NEVADA NURSES LEGAL HANDBOOK

 WELDON  E. (Don)  HAVINS,  M.D., J.D., L.L.M. (Health Law)

Nevada Physician

Member, State Bar of Nevada

© Copyright 1999 Weldon E. Havins 
All rights reserved.

 Table of Contents

DISCLAIMER

Chapter 1    OVERVIEW OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM
    INTRODUCTION
    SOURCES OF LAW: THE FEDERAL AND STATE SYSTEMS
            Constitutions
            Legislatures
            Common Law
                        Federal Courts
                        State Courts
            Administrative Law
    THE CIVIL SUIT
            Initiation and Filing 
           
The Pretrial Phase
            The Trial
    ALTERNATIVES TO LITIGATION

Chapter 2    THE LEGAL REGULATION OF NURSING IN NEVADA
    INTRODUCTION
    STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD OF NURSING
    DEFINITION OF SCOPES OF PRACTICE IN THE NURSE PRACTICE ACT
    LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
            Registered Nursing
            Licensed Practical Nursing 
           
Interim licensure
            Failure/reapplication
            License renewal
            Continuing education requirement
   
ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING (APN)
            Requirements for certification
            Scope of practice
            Renewal of APN
            Revocation
   
APPLICATION FOR APN CERTIFICATION
    NURSE SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION
            Requirements for title
            Scope of practice
            Renewal
            Revocation
            Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CNAs)
                        Scope of practice
                        Requirements for CNA certification
                        License renewal
                        Revocation
   
STANDARDS OF NURSING PRACTICE
    DELEGATION AND SUPERVISION OF NURSING CARE
            Delegating
            Supervising
   
DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY THE BOARD
            General procedure
            Grounds for disciplinary action

Chapter 3    PROFESSIONAL REGULATION OF NURSING
   
INTRODUCTION
    PROFESSIONAL NURSING STANDARDS
            The Nevada State Board of Nursing
   
STANDARDS OF CARE
            Assessment
            Diagnoses
            Outcome Identification
            Implementation
            Evaluation
   
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE
            Quality of Care
            Performance Appraisal
            Education
            Collegiality
            Ethics
            Collaboration
            Research
            Resource Utilization
   
CODE FOR NURSES 
    CREDENTIALING
            Accreditation
   
DELEGATION

Chapter 4    DOCUMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION
   
DOCUMENTATION PRINCIPLES
            Charting the Patient’s Care
            Fundamentals and Nevada Law
            Conclusion
   
INSTITUTIONAL PROTOCOL
            Conclusion
   
INFORMED CONSENT
            Conclusion
   
PATIENT CARE BY TELEPHONE
            Conclusion
   
PATIENT PRIVACY
            Compelled Disclosure
            Conclusion

Chapter 5    PATIENT CARE CONCERNS
   
INTRODUCTION
    REFUSAL OF CARE BY A PATIENT AND OTHER CONSENT ISSUES
            Informed Consent
            Implied Consent 
           
Minors and Consent
            The Nurses’ Role
   
PHYSICAL RESTRAINTS
    LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES
    MEDICATION ERRORS
            “Five Rights” and “Three Checks” Safeguards
            Dosage Errors
            Wrong Medication
            Wrong Route
   
CONCLUSION

Chapter  6    NURSING RESPONSIBILITY AND THE LAW
   
INTRODUCTION
    REFUSING AN ASSIGNMENT BECAUSE OF QUALIFICATIONS
            The Nurse’s Alternative
            Supervisor’s Responsibilities
   
REFUSING AN ASSIGNMENT BECAUSE OF CONSCIENCE
            Objections Based on Religion
            Abortion
   
QUESTIONING A PHYSICIAN’S ORDER
    POLICE REQUESTS
            Nevada Statutes and Regulations
            Case Law
            The Nurse’s Decision
   
THE RIGHT TO DIE
            Types of Advance Directives 
           
Substituted Judgment 
           
Assisted Suicide
            Active Euthanasia

Chapter 7    THE NEVADA NURSE AS AN EMPLOYEE
   
INTRODUCTION
    OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT
            Information available to the public
            Employee rights
   
DISCRIMINATION
            Sexual harassment discrimination 
                       
Federal law
                        Nevada law
            Age discrimination 
                       
Procedures for filing an ADEA complaint
            Disability discrimination
                        Filing procedures
   
FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE
    ON THE JOB INJURIES
    REFUSING AN ASSIGNMENT
    LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES
    EMPLOYMENT TERMINATION