quality professional preparation, and conduct. THREE CATEGORIES OF IMPAIRMENT ò PROFESSIONAL ò Deficit in Medical Knowledge, Expertise or Judgment ò BEHAVIORAL ò Includes unprofessional, unethical, or criminal conduct ò MEDICAL ò Conditions which permanently impede or preclude a provider from safely practicing medicine Professional Misconduct ò Violating any guidelines set forth by your state nursing board places you at risk of being charged with professional misconduct. ò Obtaining license fraudulently ò Practicing while impaired by ETOH, drugs, physical or mental disability. ò Habitual drunk or dependent on narcotics and other drugs with similar affects ò Refusing to provide professional service to a person based on race, creed, color, or national origin ò Practicing beyond authorized scope, with gross incompetence, with gross negligence on a particular occasion or negligence or incompetence on more than one occasion. Maintaining License & a Valid Registration Certificate ò Professional license is “valid for life unless revoked or surrendered for professional misconduct.” ò It’s your obligation & responsibility to be mindful of the following when it comes to maintaining your registration: ò Expiration date. If expired do not practice until renewed. ò Report name or address change to licensing agency for future renewals. ò Answer all questions pertaining to both criminal convictions & terminations of employment truthfully. ò Practice within your scope of practice and standard of care guidelines. Code of Ethics ò Code of ethics defines the moral principles that govern how you practice nursing and is the foundation on which nursing is built. ò Legal definition: “the minimum standards of appropriate conduct within legal and regulatory parameters involving the duty owed to your patient and other members of your profession.” ò Submitting work vouchers for home care visits not made ò Breach of confidentiality ò Fraud ò Refusing to provide care for patient of specific cultural origin Grounds for Suspension & Revocation of License ò Incompetent nursing practice ò Professional misconduct ò Conviction of a crime (Homicide; theft; manslaughter; illegible possession of controlled substance; sexual assault; arson; DUI) Violations may include ò Procurement of a license by fraud ò Unprofessional, dishonorable, immoral, or illegal conduct ò Performance of specific actions prohibited by statue ò Malpractice Hearings: Moral Character; Disciplinary; Restoration Actions taken are based upon the severity of the violation. (reprimand or warning; probation; suspension of license; revocation of license) Be Competent in Your Practice ò You are always held accountable for their own behavior. ò Refusal to perform procedure for which they have not been prepared. ò Be reminded that the Nurse Practice Act changes ever so often; it is the responsibility of all nurses to be current with the laws that govern their scope of practice. ò “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Impaired ò Referred to PAP (professional assistance panel) if no harm to patient ò Surrender license while receiving treatment ò Participate in PAP program (SPAN) ò If successfully complete the NYS PAP program disciplinary charges will not be brought up against you from the bureau of controlled substance or State Education Dept. Cases Conclusion ò Embrace and participate in current and future trends. ò Maintain “best practices” that protect your license, influence quality of care and reduce risk. ò Make the most of every day & have a grateful heart. How is Nurses' Awareness of Ethical and Legal Issues Related to Caring for Older Adults? *Azade Safa, Mohsen Adib Hajbagheri Trauma Nursing Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran Introduction With the advances in medical science and increasing costs, attention to ethical and nursing issues has become important (1). Furthermore, aging population of the world is growing, accounting for about 12% of the US population and it is predicted to increase to 25% by 2050 Abstract