With over 4 million nursing professionals serving patients nationwide, state laws are essential for regulating and enforcing optimal care standards. In New Jersey, these laws are found in the New Jersey nurse practice act (NPA), which establishes rules that all nursing professionals must follow to keep patients safe and avoid legal risks.
As a facility leader, learning what's in the NPA is an important way to enforce accurate protocols at the institutional level. In this article, we'll outline key components of the New Jersey NPA and offer tips to help you build a better culture of safety and compliance among your staff.
New Jersey Nursing Practice Act at a Glance
State nursing rules and regulations are enforced by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. Practice act provisions in particular outline competency requirements, scope of practice guidelines, delegation authority, and violations for the following levels of nursing:
- Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
- Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
We'll provide an overview of these provisions and links to helpful resources in the table below.
| Nurse Practice Act of New Jersey Summary | |
|---|---|
| Legal Authorities | New Jersey Statutes:Sections 45:11-23 to 45:11-52New Jersey Administrative Code:Title 13, Chapters 37 and 45 |
| Nursing Licensure Requirements | In New Jersey, nurses can obtain an RN or LPN license by examination or endorsement.Steps to receivelicensure by examination:Graduate from an accredited nursing program.Register for and pass the NCLEX exam.Complete a license by examination application throughMyLicense.Submit a background check and fingerprints.Steps to receivelicensure by endorsement:Complete an endorsement application throughMyLicense.Verify licensure throughNURSYS.Submit a background check and fingerprints.Information aboutlicensure renewalscan also be found on the NJ Board of Nursing’s website. |
| Scope of Practice Guidelines | The New Jersey Nurse Practice Act broadly defines the New Jersey scope of practice for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.TheRN scope of practice in NJincludes:Executing medical regimens as prescribed by a physician or dentist.Identifying symptoms and performing therapeutic measures for the effective management and execution of nursing care.Providing health teaching and counseling.TheLPN scope of practice in NJincludes:Performing tasks and responsibilities under the direction of a registered nurse, physician, or dentist.Supporting casefinding and execution of nursing care.Reinforcing patient and family teaching.Nurse practitioners in NJdonothave full practice authority.For further guidance, nursing staff and facility leaders can refer to the board of nursing’s scope of practicedecision-making model. |
| NJ Nurse Practice Act Delegation Rules | RNs have theauthority to delegatenursing tasks to LPNs or ancillary nursing personnel. When delegating tasks, the RN must:Take full responsibility for the nature and quality of nursing care.Determine whether the delegatee has the proper licensure, training, and education required to carry out the task.Determine the degree of supervision needed for the delegatee.Ensure that the task is consistent with standards of practice.The board of nursing has also created adelegation modelthat staff can use to inform their delegation decisions. |
| Violations and Penalties | Examples ofviolations of the NPAand related regulations include:Practicing nursing without a valid license.Representing a nurse or using nursing titles without a license.Obtaining a fraudulent nursing license or degree.Individuals can face a penalty of up to $200 for each violation of the NPA, and up to $500 for each subsequent offense. Other disciplinary actions (e.g., licensure suspension) can also be applied by the board. |
| Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State? | New Jerseyispart of the NLC, meaning that nurses within the state can practice according to therules and guidelinesestablished by the NLC. |
Improving NPA Compliance: 3 Tips for Facilities
Now that you've gotten an overview of the New Jersey Nurse Practice Act, you may be wondering how to apply these provisions to the practices at your facility. Here are three tips to help you promote staff compliance.
1. Optimize Your Staff Credentialing Process
Practicing without a valid license is a serious violation of the Nurse Practice Act. New Jersey facility leaders should take steps to ensure that both new hires and current staff are fully credentialed.
When hiring, take the time to verify all licenses and watch out for resume red flags. You should also send out regular licensure renewal reminders to ensure that staff are actively maintaining their competencies and credentials.
2. Understand the Requirements of the NLC
As a compact state, the NJ board of nursing regulations allow facilities to employ out-of-state nurses. However, these nurses must hold an appropriate multi-state license, so it's important to verify that your out-of-state hires are eligible to work for you.
You can see the full list of compact states on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's (NCSBN) website. Additionally, you can sign up for the NURSYS e-Notify system, which can alert you if any nurses that you're hiring from across the U.S. have faced disciplinary action in the past.
3. Stay Informed of National Nursing Standards and Practices
While the New Jersey Nurse Practice Act largely influences how nurses practice within the state, facility leaders should also stay informed of national standards. The NCSBN regularly publishes and updates guidelines that apply to nursing professionals across the U.S. The following toolkits and frameworks are informed by the latest nursing laws and evidence-based research:
- National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation
- Scope of Nursing Practice Decision-Making Framework
- APRN Consensus Model Toolkit
Get More Tips on Maintaining Compliance
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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.