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•    Nursing practice is governed by legal restrictions and professional standards.
•    What a nurse can do depends on the nurse practice act in the state in which the nurse is licensed.
•    Each state defines what constitutes professional misconduct.
•    The state board of nursing has the authority to impose a penalty for professional misconduct.
•    Penalties include probation, censure, reprimand, suspension or revocation of the license.
•    Standards of nursing practice apply to all nurses in all practice settings.
•    Standards of care are based on facility policy and procedure, nursing education, experience, and publications of professional nursing associations and accrediting groups.
•    To avoid negligence:
o    Know the standard of care
o    Deliver care that meets the standard and follows the facility’s policies and procedures
o    Document care accurately and in a timely manner
•    The only employee of a health care organization who may be the legal witness to the signing of an advance directive is a clinical social worker. It is at the discretion of each health care facility as to whether or not this is done. Always check the policy of your facility. A relative or heir to the estate should never be the witness to the signing of an advance directive.
•    Ethics guide the nurse toward client advocacy and the development of a therapeutic relationship.
•    Ethical dilemmas result from conflicts in values.
•    An effective leader modifies his/her style according to the situational requirements.
•    Final responsibility for any delegated task resides with the RN.
•    The RN must monitor delegated tasks and evaluate the outcomes.