Nurses, Nursing Education, and Nursing Workforce: Definitions

A. REGULATORY TERMINOLOGY

1. Registered Nurse (RN). An individual who holds a current license to practice within the scope of professional nursing in at least one jurisdiction of the United States.
   
   
2. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). An umbrella classification (not an intended title, per se) for the purpose of regulation. Individuals are licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in the categories of Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Nurse-Midwife and Clinical Nurse Specialist. Each individual who practices nursing at an advanced level does so with substantial autonomy and independence and a high level of accountability. The scope of practice in each of the advanced roles is distinguishable from the others. Each jurisdiction establishes the legal scope of practice for each role.
   
   
3. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN). An individual who holds a current license to practice as a practical or vocational nurse in at least one jurisdiction of the United States.
   
   
4. Assistive Nursing Personnel. Unlicensed individuals who assist nursing staff in the provision of basic care to clients and who work under the supervision of licensed nursing personnel. Included in, but not limited to, this category are nurse aides, nursing assistants, orderlies, attendants, personal care aides, medication technicians, and home health aides.
   
   
5. International Nurse Graduate. A nurse who has graduated from a nursing education program in another country and may or may not be licensed to practice in a jurisdiction of the United States.
   
   
6. Licensure. The process by which an agency of state government grants permission to an individual to engage in a given profession upon finding that the applicant has attained the essential degree of competency necessary to perform a unique scope of practice. Licensing requirements define what is necessary for the majority of individuals to be able to practice the profession safely and validate that the applicant has met those requirements. This regulatory method is used when regulated activities are complex, require specialized knowledge and skill and independent decision-making.
   
   
7. Licensure by Examination. An individual who, having met all other qualifications for licensure, qualifies for licensure by passing an examination offered by a jurisdiction of the United States.
   
   
8. Licensure by Endorsement. A nurse licensed in one jurisdiction becoming licensed in a second jurisdiction by meeting any additional requirements for licensure in the second jurisdiction.
   
   
9. Limited License. A credential issued to a nurse which allows the nurse to function in a restricted capacity which may relate to the manner or setting in which the nurse practices (e.g., could apply to either physically challenged or disciplined nurses).
   
   

10. Licensure by Waiver. An individual qualifying for licensure without having graduated from a state- approved nursing education program, usually as part of a designated set of waiver criteria. The individual may or may not have taken and passed a licensure examination

11. Temporary or Interim Permit/License. A provisional authority to practice nursing issued to an individual seeking active license status.

12. New Licensee. A newly licensed person in one jurisdiction who was not previously licensed at that level in any other jurisdiction.

13. Lapsed/Inactive License. A license that was not renewed or a license placed on inactive status at the request of the licensee.
    14 No Longer Actively Licensed. Includes those RNs / LPN/VNs whose license is lapsed, inactive, revoked, or suspended.
    

14. No Longer Actively Licensed. Includes those RNs / LPN/VNs whose license is lapsed, inactive, revoked, or suspended.*
    
    
15. Letter of Reprimand/Admonition. A legal disciplinary procedure whereby a licensee has been admonished for not adhering to accepted standards of practice.
    
    

16. Probation. A disciplinary action taken by a board of nursing in which the licensee's practice is conditioned for a given period of time or until specific requirements are met.

17. Suspension. A disciplinary action taken by a board of nursing which temporarily bars the licensee from nursing practice.

18. Revocation. A disciplinary action taken by a board of nursing which nullifies a license.

19. Reinstatement. The reactivation of a previously lapsed, inactive, or suspended license to practice nursing.

    Source for definitions 1-19: National Council of State Boards of Nursing, http://www.ncsbn.org

20. Nurse Licensure Compact. A mutual recognition model of nurse licensure that allows a nurse to have one license (in his or her state of residency) and to practice in other states (both physical and electronic), subject to each state's practice law and regulation. Under this model, a nurse may practice across state lines unless otherwise restricted. Source: National Council for State Boards of Nursing, Inc. http://www.ncsbn.org/nlc/index.asp

21. Certification. The formal recognition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote optimal health outcomes. Source: American Board of Nursing Specialties, http://nursingcertification.org/faq.htm#1

22. Accreditation. Broadly defined as a voluntary, self-regulatory process by which governmental, non-governmental, voluntary associations or other statutory bodies grant formal recognition to programs or institutions that meet stated quality criteria by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to facilitate the acquisition an advancement of nursing knowledge and to promote optimal health. Source: American Board of Nursing Specialties, http://nursingcertification.org/faq.htm#1 (with a modification).

23. Institutional Accreditation. A nongovernmental process that is concerned with the quality and integrity of the total institution, assessing the achievement of the institution in meeting its own stated mission, goal, and expected outcomes. Source: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/NewStandards.htm

24. Professional or Specialized Accreditation. A nongovernmental process that is concerned with programs of study in professional or occupational fields and assesses the extent to which programs achieve their stated mission, goals, and expected outcomes. In addition, consideration of the program's mission, goals, and expected outcomes is of importance in determining the quality of the program and the educational preparation of members of the profession. Source: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/NewStandards.htm
    

    * Only graduates from state (or territory)-approved LPN/VN or RN programs are eligible to sit for respective licensure.