Understanding Discipline of Nurse Practitioners by Boards of Nursing

Nurse practitioners (NP) in the United States are regulated by Boards of Nursing and experience a similar incidence of disciplinary actions for Nurse Practice Act violations as other advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and registered nurses. The legal foundation for the disciplinary process, including complaint reporting, investigation, and resolution, provides the context for discipline. The most frequent reasons for NP disciplinary action are patient abuse, abandonment, and boundary violations, followed by discipline for reasons not associated with NP clinical practice. Exceeding the scope of practice and discipline for drug diversion or alcohol use were the least problematic issues for NPs.