Welcome to the Texas Board of Nursing

Practice - Nursing Practice

General Nursing Practice Information

Board staff members receive phone calls and e-mails on a regular basis regarding practice issues and questions. This section of the BON web site contains information on many topics of concern or confusion for LVNs, RNs, and those who work with licensed nurses in Texas.

If you do not locate the information you need, e-mail the Board at: webmaster@bon.texas.gov for additional information.

Topics
Information
NCSBN Opioid Toolkit NCSBN Opiod Toolkit
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse APRN General Page
Advocacy Patient Advocacy (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2010, Page 14)
Alternative & Complementary Therapies Position Statement 15.23 – The RNs Use of Complementary Modalities
Position Statement 15.9 – Performance of Laser Therapy by RNs or LVNs
Herbal Therapies (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2001, Page 6)
Assessment RNs performing physicals (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July, 2001, Page 7
Nurses Rounding on Inpatients (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2006, Page 8)
FAQ – LVNs Performing Initial Assessment
Board of Nursing Role/Function of BNE (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2002, Page 5)
Botox BON Quarterly Newsletter (July 2003, Page 7)
Position Statement 15.23, The Use of Complementary Modalities by the LVN or RN
Checklists Checklist in Healthcare (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2013, Page 4)
Compact License See link to Licensure
Communication Professional Communication on Interdisciplinary Teams and a Nurse’s Duty (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2012, Page 5)
Community Based Nursing Services Home Health – GNs, GVNs, and Newly Licensed Nurses Practicing in Home Health Settings
MOU – 2011: Outlines the requirements that will apply to a state-wide pilot program implemented by DADS, and how the program relates to when telephone on-call services may be provided by a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). PDF icon pdf
Confidentiality When Do Nurses Have a Duty to Report Confidential Health Information? (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2013, Page 6)
Continuing Nursing Education Board Rule Chapter 216 – Continuing Competency
BON CNE Offerings: Continuing Nursing Education and Continuing Competency Offerings
Continuing Competency Requirements for Nurses (CNE) – Continuing Competency: Lifelong Learning – Understanding and Adhering to Nursing Continuing Competency Requirements in Texas
Continuing Nursing Education
Forensic Evidence Requirement
Abbreviations in Continuing Nursing Education (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2011, Page 7)
Audit (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2013, Page 1)
Position Statement 15.10, Continuing Education: Limitation for Expanding Scope of Practice
Refresher Courses, Extensive Orientations and Nursing Programs of Study – Frequently Asked Questions on Requirements for Refresher Programs, Extensive Orientations and Nursing Academic Courses
Consensus Model Consensus Model for APRN Regulation
Consent Obtaining Specimens…Against a Patient's Wishes (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2007)
Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) FAQ – Initiation of CPR – A Nurse’s Duty To Initiate
Delegation Rule 224 – Delegation of Nursing Tasks by Registered Professional Nurses to Unlicensed Personnel for Clients with Acute Conditions or in Acute Care Environments
Rule 225 – RN Delegation to Unlicensed Personnel and Tasks Not Requiring Delegation in Independent Living Environments for Clients with Stable and Predictable Conditions
Delegation Resource Packet
Paramedics/EMTs in the Emergency Department (ED)
Delegation versus Assignment (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2011, Page 5)
RN Delegation in the Independent Living Environment (BON Quarterly Newsletter July 2013, Page 5)
FAQ – Delegation and the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
EMTs/Paramedics in ER Settings (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2003)
Memorandum of Understanding Cooperative Agreement between the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas & the Department of Aging and Disability Services
DMM - Scope of Practice Decision-Making Model Scope of Practice Decision-Making Model (DMM)
Scope of Practice Decision-Making Model (DMM) Poster
Designated Agent (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2004, page 6)
Discipline Investigation/Disciplinary Action Process of BNE (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2001)
Imposter Warnings: Who is an Imposter (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2010, Page 6)
Fitness to Practice: Impact of Mental Health Conditions and Criminal Background on Nurse Licensure (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2006, Page 7)
Temporary Suspensions (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2001)
Documentation Co-signature on Documentation relating to Graduate Nurses and Graduate Vocational Nurses
Co-signature on LVN Actions/Documentation
Checklists in Healthcare (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2013, Page 4)
Drug Use / Substance Abuse By Nurses Nurse Admitted as Patient Under the Influence
Eligibility and Disciplinary Sanctions for Nurses with Substance Abuse, Misuse, Substance Dependency, or other Substance Use Disorder PDF icon pdf
Information Regarding Substance Abuse and Misuse of Certain Prescription Drugs: Health Professionals resources on the appropriate use of pain medication as well as the misuse and diversion of addictive medication
See also TPAPN and their website
Duty to a Patient Position Statement 15.14, Nurses Duty to a Patient in Any Setting
Duty to Your Patient (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2001)
FAQ – Initiation of CPR – A Nurse’s Duty To Initiate
Education Position Statement 15.4, Educational Mobility
Position Statement 15.16, Development of Nursing Education Programs
Position Statement 15.26, Simulation in Prelicensure Nursing Education
See also Nursing Education Information
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) FAQs – Nurse's Role with the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act
Employment Issues Proposed Nursing Work Hours Position Statement – The Texas Board of Nursing's (BON) Nursing Practice Advisory Committee (NPAC) initiated an online survey concerning nursing work hours which was conducted on the BON web site. The survey was developed in response to research done by the Institute of Medicine which showed that working shifts longer than 12.5 hours per day and more than 60 hours per week may cause increased incidence of nursing errors and diminished patient safety.

