Scope of Practice — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Defined by state Nurse Practice Act
👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team
🕐 Updated 2026-07-11
🏷️ Management of Care
🔖 Free to read, print, and share
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Scope of Practice on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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- NPA sets legal RN limits
- State board enforces license
- Varies by state + role
- Assess, plan, evaluate, teach
- Initial assessment = RN only
- Unstable/complex pt care
- Don't exceed scope → liability
- Unsafe order → don't carry out
- Can't delegate nursing judgment
- Asked beyond scope → refuse, tell MD
- Question unclear orders first
✨Quick Tip
The state Nurse Practice Act and Board of Nursing legally define each nurse's scope of practice.
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