Final answer:
A person in charge of a nursing unit should be familiar with at least one state-specific nursing practice act to maintain legal and professional standards. From 2015 to 2020, the number of registered nurses in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area has increased, reflecting a growing labor market demand for nurses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student question pertains to the understanding of nursing practice acts, which are laws governing the practice of nursing. As someone in charge of a nursing unit with LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses), RNs (Registered Nurses), and advanced practice nurses, it is crucial to be familiar with at least one nursing practice act, which is usually specific to the state in which the nurses are practicing. This legal framework ensures that nurses across all levels work within the boundaries of their qualifications and legally defined scope of practice, significantly affecting patient care and the operations of healthcare facilities.
Looking at the labor market for nurses, we can see from the information provided that the number of registered nurses has increased from about 35,000 in 2015 to nearly 41,000 in 2020 in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin metropolitan area. This suggests a growing demand for healthcare professionals. Figures and tables obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) demonstrate how demand and supply determine the equilibrium salary for nurses, which in turn, affects the quantity of nurses willing to work at different salary levels within the labor market.