A public hearing was held to solicit further public feedback concerning nursing work hours on April 18, 2007. Feedback obtained from the public hearing, as well as from the BON survey data, was considered by the Board concerning adoption of a proposed position statement (included in the January, 2007, Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin) relating to nursing work hours. The Board voted to send the proposed position statement back to the NPAC for further consideration. The linked document below was taken from the April 2007 Texas Board of Nursing's Bulletin (web version).
Nursing Work Hours Summary Document PDF icon pdf
Floating
Overtime, Hours of Work
Staffing Ratios
BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2005, Page 5
Consecutive Hours Worked (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2001)
Staffing Rules (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2002, Page )
Overworked Staff Nurse (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2005, Page 5)
Understaffing, Floating, Overtime, Patient Abandonment (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2002)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Feeding Tubes Position Statement 15.24, Nurses Engaging in Reinsertion of Permanently Placed Feeding Tubes
Forensic FAQ – Forensic Evidence Collection
Guidelines Rules and Guidelines Governing the Graduate Vocational and Registered Nurse Candidates or Newly Licensed Vocational or Registered Nurse
Guidelines for Transitioning of the Experienced Nurse either back into clinical practice or into a new practice setting
Graduate Vocational Nurse and/or Graduate Nurse Rule 217.3 – Temporary Authorization to Practice/Temporary Permit
Rules & Guidelines Governing the Graduate Registered Nurse and the Newly Licensed Registered Nurse
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) When Do Nurses Have a Duty to Report Confidential Health Information (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2013, Page 6)
IV Therapy Is IV Therapy Within an LVN’s Scope of Practice? (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2013, Page 4)
Position Statement 15.3, LVNs Engaging in Intravenous Therapy, Venipuncture, or PICC Lines
Laser Position Statement 15.9, Performance of Laser Therapy by RNs or LVNs
Legislative Summary Note – A Legislative Summary is available in the October issues of BON Quarterly Newsletters published in odd years (i.e., 2009, 2011, 2013)
Licensed Vocational Nurse Practice Licensed Vocational Nurse General Page
Licensure Copying a Nursing License
Rule 220 – Nurse Licensure Compact
When the Profession is Nursing and the Title is Doctor (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2011, Page 4)
Does Your Birthday Remind You of Your Nursing License? (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2012, Page 2)
Nurse Licensure Compact (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2011, Page 4)
Medication Medication Reconciliation (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2006, Page 6)
Minimizing Disruptions in Medication Administration (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2010, Page 5)
Rights of Medication Administration (8) (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2007, Page 7)
Rights of Medication Administration (5) (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2001, Page 2)
Drug Errors (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2008, Page 6)
Medication Administration Issue: Promethazine (Phenergan) (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2010, Page 5)
Off-Label Administration of Ketamine for Pain Management by a Nurse (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2012, Page 5)
Texas Pill Mill Clinics and Prescription Drug Abuse (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2012, Page 4)
Prescription Pain Medication Usage by the Practicing Nurse (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2007, Page 4)
Heparin Label Alert and CDC Health Advisory Related to Synthetic Opioid Overdose (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2013, Page 5)
Position Statement 15.17, Texas Board of Nursing/Board of Pharmacy, Joint Position Statement, Medication Error
Position Statement 15.7, The Role of LVNs and RNs in Management and/or Administration of Medications via Epidural or Intrathecal Catheter Routes
Position Statement 15.19, Nurses Carrying Out Orders from Pharmacists for Drug Therapy Management
Position Statement 15.25, Administration of Medication & Treatments by LVNs
Military Are you asking this very important question about your patient’s military service?
Moderate (Conscious) Sedation Position Statement 15.8 – The Role of the Nurse in Moderate Sedation
Conscious Sedation (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2004)
FAQ – Off Label Administration of Ketamine for Pain Management by a Nurse
Nurse The title "Nurse" (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2002)
GNs. GVNs, New Nurse – Independent Settings (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2006)
Does the Board of Nursing (BON) have any recommendations for newly licensed LVNs or RNs as they begin nursing practice? (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2012, Page 4)
Nurse Extern Program (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2002)
Position Statement 15.15, Board's Jurisdiction Over a Nurse’s Practice in Any Role and Use of the Nursing Title
Position Statement 15.27, The Licensed Vocation Nurse Scope of Practice
Position Statement 15.28, The Registered Nurse Scope of Practice
FAQ – Regarding Position Statement 15.27, The LVN Scope of Practice and Position Statement 15.28, The Registered Nurse Scope of Practice
Nursing Peer Review Rule 217.16 – Minor Incidents
