renew their license and we will be able to accept new applications by examination and endorsement.

Is it legal for a nurse to date a patient?

Dating Dan would be legally and ethically improper. Transferring to a different unit wouldn’t change the underlying issues or remedy the situation; you’d still be bound by nursing ethics.

When does a nurse cross a professional boundary?

Boundary violation: danger. Sometimes nurses cross professional boundaries for reasons that aren’t even arguably therapeutic to the patient. This is considered a boundary violation. Keeping a patient in the hospital when a qualified caregiver is available could fall under this category.

Can a Nursing Practice Act be amended in Texas?

Past Nursing Practice Acts. The Governor can also convene special sessions of the Texas Legislature for the purpose of addressing issues such as school finance, tax reform or other issues. The Nursing Practice Act can be amended during a special session but amendment of the NPA during a special session has not occurred.

Is there law regarding how many patients a nurse can care for in Texas?

Is there a law regarding how many patients (nurse: patient ratio) a nurse can be assigned to care for in Texas? The Texas Board of Nursing (Board or BON) has no authority over staffing ratios, a workplace/employment matter; however, the Board does have applicable regulations that relate to a nurse’s duty to patients.

What are the Texas Board of Nursing regulations?

The Texas Nursing Practice Act (NPA) and Board rules and regulations are written broadly so they can be applied by all nurses (LVNs, RNs, & APRNs) in any practice setting.

What is the scope of practice for a registered nurse in Texas?

The Texas Nursing Practice Act (NPA) defines the legal scope of practice for professional registered nurses (RNs).