Which statement describes the nurse's obligation under the nurse practice act?

• A. To follow physician's orders without question
• B. To know and adhere to the act that governs their practice
• C. To manage hospital budgeting
• D. To diagnose diseases independently

Answer: (B)

Under the nurse practice act, nurses are legally required to know and follow the rules that govern their practice. These acts set the scope of nursing, establish licensure requirements, and describe professional conduct. That makes knowing and adhering to the act the foundation of safe, competent practice and accountability to the public. The obligation isn’t to follow every physician order without question; nurses use professional judgment and advocate for patient safety, and orders outside their scope or unsafe should be clarified. Budgeting is not a nursing responsibility defined by the act, and diagnosing diseases independently is not within the general nurse's role; diagnosis is medical judgment typically reserved for physicians or advanced practice nurses with appropriate authority. Therefore, the best description of the nurse's obligation is to know and adhere to the act that governs their practice.