Florida Nurse Rules and Laws

About this course

The Florida Board of Nursing is a regulatory body that ensures individuals are qualified to practice nursing in the State of Florida through verification of education, discipline, licensure, and rehabilitation. Nurses who are licensed in the state of Florida are held to a minimal practice standard of providing safe, culturally competent care to all patients in a variety of healthcare settings. This learning topic provides an overview of Chapter 464 of the Florida Nurse Practice Act as described in the Florida statutes, as it is the responsibility of the nurse who provides care in Florida to know the rules and laws as they relate to healthcare in the state.

Learning objectives

• Describe the process for nursing licensure in Florida
• Identify the various specialties and classifications of the Florida nurse
• Describe the purpose and functions of the Nurse Practice Act of Florida

Course outline

41 sections · finish in any order across devices

1. 1

   Introduction

   Healthcare providers have certain ethical and legal obligations related to healthcare delivery. Ethical dilemmas arise regarding palliative care, organ procurement, religious beliefs, cultural considerations, assisted suicide, informed consent, and the disclosure of medical conditions. The American

   4 min

2. 2

   Part I of the Nurse Practice Act

   The Nurse Practice Act of Florida includes Part I Nurse Practice Act, and Part 2 Certified Nursing Assistants. ⁴ Part I Nurse Practice Act ensures minimum requirements for safe practice are met. It further stipulates that nurse professionals who fall below minimum competency or present a danger to t

   4 min

3. 3

   Nurse Practice Act Section 464.003 Legal Definitions

   Accredited Program

   4 min

4. 4

   Nurse Practice Act Section 464.004: Board of Nursing Information

   The Board of Nursing is created within the Department of Health department of health and consists of 13 members that are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Of the 13 members of the board who are confirmed by the Senate, seven members must be registered nurses who reside in Florid

   7 min

5. 5

   Article I Findings and Declaration of Purpose

   The party states find that:

   4 min

6. 6

   Article II Definitions

   Adverse action

   4 min

7. 7

   Article III General Provisions and Jurisdiction

   A multistate license to practice registered or licensed practical/vocational nursing that was issued by a home state will be recognized by each party state participating in compact. Also, each party state must have procedures in place for considering the criminal history of applicants for initial mu

   4 min

8. 8

   Article IV Applications for Licensure in a Party State

   The licensing board in the issuing party state will determine if the person applying has ever held or currently holds a license issued by another state. This verification includes the identification of restrictions or participation in an alternative program.

   4 min

9. 9

   Article V Additional Authority Vested in Party State Licensing Boards

   A licensing board or state agency may take adverse action against a multistate licensure privilege to practice within that state, which includes issuing investigations, subpoenas, or cease and desist orders. Although action may be taken against a multistate license, only a home state has the authori

   4 min

10. 10

    Article XI Construction and Severability

    A party state can leave the compact if the provisions are deemed unconstitutional in any party state or of the United States.

    4 min

11. 11

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.013: Renewal of License or Certificate

    The Department of Health will renew a license or certificate after it receives an application and the appropriate fees, and after 30 hours of continuing education, which includes a 2-hour continuing education course on human trafficking. The continuing education must be completed biennially and ARNP

    4 min

12. 12

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.014: Inactive Status

    The Department of Health may not reactivate a license unless the delinquent or inactive unless all fees are paid any applicable biennial continuing education requirements are completed.

    4 min

13. 13

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.016: Violations and Penalties

    Each of the following acts constitutes a felony of the third degree, punishable by law:

    4 min

14. 14

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.018: Disciplinary Actions

    The following acts constitute grounds for denial of a license or disciplinary action.

    4 min

15. 15

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.022: Exceptions

    No provision of this part should be understood understo0d to prevent:

    4 min

16. 16

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.027: Registered Nurse First Assistant

    This policy encourages the use of registered nurse first assistants who meet the qualifications as surgery assistants by physicians and hospitals to provide quality, cost-effective surgical interventions those in need of health care in the State of Florida. This title includes perioperative nursing;

    4 min

17. 17

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.201: Definitions

    Approved Training Programs

    4 min

18. 18

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.202: Duties and Powers of the Board

    The Board of Nursing board of nursing maintains a state registry of certified nursing assistants that is accessible to the public, the certificate holder, employers, and additional state agencies. The board of nursing adopts rules for testing procedures to certify nursing assistants and rules that r

    4 min

19. 19

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.206: Exemption from Liability

    An employer will not be civilly liable if it terminates employment of a certified nursing assistant whose certification is inactive or whose name appears on a criminal screening report of the Department of Law Enforcement. No action may not be taken against the employer for damages, regardless of wh

    4 min

20. 20

    Nurse Practice Act Section 464.207: Penalties

    It is a misdemeanor of the first degree punishable by law, if an individual knowingly fails to disclose through false statements, misrepresentation, impersonation, or any other fraudulent means, an application for employment or certification.

