Which statute governs the Florida Nursing Practice Act and the Board of Nursing's authority to license and discipline nurses?

• A. Florida Statutes Chapter 464, the Nursing Practice Act.
• B. Florida Statutes Chapter 400, the Medical Practice Act.
• C. Florida Statutes Chapter 120, the Administrative Procedure Act.
• D. Florida Statutes Chapter 456, the Healthcare Practice Act.

Answer: (A)

The licensure and discipline framework for nursing in Florida is defined by Chapter 464 of the Florida Statutes, the Nursing Practice Act. This statute specifies who may practice nursing, the requirements for licensure, the standards of safe practice, and the grounds on which the Board of Nursing can take disciplinary action. It gives the Board the authority to license nurses, set scope of practice, and sanction those who violate the act, all in service of protecting public safety.

The other statutes don’t establish the nursing-specific regulatory framework. The Medical Practice Act is not located in Chapter 400, and medical-licensing provisions come from other chapters. The Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 120) governs how agencies rule and enforce, not the licensure of nurses. Chapter 456 offers a broader umbrella for health professions but does not contain the Nursing Practice Act itself.