1 The Illinois Board of Nursing is included in the Division of Professional Regulation which is a Division of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
The mission of the Division of Professional Regulation is to serve, safeguard, and promote the public welfare by ensuring that licensure qualifications and standards for professional practice are properly evaluated, accurately applied and vigorously enforced. http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/default.asp (accessed on 22.04.2009)
The Illinois Nurse Practice Act describes the legislative purpose as “the practice of professional and practical nursing in the State of Illinois is hereby declared to affect the public health, safety, and welfare and to be subject to regulation and control in the public interest. It is further declared to be a matter of public interest and concern that the practice of nursing, as defined in this Act, merit and receive the confidence of the public and that only qualified persons be authorized to so practice in the State of Illinois”.