    4 min

21. 21

    456.001 Definitions

    Board

    4 min

22. 22

    Nurse Practice Act Section 456.004: Department Powers and Duties

    The purpose of this subsection is to promote the public policy of the state of Florida relating to child support and work cooperatively with the Department of Revenue to establish an automated method for periodically disclosing information relating to current licensees to the Department of Revenue,

    4 min

23. 23

    Nurse Practice Act Section 456.017: Examinations

    For each examination developed or administered by the department or a contracted vendor, an accurate record of each applicant’s examination questions, answers, papers, grades, and grading key kept for a period of not less than two years immediately following the examination, and record must be maint

    4 min

24. 24

    Nurse Practice Act 456.019: Restriction on Requirement of Citizenship

    An individual will not be disqualified from practicing an occupation or profession regulated by the state solely because they are not a United States citizen.

    4 min

25. 25

    Nurse Practice Act 456.025: Fees, Receipts, and Disposition

    The costs of regulating health care professions and practitioners are the responsibility of licensees and licensure applicants; however, fees should be reasonable and not serve as a barrier to licensure. If a duplicate license is required or requested by the licensee, there may be a fee associated w

    4 min

26. 26

    Nurse Practice Act 456.032: Hepatitis B or HIV Carriers

    The department and each appropriate board within the Division of Medical Quality Assurance will have the authority to establish procedures to handle, counsel, and provide other services to healthcare professionals with hepatitis B or human immunodeficiency virus. Also, any person who is licensed by

    4 min

27. 27

    Nurse Practice Act 456.0575: Duty to Notify Patients

    Every licensed healthcare provider must inform each patient about adverse incidents that result in serious harm. Notification of outcomes of care that result in injury to the patient under this section does not constitute an acknowledgment of admission of liability.

    4 min

28. 28

    64B9-2.022 Clinical Training

    Clinical learning experiences must be in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States. The experiences must consist of activities that include observation, hands-on experience with patients, and interaction with an interprofessional team, and must also include exp

    4 min

29. 29

    64B9-3.002 Qualifications for Examination

    An applicant seeking certification to take the licensure examination must submit a completed Nursing Licensure by Examination Application demonstrating that they meet the qualifications prescribed by the Nurse Practice Act, Chapter 464. Qualifications include a high school diploma or an equivalent o

    4 min

30. 30

    64B9-3.008 Licensure by Endorsement

    Anyone applying for licensure by endorsement must submit a completed Nursing Licensure by Endorsement Application, verification of licensure forms from the original state or territory in which licensure obtained and from a territory or state in which the person applying holds an active license and p

    4 min

31. 31

    64B9-5.002 Continuing Education Requirement

    During each 2-year period one contact hour must be earned for each calendar month of the licensure. Anyone licensed by examination within a 2-year period is exempt from the continuing education requirement for that biennium. This exemption applies to anyone who is licensed by endorsement during the

    4 min

32. 32

    64B9-8.005 Unprofessional Conduct

    Unprofessional conduct includes:

    4 min

33. 33

    64B9-4.004 Requirements for Documentation

    A Registered Nurse applying for initial certification as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner must complete an application and the following: submit proof of satisfactory completion of an educational program, which consists of an official copy of transcripts that denotes successful completion o

    4 min

34. 34

    64B9-8.003 Citations

    “Citation” means an instrument that is served upon a licensee for the purpose of assessing a penalty in an amount established by this rule.

    4 min

35. 35

    64B9-15.008 Testing and Competency Evaluation

    The Certified Nursing Assistant Examination must consist of the Written Exam and a Clinical Skills Test. Both the Written Exam and the Clinical Skills Test must be passed within a two-year period to achieve certification. Results on either the Written Exam or the Clinical Skills Test which are over

    4 min

36. 36

    64B9-15.0097 Notice of Non-Compliance – Minor Violations

    The Board designates the following as minor violations for which a Notice of Non-Compliance may be issued for the first violation:

    4 min

37. 37

    64B9-4.0025 Provisional Certification

    Before certification by the appropriate professional or national nursing specialty board, applicants for certification as certified registered nurse anesthetists, psychiatric nurses, or certified nurse-midwives may apply for provisional state certification. Each applicant for provisional state certi

    4 min

38. 38

    64B9-15.0096 Mediation

    The Board finds that mediation is an acceptable resolution for the first instance of the following violations:

    4 min

39. 39

    Conclusion

    Laws are dynamic, amended and enacted as the legislative need arises. A healthcare provider who is licensed in Florida must be versed in current practice standards and rules outlined in the Florida Nurse Practice Act; a scope of practice that is defined, and has a framework that is set for the deleg

    4 min

40. 40

    Florida Nurse Laws and Rules Posttest

    A licensee by endorsement must complete a Florida laws and rules course within 1 year of initial licensure.

    4 min

41. 41

    Florida Nurse Laws and Rules Posttest Answers

    A licensee by endorsement must complete a Florida laws and rules course within 1 year of initial licensure.

    6 min

This course satisfies

Requirement summaries come from our state requirement records. Always confirm details with your board before you renew.

References and resources

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