If you’re in the United States, studying as a nurse, you’ll be met with astonishing opportunities. Some would even go as far as saying that these opportunities are (almost) limitless. You’re working with top-notch facilities with state-of-the-art technology/equipment, you have superb education and are learning from likely world experts in their fields, and once you conquer all of this, you also have ample chances to help future patients and make leave a lasting impact (a difference) in their lives.
But it’s not exactly going to be ‘a walk in the park’. There’s going to be challenges. And it’s not going to be easy.
Namely, there’s a whole plethora of healthcare laws/policies that could either propel your career to greater heights, or leave you feeling confused and anxious. In the United States of America, healthcare laws are not simply a set of guidelines to be adhered to.
Why do these laws matter to a future nurse? Because the U.S. healthcare system operates on a tight legal framework that’s meant to protect both the patients and the professionals.
You’ll need to learn them to be prepared to meet academic and clinical expectations and to thrive in one of the world’s most dynamic healthcare settings.
The Role of Healthcare Laws in U.S. Nursing Education
Healthcare laws in the U.S. have two levels – federal and state-specific. Federal laws apply to the entire country and those are laws like patient privacy protections and standards for safety in the workplace. But the regulations that are specific to states are adjusted according to local needs, so the legal framework can be different from state to state.
If you’re a nursing student, you’ll need to understand both levels because they shape nursing practices, from protecting patients’ rights to state-specific staffing requirements for nursing homes, safety protocols, ethical workplace conduct, etc. In case of non-compliance, there are repercussions to face, such as (but not limited to) legal exposure, monetary fines, and endangering the well-being of patients.
Apart from legal implications, another reason why you need to understand the laws is to build trust. Patients will rely on nurses who are professional, and also employers won’t want to employ someone who can’t find their way around regulations.
Basic Healthcare Regulations for Future Nurses
Here’s an overview of basic healthcare regulations you need to know as a future nurse.
- HIPAA Compliance
HIPAA is short for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which is the base of patient privacy in the U.S. healthcare system. The law requires that every healthcare provider safeguard discrete information about its patients (e.g. doctor-patient confidentiality). In simplified terms, this means that any and all audio and video recordings, documents, and computer files must remain secret and be accessible only to authorized personnel under special circumstances (e.g. warrant).
If you breach HIPAA (for example, you discuss the details of a patient in a public space or leave records unsecured), you’ll face serious consequences, like fines and even getting terminated from your job.
- EMTALA Standards
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act makes sure that everyone that comes to an emergency department gets medical help, regardless of whether they can pay for it or not.
For you as a future nurse, this means that you need to help the person without discrimination and make medical necessity a priority; not make your decisions based on financial considerations. EMTALA is especially important for students that want to work in acute care or emergency rooms, where you need to make decisions in a snap.
You can’t fail to triage or treat a patient based on their insurance status, and if you do, you’ll suffer legal consequences. All medical personnel have an ethical and legal obligation to provide treatment for everyone.
- Nursing Practice Acts Specific to States
Each state has its own Nursing Practice Act, which contains the legal side of nursing responsibilities. In simpler terms, it says what nurses can and can’t do, and this covers everything from administering medications to advanced practice. You’ll have to check the laws specific to your state to stay compliant.
For instance, some states allow nurse practitioners to prescribe medications themselves, but others will need a doctor to do it. If you don’t understand your state’s NPA, you risk working outside legal limits.
- OSHA Guidelines
OSHA, or Occupational Safety and Health Administration, establishes standards to protect all healthcare workers from the dangers of their workplace (workplace hazards). For a nurse, this means infection control, safe handling of hazardous materials, and ergonomic practices to prevent injuries.
You’ll need proper training in OSHA standards, especially when you deal with something like bloodborne pathogens or heavy lifting. If you don’t follow these guidelines, you risk spreading disease and endangering public health.
Conclusion
As a nursing student in general, your education will be more than just mastering clinical skills because there’s more to being a nurse than that. This may seem like a lot, but you don’t need to learn everything right away and your patients won’t ask you to parrot back the laws to them.
The reason these laws and regulations are so important is because they protect both the staff and the patients, and without knowing them, it’s safe to say you won’t know what you’re doing.
Yes, it’s challenging, but you already know that being a nurse is anything but easy.
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