A Consumer's Guide to Nursing

What is a Nurse?
A person educated as a nurse and holding a current license as a nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Nine months to one year of education in a community college. Must always practice under the direction of a registered nurse or other licensed practitioner.

License Practical Nurse-Certified (LPN-C) - An LPN who has additional education and certification to provide limited services in intravenous therapy and nasogastric tube therapy.

Registered Nurse (RN) - Two to four years of education at a college or university. Registered nurses may practice independently.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) - An RN with a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in a nursing clinical specialty area.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) - An RN who has additional education and certification to work in the field of anesthesia.

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) - An RN who has additional education and licensure to manage common health problems and chronic conditions including prescribing treatments and medications.

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) - An RN who has additional education and certification to attend cases of normal childbirth in hospitals and birthing centers, and provide normal obstetrical and gynecological services to women. CNMs may also prescribe treatments and medications.

Approximately how many licensed nurses are there in Nebraska?
There are 26,000 nurses licensed in Nebraska. 23,000 of those have a Nebraska address.

• Licensed Practical Nurses -- 6,800
• LPN-C -- 230
• Registered Nurses -- 19,000
• Nurse Anesthetists -- 300
• Nurse Practitioners -- 150
• Nurse Midwives -- 9
• Clinical Nurse Specialists -- 400

What is the "practice of nursing?"
The practice of nursing is a process that occurs during interaction between the nurse and the patient. This process begins with a thorough assessment of the patient’s health care needs. The nurse assesses the patient’s needs by interviewing the patient and the family to determine health history and current health status, by physically examining the patient, and by reviewing the patient’s record including the results of diagnostic tests.

Following the assessment, the nurse works together with the patient to develop a plan designed to care for current conditions, improve health status and prevent future illness.

The nurse provides a variety of services or interventions for the patient depending on his/her needs. These services range from support for activities of daily living to highly complex technological services necessary to support life and foster the return to health.

The nurse has the responsibility to continually monitor the effects of the services being provided and make adjustments or changes as needed.

Throughout this process the nurse is accountable for a caring attitude with the best interests of the patient being the foremost concern.

What do RNs and LPNs do?

• Provide "hands on" care.
• Teach consumers self-care and adaptation to disease.
• Teach consumers prevention of illness and injury.
• Provide comfort and support to dying patients and their families.
• Coordinate care and assist patients and their families to identify and obtain necessary         resources such as home care services, medical equipment, nursing home placement etc.
• Counsel patients and families.
• Supervise unlicensed persons who assist nurses to provide care.
• Administer care from simple first aid to complex technical services.
• Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by other health care providers.
• Conduct nursing research.
• Teach the practice of nursing.

Where do nurses practice?
Nurses practice in a broad range of settings. Traditional settings include hospitals, nursing homes and physician offices or clinics. Nurses also provide services in non-traditional and community settings such as patient homes, business and industries, schools, insurance companies, correctional facilities, colleges and universities etc.

What is the Board of Nursing?
Twelve appointed individuals who volunteer their time to provide expert advice to Nebraska government on the licensing of nurses in the interest of consumer protection. They provide for health and safety of the citizens of Nebraska by insuring that nurses are meeting minimum standards for proficiency and competency.

Who are members of the Board of Nursing?
Two consumers, two Licensed Practical Nurses and eight Registered Nurses. The consumers can not have been actively involved in providing health care within the previous three years. The nurses represent both nursing education and nursing practice. The Board has representation from all parts of the State.

How to Determine if someone is Licensed as a Nurse?
You may call the Board of Nursing office at (402) 471-4376 to verify the current status of a nurse's license. Information will include the date the license was issued and any disciplinary history.

What Should Consumers Expect from a Nurse?

• Complete confidentiality.
• A complete explanation of the services to be provided - upon request.
• An explanation of the nurse’s limits and expertise of care.
• To see the nurse’s Nebraska nursing license - upon request.
• A copy of the consumer’s records - upon request.
• The choice to discontinue the nursing service at any time.
• A system to contact the nurse in an emergency.
• A professional demeanor that respects patients’ rights.
• The opportunity to have the consumer’s family involved.

What information should the nurse tell the consumer?
The nurse should inform the consumer of his/her name and level of licensure, for example LPN, RN, CRNA etc.

What is a Violation of Nursing Laws?
Grounds for discipline include:

• drug/alcohol behavior
• sexual misconduct
• abuse, either verbal, physical or mental
• negligent or incompetent care
• theft of property
• misrepresentation
• abandonment
• lack of confidentiality
• unprofessional conduct
• working without a current license

If a consumer believes harm has been done, or is dissatisfied with the nursing service provided, or is questioning the behavior of the nurse for any reason, call the Board of Nursing at (402) 471-4376.

If you are interested in having a nurse speak to a consumer group about the practice of nursing and the services nurses provide, please contact the Nebraska Nurses Association at (800) 201-3625. You may contact the Licensed Practical Nurse Association at (402) 435-3551 for a speaker on Licensed Practical Nurse practice.

To order multiple copies of this information in a brochure format, send a request to:
Verneda Kelly
Department of HHS Regulation & Licensure
Nursing Section
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE  68509-4986
Fax: (402) 471-3577 
E-mail: verneda.kelly@dhhs.ne.gov

Nursing and Nursing Support Page

Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Page