The healthcare industry is constantly changing to meet patient care demands. As nursing roles become more complex, states are responsible for providing oversight on treatment quality and ensuring their clinicians practice within their legal scope. In Mississippi, the laws that govern the nursing profession are known collectively as the Mississippi Nurse Practice Act.
As a facility administrator, understanding key elements of the Mississippi Nursing Practice Act (NPA) is essential to providing high-quality care. In this article, we'll introduce the Mississippi NPA, review pertinent rules that directly impact your clinicians, and list tips for improving NPA compliance in your organization.
What Is the Mississippi Nurse Practice Act?
LPNs, RNs, and APRNs practicing in Mississippi are required to follow the laws outlined in the state's NPA. These laws establish:
- Mississippi Board of Nursing rules and regulations.
- Minimum care standards that must be met in all healthcare facilities.
- The steps required for maintaining and renewing a Mississippi nursing license.
- Requirements for Mississippi nursing education programs.
- Mississippi Board of Nursing disciplinary actions for NPA violations.
Nurse Practice Act: Mississippi Laws at a Glance
What laws are outlined in the Mississippi Nurse Practice Act and how do they impact a clinician's daily care duties? The table below highlights important elements of the Mississippi NPA, detailing the state's licensure requirements, rules for delegation, and penalties for law violations.
| Mississippi State Nurse Practice Act | |
|---|---|
| Legal Authorities | Mississippi Annotated Code, Title 73, Chapter 15:Article 1, Sections 73-15-1 to 73-15-37Article 5, Sections 73-15-201 and 73-15-202Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 30, Part 2830:Chapters 1 to 3 |
| Mississippi State Nursing Licensure Requirements | According to Mississippi Annotated CodeSection 73-15-19, Mississippi RN licensure applicants must qualify by either passing the NCLEX examination or getting a license endorsed from another state.The steps forNCLEX exam qualificationare as follows:Graduate from a Mississippi approved or accreditednursing education programand submit verified transcripts.Submit an application with theappropriate fees.Complete acriminal background checkand fingerprinting.Register for and pass theNCLEX examination.The steps forendorsement qualificationare as follows:Graduate from a Mississippi BON-approved nursing education program and submit verified transcripts.Submit an application with theappropriate fees.Complete acriminal background checkand fingerprinting.Present a valid license to practice nursing in another state and submit arequest for licensure verification.Note:The Mississippi Board of Nursing may grant a temporary license for nurses who are new to the nursing practice in Mississippi and meet board specifications. This temporary permit is valid for bothnew graduatesandlicensure by endorsementapplicants and allows supervised practice until the nurse is fully qualified.The permit is valid for a single period of up to 90 days. |
| Mississippi Nurse Practice Act Delegation of Nursing Duties | According to Mississippi Administrative CodeRule 2830-1.3nursing professionals are allowed to delegate to unlicensed clinicians when:The delegatee has the educational preparation, experience, knowledge, credentials, competency, and ability to perform the duties.The nurse can supervise the care given by the delegatee and is able to give guidance and assistance when required.The nurse canmaintain accountabilityfor the care and the clinical nursing record. |
| NPA Violations and Penalties | Mississippi Administrative CodeRules 2830-1.1 and 2030-1.2state that the RN is ultimately accountable for the quality of nursing care given to patients. Under these rules, RNs must:Make decisions based on knowledge, competency, and experience.Practice within the legalnursing scope of practice.Be familiar, and compliant with, the Mississippi Board of Nursing practice act rules and regulations.Lead, plan, and execute nursing goals of care.Provide individualized person-centered care that respects the rights and needs of patients.Conduct comprehensive nursing assessments, formulate a nursing diagnosis, and evaluate the success of implemented care according to thenursing process.A breach of the above standards of accountability, along with any violation outlined inSection 73-15-29of the Mississippi Annotated Code could be grounds for disciplinary action. These violations include but are not limited to:Fraudulently obtaining a nursing license.Being convicted of a crime.Acting with willful negligence.Falsifying nursing records.Being addicted to or dependent upon drugs or alcohol.Having a physical, mental, or emotional condition that renders them unable to perform nursing duties or services.Engaging in conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public.Engaging in unprofessional misconduct.Any of the above violations could result in asuspended or revoked nursing license, along with fines, public reprimand, and the possibility of criminal charges. |
| Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State? | Mississippiisinvolved in theNLC compact. Therefore, the Mississippi Nurse Practice Act encompassesrules and guidelinesestablished by the NLC. |
Improving Regulatory Compliance: 3 Tips for Facilities
Now that you're familiar with the laws of Mississippi's Nurse Practice Act, you're probably looking for ways to incorporate these laws into your facility's policies and procedures. Here are three tips to boost your team's NPA compliance.
1. Verify Employee Credentials
Fraudulent nursing practice places your patients — and your hard-earned reputation — at risk. When hiring new employees, you'll want to screen their credentials to ensure they have earned the degree, license, and certification they claim to have earned. In Mississippi, administrators can do this in one of two ways: either on the state's online license verification system or on the national Nursys Quick Confirm License Verification portal.
2. Report Suspected Misconduct
As an administrator, it's your responsibility to ensure that your clinicians are practicing safely and within their legal scope. If you, your clinicians, or your patients witness nurse misconduct, it's imperative to report your concerns straight to the Mississippi Board of Nursing.
3. Promote Shared Governance
It's important to involve bedside clinicians when developing your facility's policies and procedures. Empower your team to become involved in the management of their professional practice by supporting shared governance within your organization.
In shared governance councils, nurses work to educate and empower their coworkers to improve workplace culture and care delivery processes. Nurses can give input to these councils and boost NPA compliance by:
- Developing an NPA staff training program for all newly hired employees.
- Educating clinicians on differences between the Mississippi nurse practitioner scope of practice and that of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
- Investigating instances of misconduct and working to limit similar issues from happening in the future.
Stay Up-to-Date on the Latest Nursing News
Understanding the importance of the Mississippi Nurse Practice Act is the first step to improving your organization's care quality. Worried about missing out on nursing regulatory updates? Our team of clinical and legal experts can do the hard work for you. Discover additional guides, tools, and resources to stay informed on all the latest healthcare trends.
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.