New Hampshire (NH) Nurse Practice Act: Facility Guide

Over 4.7 million nurses practice in the U.S., making the nursing profession the largest workforce within the healthcare industry. As nursing roles become more complex, each state is responsible for developing rules and regulations to govern the profession and ensure safe standards are met. In New Hampshire, these laws are known collectively as the New Hampshire (NH) Nurse Practice Act.
As a healthcare administrator, understanding key components of the New Hampshire Nurse Practice Act (NPA) can help you improve your facility’s safety and care quality. In this article, we’ll review key NPA laws that affect facilities and list tips to help you improve your team’s NPA compliance.
What Is the NH Nurse Practice Act?
LPNs, RNs, and APRNs practicing in New Hampshire are required to follow the laws outlined in the state’s NPA and related regulations. These laws establish:
- New Hampshire Board of Nursing rules and regulations.
- Minimum care standards that must be met in all healthcare facilities.
- The APRN, RN, and LPN scopes of practice for clinicians practicing in New Hampshire.
- Requirements for state nursing education programs.
- The steps required for maintaining and renewing a New Hampshire nursing license.
- New Hampshire APRN prescriptive authority.
- Disciplinary actions for NPA violations.
Nurse Practice Act: NH Laws at a Glance
The New Hampshire Nurse Practice Act details the state’s licensure requirements, rules for delegation, and penalties for violations. In the table below, we’ll provide clarity on some key aspects of these laws.
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Legal Authorities | New Hampshire Revised Statutes, Title XXX:
New Hampshire Administrative Code: |
New Hampshire State Nursing Licensure Requirements | New Hampshire RN licensure applicants must qualify by either passing the NCLEX examination or getting a license endorsed from another state.
The steps for NCLEX exam qualification are as follows:
The steps for endorsement qualification are as follows:
Note: The NH board of nursing may grant a temporary license to nurses who are new to nursing practice in New Hampshire and meet board specifications. This temporary permit is valid for both new graduates and licensure by endorsement applicants and allows supervised practice until the nurse is fully qualified. The permit is valid for up to 180 days. The New Hampshire Board of Nursing website also provides approximate timeframes for application processing and outlines the required steps to renew a New Hampshire nursing license. |
NH Nurse Practice Act Delegation of Nursing Duties | Nursing professionals are allowed to delegate to unlicensed clinicians when:
The nurse is prohibited from delegating tasks that, among other things:
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NPA Violations and Penalties | Nurses who practice outside of the New Hampshire nursing scope of practice or commit any violation of the Nurse Practice Act could face disciplinary action. Grounds for discipline include, but are not limited to:
Any of the above violations could result in a suspended or revoked nursing license, along with fines, public reprimand, and the possibility of criminal charges. |
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State? | According to the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 326-B:46, New Hampshire is involved in the NLC compact. Therefore, the New Hampshire NPA encompasses rules and guidelines established by the NLC. |
Improving NPA Compliance: 3 Tips for Facilities
With this understanding of the NH Nurse Practice Act, you’re in a great position to help your team provide the best care possible. Next, you’ll want to incorporate these laws into your facility’s policies and procedures. Here are three tips to help you get started.
1. Verify Employee Credentials
Before onboarding new employees, you’ll want to make sure that they hold the degree, license, and certifications they claim to have earned. Administrators can conduct an NH nursing license verification on either the state’s online license lookup service or the national Nursys Quick Confirm License Verification portal.
2. Stay Informed on Scope of Practice Advisory Updates
As a facility leader, it’s important to empower your nurses with the knowledge and skills to manage their own professional practice. As nursing roles adapt to meet complex patient demands, you’ll want your clinicians to have a thorough — and ongoing— understanding of their legal scope of practice to ensure they provide safe, effective care.
Encourage your team to familiarize themselves with the procedures, interventions, and tasks that fall within their scope of practice. The easiest way to do this is to refer them to the following practice advisories published by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing:
3. Report Suspected Misconduct
If you or your team members witness unprofessional conduct or suspect fraudulent practice, it’s imperative that concerns are reported straight to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing. The easiest way to do this is by filing a complaint with the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensing and Certification. By taking concerns seriously, you can help your facility maintain the strong reputation you’ve worked so hard to earn.
Looking for More Ways to Support Your Nursing Team?
Keeping up with theNew Hampshire (NH) Nurse Practice Act and ongoing nursing practice updates is critical for your patients, but also time consuming. If you’d like to get quick access to the latest nursing insights, consider checking out all of our healthcare resources, tools, and guides to ensure you’re in the know.
Legal Disclaimer: This article contains general legal information, but it is not intended to constitute professional legal advice for any particular situation and should not be relied on as professional legal advice. Any references to the law may not be current, as laws regularly change through updates in legislation, regulation, and case law at the federal and state level. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.