What is the CNO's mission?

• A. Regulating nursing in the public interest
• B. Ensuring patient safety through hospital inspections
• C. Promoting medical research funding
• D. Licensing physicians exclusively

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is that professional regulatory bodies regulate nursing in the public interest to protect patients. This means they set standards for education and practice, license nurses to ensure they meet those standards, require ongoing competency, and enforce ethical and professional conduct. That mission centers on safeguarding the public by ensuring safe, competent nursing care.

That’s why regulating nursing in the public interest is the best answer. Hospital inspections are typically conducted by health authorities or accreditation organizations, not the nursing regulator. Promoting medical research funding falls to research funders and institutions, not regulatory bodies for nursing. Licensing physicians exclusively is outside the nursing regulator’s scope, since physicians are licensed by medical boards, not nursing regulators.