Iowa Nurse Practice Act: Facility Guide

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Written by Danielle Roques, BSN, RN, CCRN Content Writer, IntelyCare
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Reviewed by Aldo Zilli, Esq. Senior Manager, B2B Content, IntelyCare
An Iowa nurse talks with two physicians, as they look at a patient's chart.

There are over 4.7 million nurses practicing throughout the U.S., which makes nursing the largest workforce within the healthcare industry. The breadth and complexity of the nursing profession can make it challenging for administrators to regulate care quality. To ensure safe and appropriate care, each state has enacted a set of rules and regulations to govern the nursing profession. In Iowa, these laws are known as the Iowa Nurse Practice Act (NPA).

As a facility leader, it’s important to understand key components of the Iowa NPA to ensure your patients receive high-quality care. In this article, we’ll summarize the laws outlined in Iowa’s Nurse Practice Act and share tips for administrators looking to enhance patient safety and improve their team’s NPA compliance.

What Is the Iowa Nurse Practice Act?

LPNs, RNs, and APRNs practicing in Iowa are required to follow the laws outlined in the state’s nurse practice act. These laws establish:

Nurse Practice Act: Iowa Laws at a Glance

As a facility administrator, you may be curious about the laws outlined in Iowa’s Nurse Practice Act and how they could impact your clinicians and the patients they care for. In the table below, we’ll review tenets of the Iowa NPA and detail the state’s nurse licensure requirements, rules for delegation, and penalties for violations.

State of Iowa Nurse Practice Act
Legal Authorities Iowa Code, Title IV, Chapter 152:

Iowa Administrative Code, Agency 655:
Iowa State Nursing Licensure Requirements Iowa RN licensure applicants must qualify by either passing the NCLEX examination or getting a license endorsed from another state.

The steps for NCLEX exam qualification are as follows:

  1. Graduate from an Iowa approved or accredited nursing education program and submit verified transcripts.
  2. Submit an application with the appropriate fees.
  3. Submit a criminal history background waiver form, documentation for any criminal convictions, and two fingerprint cards.
  4. Register for and pass the NCLEX examination.

The steps for endorsement qualification are as follows:

  1. Graduate from an Iowa BON-approved nursing education program and submit verified transcripts.
  2. Submit an application with the appropriate fees.
  3. Submit a criminal history background waiver form, documentation for any criminal convictions, and two fingerprint cards.
  4. Present a valid license to practice nursing in another state and submit a request for licensure verification.

Note: According to the Code of Iowa Section 152.9, the board may grant a temporary license for nurses who are new to the nursing practice in Iowa and meet board specifications. This temporary permit is valid for licensure by endorsement applicants only and allows supervised practice until the nurse is fully qualified. The board determines the length of validity or renewal eligibility for temporary licensure.

The Iowa Board of Nursing website also provides approximate timeframes for application processing and outlines the required steps to renew an Iowa nursing license.
Delegation of Nursing Duties Iowa nursing practice standards are based on the Iowa Nurse Practice Act.Chapter 6 of the Iowa Administrative Code for the State Board of Nursing further outlines the conditions for nursing professionals to delegate to unlicensed clinicians which include when:

  • The task falls within the delegatee’s scope of practice.
  • The nurse communicates directions and expectations for completion of the delegated activity and is able to maintain accountability for the task.
  • The unlicensed clinician has demonstrated the appropriate skills and ability to safely complete the task.
  • The nurse is able to supervise the delegatee by monitoring performance, progress, and outcomes of the task.
  • The nurse can evaluate patient outcomes that result from the completion of the task and intervene when problems are identified.
  • The task poses minimal risk to the patient.

