Kansas Nurse Practice Act: Facility Guide
The nursing profession is constantly changing and growing to adapt to increased clinical demands. Each state is responsible for regulating its own clinician workforce and outlining the rules and standards that govern nursing practice. In Kansas, these laws are set forth in the Kansas Nurse Practice Act.
The laws outlined in the Nurse Practice Act (NPA) specify the duties of nursing professionals and review guidelines for practicing safely and effectively. In this article, we review key components of the Kansas NPA and provide tips for facility leaders looking to better understand the legal framework to improve patient safety and staff compliance.
What Is the Kansas State Nurse Practice Act?
RNs, APRNs, LPNs, and LMHTs practicing in Kansas are required to follow the rules and guidelines outlined in the Kansas Nurse Practice Act. This legislation:
- Specifies Kansas board of nursing rules, regulations, and protocols.
- Mandates requirements for Kansas nursing education programs.
- Sets minimum care standards that must be met in state healthcare facilities.
- Regulates the maintenance and renewal of a Kansas nursing license.
- Establishes penalties for NPA violations.
The Nurse Practice Act: Kansas Laws at a Glance
Every state utilizes its own NPA to govern nursing practice, each containing similar legal processes and protocols. However, it’s important to understand the intricacies of Kansas’s specific nursing practice laws in order to provide safe clinical care. In the table below, we review key elements unique to the Kansas NPA.
| Legal Authorities | Kansas Annotated Statutes, Chapter 65, Article 11:
Kansas Administrative Regulations, Agency 60 |
| Kansas State Nursing Licensure Requirements | Kansas RN licensure applicants must qualify by either passing the NCLEX examination or getting a license endorsed from another state.
Steps for NCLEX Exam Qualification:
Steps for Endorsement Qualification:
Note: The board may grant a non-renewable temporary RN license for nurses who are new to state nursing practice and meet board specifications. This temporary license is valid for a maximum of 120 days. The Kansas Board of Nursing website also provides approximate timeframes for application processing and outlines the required steps to renew a nursing license. |
| Kansas Nurse Practice Act Delegation of Duties | Nursing professionals are allowed to delegate when:
Nursing professionals are prohibited from delegating tasks such as:
|
| Penalties | Any violation of the following rules outlined in the Kansas Annotated Statutes Section 65-1120 can lead to disciplinary action:
Any of the above violations could result in a suspended or revoked nursing license along with fines and public reprimand. |
| Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State? | Kansas is part of the NLC compact. Therefore, the Kansas Nurse Practice Act encompasses rules and guidelines established by the NLC. |
Improving NPA Compliance: 3 Strategies for Facilities
By reviewing the laws outlined in the Nurse Practice Act, Kansas clinicians and administrators can help patients receive the quality of care they deserve. However, becoming familiar with Kansas nursing regulations is only the first step toward improving regulatory compliance. Here are three strategies for incorporating the Kansas NPA rules into practice to optimize your team’s performance.
1. Provide Staff Education on the Kansas NPA
Nurses receive training on delegation responsibilities and scope of practice limitations in nursing school, but many may not be familiar with legal updates or changes that occur after graduation. Providing employees with educational materials on the NPA can help them stay informed to manage their own professional practice.
Some organizations offer in-person classes where NPA rules are presented and discussed. Other facilities offer their clinicians an “NPA Guidebook” to review the regulations on their own time. Regardless of the training type you choose to offer, be sure to include details on any facility-specific policies and procedures that could affect a nurse’s daily practice.
2. Automate Reminders for Nursing Licensure Renewal
The easiest way to keep your nurses practicing safely is to prevent licensure issues from arising in the first place. Many organizations automate licensure renewal reminders to help their employees avoid late fees or unpaid time off of work. This can be done by email, text message, or paper mailing.
Ask employees how they prefer to receive communication from your human resources department. This ensures they get the notification to renew their nursing license with plenty of time to act.
3. Encourage Safety Event Reporting
Many clinicians are familiar with safety event reporting in the context of potential clinical risk and patient harm. What they might not know, however, is that these systems are also in place to prevent fraud and administrative error.
Administrators should alert the Kansas state board of nursing with any concerns of fraudulent licensing or educational transcript forgery. Clinical staff should also be encouraged to report any witnessed instances of inappropriate delegation via your facility’s safety event reporting system. Be sure to communicate that oversight isn’t meant to be punitive, but is conducted to keep patients and staff members safe.
Discover More Ways to Support Your Team
Now that you have a better understanding of the Kansas Nurse Practice Act, you’re well positioned to support your staff in providing high-quality patient care. Looking for more tips to help your team perform at its best? Our free newsletter is full of creative tips and strategies to help you improve safety, optimize care quality, and boost employee satisfaction.
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.