For a newly hired LPN/LVN, which resource is best for understanding what should or should not be done for patients?

• A. Nurse practice act
• B. Standards of care
• C. Scope of nursing practice
• D. Professional organization

Answer: (A)

Understanding what a nurse may or may not do in clinical practice is governed by the nurse practice act. This state law defines licensure requirements, the official scope of practice for LPNs/LVNs, and the consequences for violations. For a newly hired LPN/LVN, this act is the most authoritative resource because it directly establishes the boundaries of permissible actions, licensure protections, and when supervision or escalation is required. It provides the legal framework you must follow in day-to-day patient care.

Standards of care describe the expected level of quality and the usual steps in nursing actions, but they are guidelines rather than the legal rulebook. The scope of nursing practice outlines what activities are generally allowed, yet the nurse practice act is the primary source that defines and enforces those boundaries and the jurisdiction-specific rules behind them. Professional organizations offer ethical codes and practice guidance, but they do not carry the same enforceable legal authority as the nurse practice act.