36). “Professional standards describe the competent level of care in each phase of the nursing process”, (York, 2014). Professional standards assist healthcare organizations to construct adequate staffing guidelines, guidelines for task delegation to other personnel, to make certain that satisfactory nursing documentation is taking place, and even create new principles (York, 2014). Currently, the nurse practice acts for Hawaii and Kansas are similar. Each state grants the registered nurse autonomy in practice within his or her scope. In each of these states, registered nurses have the ability to care for patients in all types of settings, as long as the care is performed within the scope of practice. Registered Nurses perform patient care on a daily basis, educate patients, and provide emotional support, administer medications and treatments, and operate and monitor medical equipment (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). Registered nurses in each of these states also have the authority to delegate tasks or nursing care to practical nurses or nursing assistants. Delegation is also governed by the nurse practice act in both states with regards to responsibility and accountability and is an important skill for …show more content…
Each state has educational requirements. The nurse practice acts of Hawaii and Kansas both aim to provide standards of nursing care in the name of beneficence. One of the most important guidelines to follow is to never practice nursing outside of your scope as defined by your state laws. Nurses who practice outside of his or her scope can be subjected to a slew of legal ramifications or fines. The Hawaii and Kansas nurse practice acts outline disciplinary action that will be taken for nurses not adhering to state laws or for those who make any violations. It is the expectation of registered nurses in both of these states to comply. Some of these violations in the state of Hawaii include revocation of licensure or fines that range from $100 to $1000 per violation (Hawaii Board of Nursing, n.d.). By following the guidelines of the nurse practice act, the nurse can ensure that she or he does no harm, that the best clinical decision is being made, and that