Nursing is a dynamic profession that continues to expand alongside the increasing demand for patient care. To keep up with emerging roles and duties, each state is responsible for enacting laws to govern and regulate nursing practice. In Illinois, Nurse Practice Act (NPA) provisions help protect patients by establishing standards that promote safe and competent nursing care.
As a facility leader, it's important to familiarize yourself with the NPA to help enforce appropriate practice protocols for your staff. We'll provide an overview of the Illinois Nursing Practice Act and provide tips on how these rules can be applied to better promote a culture of safety.
What Is the Illinois Nurse Practice Act?
LPNs, RNs, and APRNs are required to follow the rules and regulations outlined in the Illinois Nurse Practice Act. The NPA is maintained and enforced by the state's board of nursing and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). These provisions define and establish several key aspects of nursing practice, such as:
- Guidelines on the nursing scope of practice.
- Board of nursing appointments and duties.
- Licensure and certification requirements.
- Administration and enforcement rules.
- Criminal violations and disciplinary procedures.
There are also unique Illinois Nurse Practice Actrules that govern the state's Nursing Workforce Center. The table below provides a more detailed summary of NPA provisions that are most relevant to your nursing staff.
| Illinois Nurse Practice Act: Summary of Key Elements | |
|---|---|
| Legal Authorities | 225 Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) 65Sections 50-80Illinois Administrative Code, Title 68, Chapter VIISections 1300.10-1300.680 |
| Illinois State Nursing Licensure Requirements | To obtain a Registered Nurse (RN) license in Illinois, applicants must either pass theNCLEX examination or receive an endorsementif they’re transferring an existing license from another state.The steps for licensureby examinationare as follows:Graduate from an accredited nursing program.Submit all applicationforms and feesto the IDFPR.Register for and pass theNCLEX exam.Complete acriminal background check.The steps for licensureby endorsementare as follows:Submit all application forms and fees to the IDFPR.Submit record of licensure viaNURSYSor theIDFPR.Submit proof of attending an accredited nursing program/transcripts.Complete a background check.Illinois licenses can be renewed online through theIDFPR’s website. |
| Illinois Nurse Practice Act Scope of Practice Guidelines | Pursuant toSection 60-30of the NPA, the RN scope of nursing practice is broadly defined as the:Protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities.Prevention of illness and injury.Coordination of care.Development and implementation of the nursing plan of care.Facilitation of nursing interventions to alleviate suffering.Advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.The Illinois LPN scope of practice and APRN scope of practice are outlined in the following respective sections:Section 55-5: Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)Section 65-5: Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) |
| Illinois Nurse Practice Act Delegation of Duties | According toSection 50-75of the Nurse Practice Act, Illinois RNsCANdelegate:Nursing interventions to other registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses, and other unlicensed personnel based on nursing assessment.Medication administration to other registered nurses.Medication administration (limited to oral or subcutaneous dosage and topical or transdermal application) to unlicensed personnel in community-based or in-home care settings.Care coordination in school and in-home care settings in person or by telecommunication/electronic communication.Illinois RNsCANNOTdelegate:Medication administration to unlicensed personnel in any institutional or long-term facility, unless otherwise specified by law.Nursing judgment, the comprehensive patient assessment, the development of a plan of care, and the evaluation of care to licensed or unlicensed personnel.Additionally, no individual or facility may force an RN to carry out tasks that are inappropriate or fall outside of their scope of practice. Licensed practical nurses and unlicensed personnel also can’t re-delegate any tasks delegated by an RN. |
| Relevant Penalties | Pursuant toSection 65-55, the NPA specifically prohibits:Individuals from practicing, offering to practice, or attempting to practice without having a license.APRNs from accepting payments from third parties in full if it gives the impression of eliminating payments from patients, such as deductibles or copays.UnderSection 70-150, penalties under the NPA can constitute a:Class A misdemeanor (maximum of up to 364 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500)Class 4 felony (maximum of up to three years in jail and/or a fine of up to $25,000) for subsequent offenses.UnderSection 70-5, nursing professionals can also face disciplinary action related to their license which can include:RevocationSuspensionProbationRefusal to issue/renewFormal reprimandFines of up to $10,000 per violation |
| Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State? | Illinoisis notcurrently part of the NLC, meaning that:Illinois nurses must obtain additional licensure to practice out-of-state.Nursing professionals from other statescan’t practice in Illinoiswithout applying for endorsement. |
Improving NPA Compliance: 3 Tips for Facilities
Now that you know what's outlined in the Illinois Nursing Practice Act, you're probably wondering what steps you can take to promote compliance at your facility. Here are three ways that you can help your nursing staff stay within their scope of practice and keep patients safe.
1. Stay Informed Through the Nursing Workforce Center (NWC)
The Nursing Workforce Center is a valuable resource that is unique to Illinois. The NWC is overseen by an advisory board of nursing professionals who work to analyze and promote strategies to improve nursing care delivery across the state. Facility leaders can visit the NWC's online newsroom for timely updates about the NPA and other credentialing/licensing requirements pertinent to their staff.
2. Verify Staff Credentials
To protect your facility and patients from unqualified nurses, it's important to verify all licenses, certifications, and educational histories of the staff that you're hiring. You should verify that a candidate has an active nursing license through the Illinois License portal and stay alert for other resume red flags, such as suspicious educational backgrounds.
Ongoing verification measures are also necessary to ensure that your current staff are complying with all practice regulations. Since nursing licenses have an expiration date, you should track renewal timeframes and regularly remind your staff to renew and re-submit proof of licensure so that they can legally continue working in their roles.
3. Provide Regular Staff Training
While your nursing staff make individual efforts to keep up with practice standards, your facility is responsible for enforcing protocols that align with the Illinois Nurse Practice Act. Nurse practitioners, RNs, and LPNs should be provided annual training that reflects the latest rules surrounding the delegation of tasks or daily nursing duties. This can help ensure that your staff aren't doing anything that might compromise patient safety.
Discover More Ways to Support Staff Compliance
Beyond the Illinois Nurse Practice Act, there are many other regulations that can impact nursing practice. Want to stay informed on the latest updates? Get all the latest healthcare news and guides from Credenza's team of healthcare experts.
Legal Disclaimer: This article contains general legal information, but it is not intended to constitute professional legal advice for any particular situation and should not be relied on as professional legal advice. Any references to the law may not be current, as laws regularly change through updates in legislation, regulation, and case law at the federal and state level. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.