Prepare A Two To Three Page Written Assignment That I 141927 ✓ Solved

Prepare a two to three page written assignment that includes

Prepare a two to three page written assignment that includes: Introduction to the assignment (sections; roles of the nurse, scope of practice, compare and contrast scope of practice). Describe the roles of the nurse for the program you are currently enrolled in. Identify the scope of practice for the nurse in the state where you intend to practice. Using the Nurse Practice Act for the state where you intend to practice, compare and contrast the scope of practice for the LPN and RN. Conclusion: reflect on the assignment including how you will use the scope of practice to support your role. Use at least two credible resources and include at least two in-text citations. Use APA format.

Paper For Above Instructions

Introduction

This paper addresses the required sections: an overview of the assignment; roles of the nurse within my current nursing program (Associate Degree in Nursing); identification of the scope of practice for nurses in Texas (the state where I intend to practice); a compare-and-contrast analysis of LPN and RN scopes using the Texas Nurse Practice Act and Board of Nursing guidance; and a concluding reflection on how I will apply scope-of-practice rules to support my professional role. Understanding scope of practice is essential for safe, legal, and ethical nursing practice and for the formation of professional identity (Larson et al., 2013).

Roles of the Nurse in My Current Program

In the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, the role of the nurse is taught as multifaceted: provider of direct patient care, patient educator, care coordinator, advocate, and member of an interprofessional team (Potter et al., 2017). Students learn clinical assessment, medication administration, care planning, delegation principles, and documentation. The ADN role emphasizes clinical competence in acute and community settings, prioritization and time management, and basic leadership and delegation skills that prepare graduates for entry-level RN practice (AACN, 2021).

Scope of Practice in the State Where I Intend to Practice (Texas)

Texas defines nursing scope of practice through the Texas Nursing Practice Act, statutes, and Board of Nursing rules and interpretive statements. The Texas Board of Nursing specifies that registered nurses (RNs) assess patients, develop and modify nursing care plans, implement and evaluate nursing care, and delegate tasks appropriately. RNs are accountable for the nursing care delivered and for making nursing judgments based on assessment and clinical data (Texas Board of Nursing, 2023). The Board allows practical nurses (LPNs/LVNs) to provide selected nursing care under the direction of an RN, APRN, dentist, physician, or other authorized practitioner, with the scope determined by education, training, competency, and employer policies (Texas Board of Nursing, 2023).

Compare and Contrast: LPN vs RN Scope Using the Nurse Practice Act

Education and preparation: RNs graduate from ADN or BSN programs and are prepared for comprehensive assessment, clinical judgment, care planning, and leadership. LPNs complete diploma or certificate programs with emphasis on technical skill and basic care (Potter et al., 2017).

Assessment and clinical judgment: RNs perform initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments and use data to formulate nursing diagnoses and complex clinical judgments. RNs independently initiate nursing interventions and revise care plans. LPNs perform focused assessments and provide care based on established plans, reporting significant findings to RNs or prescribers (Texas Board of Nursing, 2023; NCSBN, 2016).

Care planning and delegation: RNs are responsible for developing and modifying nursing care plans and for delegating tasks to LPNs, UAPs, and others using principles of right task, circumstance, person, direction/communication, supervision/evaluation (Texas Board of Nursing, 2023). LPNs implement components of care and may contribute to care planning within the limits of their training but typically do not assume full care-planning responsibility (NCSBN, 2016).

Medication administration and technical skills: RNs often have broader authority to administer medications including certain IV therapies and to titrate medications as ordered, depending on state rules and institutional policies. LPNs may administer oral and many parenteral medications and in some settings may provide IV therapy following specialized education and employer competency validation, but their authority varies and is often more limited than RNs (NCSBN, 2018; Texas Board of Nursing, 2023).

Leadership and autonomy: RNs exercise greater autonomy and accountability for clinical decisions, delegation, supervision, and coordination of care. LPNs function under varying degrees of supervision and direction and are accountable for their own practice while deferring complex clinical decisions to RNs or providers (IOM, 2011).

Legal accountability: Both RNs and LPNs are legally accountable for practicing within their education, training, and the Nurse Practice Act. Practicing beyond one’s scope can result in disciplinary action from the Board of Nursing. The Nurse Practice Act establishes role boundaries, but employer policies and established protocols further specify permissible activities (Texas Board of Nursing, 2023; NCSBN, 2018).

Conclusion and Reflection

Understanding the distinctions between RN and LPN scopes of practice, as codified by the Texas Nurse Practice Act and Board of Nursing guidance, is central to safe and ethical practice. As an ADN student preparing for RN licensure, I will use scope-of-practice rules to guide clinical decision-making, to know when to escalate concerns, and to delegate appropriately. I will maintain competence through continuing education and adhere to employer policies and state rules. Recognizing the boundaries of my role will protect patients and my professional license and will support collaborative, high-quality care (ANA, 2015; Larson et al., 2013).

Integrating statutory guidance, national model acts, and evidence-based educational standards ensures that practice remains patient-centered and legally defensible. I will reference the Texas Board of Nursing rules and national guidance (NCSBN, AACN) regularly to support safe delegation, documentation, and ongoing professional development.

References

• American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org
• AACN. (2021). The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. https://www.aacnnursing.org
• Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The National Academies Press. https://www.nap.edu
• Larson, J., Brady, N., Engelmann, L., Perkins, B., & Shultz, C. (2013). The formation of professional identity in nursing. Nursing Education Perspectives, 34(2), 138–143.
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). (2016). Differentiated Essential Competencies and Scope for Practical and Registered Nursing. NCSBN. https://www.ncsbn.org
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). (2018). Model Nursing Practice Act and Model Nursing Administrative Rules. NCSBN. https://www.ncsbn.org
• National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses (NFLPN). (2019). Scope and Standards for Practical/Vocational Nursing Practice. NFLPN. https://www.nflpn.org
• Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. A., & Hall, A. M. (2017). Fundamentals of Nursing (9th ed.). Elsevier.
• Texas Board of Nursing. (2023). Nursing Practice Act, Rules, and Interpretive Statements. Texas Board of Nursing. https://www.bon.texas.gov
• Texas Board of Nursing. (2021). Position Statements and FAQs: Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse Scope of Practice. Texas Board of Nursing. https://www.bon.texas.gov/resources