Acquiring a nursing license is an important part of a person’s process toward becoming an employee somewhere in the medical field. All nurses must acquire a license in order to work for a doctor’s office, a hospital or any other medical entity. The license must be valid in order to practice. It can be suspended or revoked after a hearing in front of an administrative board.
The health of the public was protected with the creation of the state Board of Nursing (BON) more than 100 years ago. This entity, regulated by the government, requires nurses to obtain a license in order to practice. The license puts minimum requirements in place that help protect the health and safety of the public. The reason nursing is protected by professional licensure is because it is a profession where the public can be harmed by someone who is incompetent or unprepared for the job.
A local BON is required to review all applications for licenses when submitted. They must review applications filed by recent nursing school graduates, nurses educated internationally and nurses already licensed from other states.
The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is enacted by individual states in an effort to regulate the profession within their jurisdiction. Each individual NPA outlines the requirements for practicing nursing and the requirements for acquiring a license. An NPA will also create the standards for nursing educational programs, discipline, the types of licenses and the type of titles available.
If you have questions about nursing license defense in Sacramento it’s in your best interests to speak with an experienced professional license defense attorney. This is your profession and future at stake.
Source: NCSBN, “What You Need to Know About Nursing Licensure and Boards of Nursing,” accessed Oct. 11, 2017