The mission of the Missouri State Board of Nursing is to protect the public's health and safety through regulation of nursing education, licensure, and practice.
WHO IS REGULATED
HISTORY
The first Board of Nurse Examiners was appointed in 1909, with the Nurse Practice Act becoming effective in March 1909. The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is the accumulation of statutes, Chapter 335.011 to 335.355 (http://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=335) published in the Revised Statutes of Missouri.
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY
The NPA exists to govern and regulate the profession of licensed nurses, set standards for the approval of nursing schools in Missouri, determine the scope of practice of licensed nurses, and define who may use the title of registered nurse (R.N.) and licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.) within the State of Missouri. Rules are promulgated to provide guidance for the Board to carry out the mandate of the NPA.
The Board of Nursing is mandated to examine the applications of graduate nurses who request to be licensed in the State of Missouri, after passing the NCLEX examination. Nurses who apply for endorsement of their nursing license from another state or country also go through an evaluation process.
BOARD MEMBERS
The nine gubernatorially appointed members of the board are entrusted with the duty of ensuring that the RNs and LPNs licensed in Missouri comply with Chapter 335 thus creating an atmosphere of safe and effective nursing care in the interest of public protection. The members of the Board, along with its staff and general counsel are entrusted with the legal responsibility to see that the provisions of the law are carried out effectively, in addition to serving as a policy making and planning group. When administering the NPA and establishing policy, the Board considers the licensee, the patient, the community, the State of Missouri and programs of professional and practical nursing.