| Course | NU108 Health Professions Transitions |
|---|---|
| Unit | Unit 9 |
| Paper type | Scope of practice brief |
| Length | About 580 words, 5 pages double-spaced |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Purdue University Global |
| Program | BSN (prelicensure) |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for NU108 Unit 9
Same Patient, Two Licenses: A Scope of Practice Brief Comparing the Licensed Practical Nurse and the Registered Nurse in Iowa Under the Nurse Practice Act and Board Rules, Marking Where the Two Roles Divide
[Student Name]
Purdue University Global
NU108: Health Professions Transitions
Unit 9 Scope of Practice Brief
[Instructor Name]
[Date]
The comparison reflects Iowa law and board rules as read on a stated date; specific rule numbers and wording should be confirmed against the current versions.
Purpose and Sources
This brief sets the Iowa practice limits for LPNs, licensed practical nurses, beside those for RNs, registered nurses, the state where I expect to practice. Scope of practice is defined by state law, so the sources are the Iowa nurse practice act in Iowa Code § 152.1 and the Iowa Board of Nursing's minimum standards of practice for registered nurses and for licensed practical nurses, Iowa Admin. Code r. 655-6.2 and r. 655-6.3, read on [date]. National guidance on delegation supplements them.
Where the Roles Overlap
Both LPNs and RNs collect data, give medications and treatments, perform many of the same procedures, document care and report changes in a patient's condition. On a medical unit, an observer might see them doing the same tasks for much of a shift. Each is accountable for practicing within the scope of their own license and for competence in what they do.
Where the Roles Divide
1. Assessment. The RN is responsible for the comprehensive assessment of a patient, including analyzing the data to form nursing diagnoses. The LPN contributes to assessment by collecting data and reporting it, under the rules for LPN practice.
2. Planning. The RN develops the nursing plan of care. The LPN participates in planning and carries out the plan.
3. Supervision. The LPN practices under the supervision of an RN or a licensed physician or other authorized provider, as Iowa's rules describe. The RN practices independently within nursing's scope.
4. Intravenous therapy. Iowa's LPN standards place conditions on intravenous therapy by LPNs, including education beyond the basic program and limits on certain procedures; the specific procedures permitted and excluded are set out in r. 655-6.3 and must be checked in the current version.
5. Delegation. RNs delegate tasks to LPNs and assistive personnel and remain accountable for the delegation decision. National guidelines describe the RN's responsibilities in delegation, including assessing the patient and the delegatee's competence and providing supervision (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2016).
6. Teaching. Both may reinforce patient teaching; the RN is responsible for assessing learning needs and developing the teaching plan.
The two nurses may be doing the same task at the same bedside, while only one of them is responsible for deciding what that task means for the plan.
Why the Difference Matters at the Bedside
On a team with both roles, the difference determines who must see a patient whose condition changes, who may accept a verbal order for a new plan, and who signs a care plan. An LPN who notices a new finding reports it; the RN assesses and decides on the response. Knowing the line protects patients and protects the license of each nurse.
What I Will Check Before Practice
Rules change, and employers may set narrower limits than the law allows. Before accepting a position, I will read the current versions of the Iowa rules and the employer's policies, and confirm which intravenous procedures, if any, my license permits in that setting.
References
Iowa Admin. Code r. 655-6.2, 655-6.3 (2024).
Iowa Code § 152.1 (2024).
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2016). National guidelines for nursing delegation. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 7(1), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(16)31035-3
Reading the NU 108 Unit 9 instructions
Unit 9 usually asks for a short brief on the legal scope of one credential, often comparing two roles in a named state. Prompts want the state's nurse practice act and board rules cited, the tasks or responsibilities each role may perform, and the points where the roles differ. One to three pages is common. Instructors look for state sources rather than general websites, because scope is defined by each state. Precision matters: the brief should say what the law and rules state, mark anything that must be checked in the current version, and avoid claiming more certainty than the sources give. Connecting the distinctions to everyday teamwork shows why the law matters in practice.
How the NU 108 Unit 9 example is put together
The brief opens by naming its sources, the Iowa Code section on nursing and the two board rules setting minimum standards, read on a stated date. A short section describes the overlap between the roles. Six numbered points then mark where they divide, from the RN's comprehensive assessment and care plan to supervision of LPN practice, conditions on intravenous therapy and the RN's accountability in delegation, supported by national guidelines. The highlighted line explains that two nurses can do the same task with different responsibility for what it means. A section on bedside consequences and a closing list of what to recheck before practice complete the brief, with a margin note on changing rules.
Reading the NU108 Unit 9 grading rubric
Scope of practice briefs in NU 108 tend to be graded on use of authoritative sources, accuracy, clarity of the comparison, and practical relevance. Source points go to briefs that cite the state practice act and board rules directly, in APA 7 legal format. Accuracy is judged on statements that match the sources, with uncertain details flagged for checking rather than guessed. Clarity rewards a comparison organized point by point, so the reader can see exactly where the roles divide. Practical relevance earns credit when the brief explains how the distinctions affect teamwork, delegation and patient safety. Concise writing within the page limit is expected, since a brief that runs long loses the qualities that make it useful.
Common NU108 Unit 9 mistakes, and how to avoid them
Briefs often rely on career websites or job descriptions instead of the state's law and board rules, which is where scope is defined. Another frequent problem is stating detailed rules about intravenous therapy or delegation with confidence but no citation, which can be wrong for the state in question. Some briefs list tasks each role performs without saying where responsibility differs. Others forget that employers can set narrower limits than the law. Name the state, cite its practice act and rules, organize the comparison point by point, flag anything that must be checked in the current version, and end by noting what an employer's policy could add.
Get an NU108 Unit 9 example written to your instructions
Tell us which credentials and which state your Unit 9 brief concerns, and attach the prompt and rubric. The first scope of practice brief is free, built from that state's own practice act and board guidance, and back within 24-48h in the memo or paper format your instructions call for. The paper above is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Purdue University Global document.
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NU108 Unit 9 questions, answered
Where can I find a free NU108 Unit 9 sample paper?
The complete NU108 Unit 9 scope of practice brief comparing LPN and RN roles in Iowa is on this page, with sources, overlap, six points of difference, bedside consequences and what to recheck, with three references. A brief for your own state can be prepared on request.
What sources define scope of practice in NU108 Unit 9?
The state's nurse practice act and its board of nursing rules. In the Iowa example, that means the Iowa Code chapter on nursing and the board's minimum standards for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.
Can an LPN perform a comprehensive assessment?
The comprehensive assessment and nursing diagnosis are the RN's responsibility in Iowa's framework. The LPN contributes by collecting data and reporting findings, under the rules governing LPN practice.
Can LPNs give IV therapy in Iowa?
Iowa's rules allow some intravenous therapy by LPNs under conditions, including added education, and exclude certain procedures. The sample directs readers to the current rule, since the list of permitted procedures can change.
Why check employer policy as well as the law?
Employers may set narrower limits than the law allows. A task permitted by state rules may still be outside a nurse's role in a particular hospital, so both must be checked before practice.