Nursing professionals are prohibited from delegating tasks that are outside of their scope of practice and require the nursing process (assessment, interpretation, independent decision-making). Additionally, nursing professionals may not delegate the following tasks:

  • Initiating or discontinuing a midline catheter or peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)
  • Administering medication by bolus or IV push
  • Administering infusions that include (but are not limited to) blood products, vasodilators, vasopressors, chemotherapy, TPN, anticoagulants, antiarrhythmics, thrombolytics
  • Providing IV therapy to pediatric patients under the age of 12 or to patients weighing less than 80 pounds
NPA Violations and Penalties Nurses who go against Iowa nursing standards or commit any violation outlined in Rule 655-4.6 of the Iowa Administrative Code could face disciplinary action. Grounds for discipline include:

  • Fraudulently obtaining a nursing license.
  • Acting outside the nursing scope of practice.
  • Failing to conform to the minimum standards of acceptable nursing care.
  • Falsifying patient health records.
  • Improperly delegating nursing services, functions, or responsibilities.
  • Committing an act which causes physical, emotional, or financial injury to a patient.
  • Violating patient confidentiality or privacy.
  • Discriminating against a patient based on age, sex, race, ethnicity, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
  • Being involved in the unauthorized possession, use, or manufacturing of a controlled substance.
  • Practicing while under the influence of alcohol or other illicit drugs.
  • Engaging in sexual contact with a patient or surrogate.
  • Being convicted of a criminal offense.

According to Section 152.10 of the Code of Iowa, any of the above violations could result in a suspended or revoked nursing license, along with fines, public reprimand, and the possibility of criminal charges.
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State? Iowa is involved in the NLC compact. Therefore, the Iowa Nurse Practice Act encompasses rules and guidelines established by the NLC.

Improving Regulatory Compliance: 3 Tips for Facilities

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the rules outlined in the Iowa NPA, you’re probably looking for ways to incorporate these state nursing laws into your facility’s policies and procedures. The following three tips can help you enhance your regulatory compliance efforts and promote optimal care quality.

1. Familiarize Yourself With the NCSBN Nurse Practice Act Toolkit

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has developed a Nurse Practice Act Toolkit to support and empower clinicians practicing throughout the U.S. There, you can find:

  • More information on federal nursing laws and other state nurse practice acts.
  • Additional NPA resources, guides, and educational materials.
  • Board of nursing contact details.

Ensure your clinicians have access to these resources by posting a link to the NPA Toolkit on your facility’s nursing website. Empowering your clinicians with the knowledge and information to manage their own professional practice can help your organization improve staff retention, engagement, and satisfaction.

2. Provide Staff Training on the NPA

While most clinicians are educated on nursing rules and regulations during nursing school, few receive in-depth training after entering the workforce. Because facility leaders are ultimately responsible for ensuring safe practice, it’s important that you educate your team on the rules outlined in the NPA. Encourage learning by:

  • Requiring staff to complete the International Center for Regulatory Scholarship (ICRS) Iowa NPA Course.
  • Including a copy of the Iowa Nurse Practice Act in your facility’s nursing handbook.
  • Reviewing the Iowa nursing scope of practice during onboarding and orientation.
  • Developing a facility-specific CE course on nursing policies and protocols for staff to complete during annual competency training.

3. Verify Employee Credentials Upon Hire

The rise in fraudulent nursing practice places your organization’s integrity at risk and limits the quality of care you’re able to provide. Before onboarding a new clinician, you’ll want to verify the legitimacy of the degree, license, and certifications they claim to hold. In Iowa, administrators can do this via the Iowa BON license verification portal or the Nursys QuickConfirm website.

Stay Updated on Nursing Rules and Regulations

Now that you have a better understanding of the Iowa Nurse Practice Act, you’re one step closer to providing the best care possible. Want to stay up to date on the latest nursing news but not sure where to begin? IntelyCare can help. Sign up to receive additional expert-written healthcare updates and tips that will keep you in the loop.

 

Legal Disclaimer: This article contains general legal information, but it is not intended to constitute professional legal advice for any particular situation and should not be relied on as professional legal advice. Any references to the law may not be current, as laws regularly change through updates in legislation, regulation, and case law at the federal and state level. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.

Related Articles

Idaho Nurse Practice Act: Facility Guide
Washington, D.C. Nurse Practice Act: Facility Guide
West Virginia Nurse Practice Act: Facility Guide
Delaware Nurse Practice Act: Facility Guide
Connecticut Nurse Practice Act: Facility Guide

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