A registered nurse for more than 15 years was concerned when she learned that her hospital was going ...

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State Nurse Practice Acts have the most influence over nursing practice because they define the scope of nurses' professional functions and responsibilities. The primary intent of state Nurse Practice Acts is to protect the public from unskilled, undereducated, and unlicensed nurses. The FDA ensures that all medications on the market undergo rigorous review before allowing manufacturers to distribute them to the public. In 1993, the FDA instituted the MedWatch program. This voluntary program encourages nurses and other health care professionals to report when a medication, product, or medical event causes serious harm to a patient. Mandatory reporting is required for medication manufacturers, distributors, and packers. A wide variety of programs to help people who abuse medications are offered through an institution's employee assistance program (EAP), the State Board of Nursing, and community agencies.