Rule 217.19 – Incident-Based Nursing Peer Review and Whistleblower Protections
Rule 217.20 – Safe Harbor Nursing Peer Review and Whistleblower Protections
Safe Harbor Nursing Peer Review Information and Forms
Peer Review Frequently Asked Questions
Peer Review Committees: Sending Information to the Board of Nursing (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2010, Page 1)
Safe Harbor for LVNs (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2004)
Nursing Practice Act Current Nursing Practice Act (NPA)
Nursing Process Rule 217.11 – Standards of Nursing Practice
Physician Orders Patient Safety with Verbal Orders (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2007, Page 14)
Physician Orders from Out of State Physicians (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2002)
Position Statement 15.1, Nurses Carrying Out Orders From Physician’s Assistants
Position Statement 15.5, Nurses with Responsibility for Initiating Physician Standing Orders
Position Statement 15.11, Delegated Medication Acts
Position Statement 15.12, Use of American Psychiatric Association Diagnoses by LVNs, RNs, or APRNs
Position Statement 15.18, Nurses Carrying out Orders from Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Position Statements Position Statements
Position Statements (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2005)
Update on 2013 changes (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2013, Page 5)
Prescription Drug Monitoring Updates on Prescribing Controlled Substances
Professional Boundaries Position Statement 15.29, Use of Social Media
Social Media: How Nurses Can Protect Their Patients’ Privacy (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2011, Page 6)
ANA and NCSBN Unite to Provide Guidelines on Social Media and Networking for Nurses (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October, 2011, Page 9)
Excerpts from NCSBN's White Paper Assist Nurses in Avoiding Trouble Using Social Media (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2011, Page 10)
Maintaining Professional Boundaries (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2008, Page 4)
Boundary Violations via the Internet (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2010, Page 6)
Establishing Professional Boundaries in the Community (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2011, Page 4)
Maintaining Patient Confidentiality – Social Media Case Scenarios (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2012, Page 4)
Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) or Surgical Nurse Nursing Practice Act, Section 301.354
Rule 217.18 – Registered Nurse First Assistants
Rules Board Rules and Regulations
New Combined Standards Rule 217.11 and 217.12 (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2004, Page 4)
School Nurse School Nurse Quick Card Review PDF icon pdf
School Nurse With Unlicensed Diabetes Care Assistants (UDCAs)
Position Statement 15.13 Role of the LVNs & RNs As School Nurses
Herbals (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2001, Page 6)
Out of State Physician (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2002, Page 9)
Question/Answer (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2006, Page 4)
FAQ – Role of the School Nurse with Unlicensed Diabetes Care Assistance
Pronouncement of Death Pronouncement of Death by Registered Nurse (with/without Life Support)
Texas Statute re: Pronouncement of Death
Position Statement 15.20 – Nurses in the Management of an Unwitnessed Arrest in a Resident in a Long Term Care Facility
Position Statement 15.2, The Role of the Licensed Vocation Nurse in Pronouncement of Death
Registered Nurse Practice Registered Nurse General Page
Safe Harbor Link to NURSING PEER REVIEW
Scope of Practice Scope of Practice
Social Media See Professional Boundaries
Substance Abuse See Drug Use by Nurses
Staffing See Employment Issues
Telenursing FAQ – BON Rules and Regulations Relating to Telenursing and Telehealth
Taxonomy of Error Root Cause Analysis (TERCAP) Taxonomy of Error, Root Cause Analysis, and Practice-responsibility (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2009)
Taxonomy of Error, Root Cause Analysis, and Practice-responsibility (BON Quarterly Newsletter, October 2009)
Texas TERCAP® Pilot Program Set to Start in August – Peer Review Committee Participation Sought (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2012, Page 1)  
Texas Administrative Code Texas Administrative code
Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) Employers of TPAPN Nurses: What Partners in Recovery Should Know (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2012, Page 4)
What is TPAPN (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2002, Page 13)
TPAPN Offers Extraordinary Volunteer Opportunity (BON Quarterly Newsletter, April 2011, Page 5)
Prescription Pain Medication Usage by the Practicing Nurse (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2007, Page 4)
Extended Evaluation Program (EEP) (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2008, Page 6)
Extended Evaluation Program: FAQs (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2011, Page 6)
TPAPN Advocates: Assisting Nurses in their Darkest – and Brightest Hours (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2013, Page 6)
Advocates (BON Quarterly Newsletter, July 2002, Page 13)
Triage FAQ – LVNs Performing Triage/Telephonic Nursing/Being On-Call
Unlicensed Personnel EMTs/Paramedics in ER Settings (BON Quarterly Newsletter, January 2003)
Unprofessional Conduct Rule 217.12 – Unprofessional Conduct
Disciplinary Sanction Policies
Volunteer-Retired Nurse Volunteer Retired Nurse – FAQs
Vaccinations FAQ – 2009 H1N1 Influenza, Seasonal Influenza, and Pneumococcal Vaccinations