90-171.43. License required; rules.
(a) No person shall practice or offer to practice as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, or use the word "nurse" as a title for herself or himself, or use an abbreviation to indicate that the person is a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, unless the person is currently licensed as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse as provided by this Article. If the word "nurse" is part of a longer title, such as "nurse's aide", a person who is entitled to use that title shall use the entire title and may not abbreviate the title to "nurse". This Article shall not, however, be construed to prohibit or limit the following:
(1) The performance by any person of any act for which that person holds a license issued pursuant to North Carolina law;
(2) The clinical practice by students enrolled in approved nursing programs, continuing education programs, or refresher courses under the supervision of qualified faculty;
(3) The performance of nursing performed by persons who hold a temporary license issued pursuant to G.S. 90-171.33;
(4) The delegation to any person, including a member of the patient's family, by a physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina, a licensed dentist or registered nurse of those patient-care services which are routine, repetitive, limited in scope that do not require the professional judgment of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; [or]
(5) Assistance by any person in the case of emergency.
Any person permitted to practice nursing without a license as provided in subdivision [(a)](2) or [(a)](3) of this section shall be held to the same standard of care as any licensed nurse.
(b) The Board shall have the authority to promulgate rules to enforce the provisions of this section. (1981, c. 360, s. 1; 1993, c. 198, s. 9; 1999-320, s. 2; 2019-180, s. 12.)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 90 - Medicine and Allied Occupations
Article 9A - Nursing Practice Act.
§ 90-171.19 - Legislative findings.
§ 90-171.23 - Duties, powers, and meetings.
§ 90-171.24 - Executive director.
§ 90-171.25 - Custody and use of funds.
§ 90-171.26 - The Board may accept contributions, etc.
§ 90-171.27 - Expenses payable from fees collected by Board.
§ 90-171.28 - Nurses registered under previous law.
§ 90-171.29 - Qualifications of applicants for examination.
§ 90-171.30 - Licensure by examination.
§ 90-171.33 - Temporary license.
§ 90-171.34 - Licensure renewal.
§ 90-171.36A - Retired nurse status; reinstatement.
§ 90-171.37 - Disciplinary authority.
§ 90-171.37A - Use of hearing committee and depositions.
§ 90-171.37B - Appeal from Board's disciplinary action of licensee.
§ 90-171.37D - Service of notices.
§ 90-171.38 - Standards for nursing programs.
§ 90-171.40 - Ongoing approval.
§ 90-171.41 - Baccalaureate in nursing candidate credits.
§ 90-171.42 - Continuing education programs.
§ 90-171.43 - License required; rules.
§ 90-171.43A - Mandatory employer verification of licensure status.
§ 90-171.44 - Prohibited acts.
§ 90-171.45 - Violation of Article.
§ 90-171.46 - Injunctive authority.
§ 90-171.47 - Reportsimmunity from suit.
§ 90-171.48 - Criminal history record checks of applicants for licensure.