NURS 6050 Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations
Boards of Nursing (BONs) exist in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Similar entities may also exist for different regions.
The mission of BONs is the protection of the public through the regulation of nursing practice. BONs put into practice state/region regulations for nurses that, among other things, lay out the requirements for licensure and define the scope of nursing practice in that state/region.
It can be a valuable exercise to compare regulations among various state/regional boards of nursing. Doing so can help share insights that could be useful should there be future changes in a state/region. In addition, nurses may find the need to be licensed in multiple states or regions.
To Prepare:
- Review the Resources and reflect on the mission of state/regional boards of nursing as the protection of the public through the regulation of nursing practice.
- Consider how key regulations may impact nursing practice.
- Review key regulations for nursing practice of your state’s/region’s board of nursing and those of at least one other state/region and select at least two APRN regulations to focus on for this Discussion.
Discussion assignment
- Post a comparison of at least two APRN board of nursing regulations in your state of Florida with those of at least one other state/region. Describe how they may differ. Be specific and provide examples.
- Then, explain how the regulations you selected may apply to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who have legal authority to practice within the full scope of their education and experience. Provide at least one example of how APRNs may adhere to the two regulations you selected
Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations Example
Florida’s APRN Regulations
In Florida, APRN regulations are governed by the Florida Board of Nursing. A noteworthy aspect of these regulations is the prescribing authority granted to APRNs. However, this authority has specific restrictions and requirements to ensure safe and responsible practice. One prominent facet of Florida’s APRN regulations is the ability of APRNs to prescribe controlled substances (Reynolds et al., 2021). To do so, APRNs must meet rigorous educational prerequisites and obtain a federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration.
The controlled substances that APRNs can prescribe fall within the Schedule II-V categories. For instance, a Family Nurse Practitioner in Florida can prescribe pain medications, such as opioids, to patients who meet specific criteria and clinical guidelines. This regulation empowers APRNs to provide comprehensive care and effectively manage patients’ pain within their practice scope.
New York’s Historical APRN Regulations
Historically, New York had more stringent regulations governing APRNs. A key requirement was the necessity for APRNs to establish written collaborative practice agreements with physicians. These agreements mandated close collaboration and oversight by physicians, limiting the autonomy of APRNs in their practice (Phillips, 2021). An example of how this worked in practice is that an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner in New York had to work closely with a collaborating physician to diagnose and treat certain medical conditions. This collaborative model aimed to ensure a team-based approach to patient care and maintain a high standard of healthcare delivery.
New York’s Regulatory Evolution
New York’s APRN regulations have undergone significant changes in recent years. One crucial development is the removal of the mandatory collaborative practice agreement requirement for experienced APRNs. Under the updated regulations, APRNs with more than 3,600 hours of practice experience are now allowed to practice without these agreements. This change represents a substantial departure from the previous regulations and reflects a growing recognition of the advanced education and clinical expertise experienced APRNs possess (Phillips, 2021).
For example, an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in New York, meeting the experience criteria, can now make independent clinical decisions, manage complex medical cases, and provide comprehensive patient care without the constant need for physician oversight. This regulatory shift empowers APRNs and contributes to more accessible healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved areas where physician shortages are prevalent.
Practical Application of Regulations
These regulations significantly impact how APRNs in Florida and New York provide healthcare services and collaborate with other healthcare professionals. In Florida, where APRNs have prescribing authority for controlled substances, APRNs play a pivotal role in pain management and medication prescription (Reynolds et al., 2021). For instance, a psychiatric mental Health Nurse Practitioner can prescribe medications to individuals dealing with mental health conditions, ensuring they receive timely and appropriate treatment. This regulatory framework enables APRNs to be valuable contributors to healthcare teams, especially in areas where access to physicians may be limited.
Conversely, New York’s historical collaborative practice agreement requirement promoted team-based care. APRNs collaborated closely with physicians, enhancing the quality of care delivered. While this approach ensured rigorous oversight, it also created administrative burdens and potentially limited the number of healthcare providers available, especially in rural regions. The recent regulatory changes in New York have unlocked opportunities for APRNs to serve as primary care providers, particularly in underserved areas where physician shortages persist (Phillips, 2021). An example would be a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner working independently in a pediatric clinic, diagnosing and treating common childhood illnesses, and promoting preventive care.
Conclusion
Florida and New York demonstrate distinct APRN regulations, particularly concerning prescribing authority and collaborative practice agreements. Florida empowers APRNs with greater independence in prescribing controlled substances, promoting comprehensive care and specialized treatments. On the other hand, New York’s regulatory evolution reflects a shift toward enhanced APRN autonomy, allowing experienced practitioners to provide care independently, thereby expanding healthcare access. These regulations reflect the evolving role of APRNs in modern healthcare, acknowledging their advanced education and clinical expertise. They enable APRNs to provide essential services and contribute to more accessible and efficient healthcare delivery, addressing the healthcare needs of diverse populations.
NURS 6050 Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations References
Reynolds, A. M., Reynolds, C. J., & Craig-Rodriguez, A. (2021). APRNs’ controlled substance prescribing and readiness following Florida legislative changes. The Nurse Practitioner, 46(6), 48-55. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NPR.0000751796.01625.17
Phillips, S. J. (2021). 33rd annual APRN legislative update: unprecedented changes to APRN practice authority in unprecedented times. The Nurse Practitioner, 46(1), 27-55. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NPR.0000724504.39836.69
NURS 6050 Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations Learning Resources
Required Readings
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Chapter 4, “Government Response: Regulation” (pp. 57–84)
NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy
Assignment: Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting
Nursing is a profession with various regulations. There are over 1000 nursing boards and national nursing associations across the United States. They aim to regulate, promote, and inform the nursing profession. Due to the large number of these entities, it’s challenging to distinguish between a BON and a national nursing association. It’s also difficult to evaluate the benefits and options offered by each.
Both of these bodies significantly impact the nursing profession and scope of practice. Once you understand the differences, you can build your expertise as a professional. In this Assignment, you need to compare the boards of nursing and national nursing associations. You must also provide an analysis of your state’s BON.
To prepare, you will assume you are the head of a staff development meeting on nursing practice regulation at your healthcare agency. Evaluate the ACA and the NCSBN websites to prepare for your presentation.
The Assignment (8-to-9-slide PowerPoint presentation)
This Assignment comprises an 8-to-9-slide PowerPoint presentation that addresses the following:
- The differences between a board of nursing and a national nursing association
- Describe your state/region’s BON
- Who are the members of the board?
- What are the criteria for joining the board?
- One state regulation related to the scope of nursing practice
- What is the influence of this regulation on a nurse’s role?
- How does it influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?
- Describe one state regulation related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
- How does it impact the nursing role?
- How does it affect delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?
- Include speaker slides on each page except the title and reference page
NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy Module 4: Healthcare Program Design and Implementation (Weeks 7-8)
Discussion 1: Evidence Base in Design
Debate is inevitable when politics and medical science intersect. Sometimes, people use hearsay and anecdotes inappropriately as evidence to support their point. However, despite these challenges, evidence-based approaches are often used to inform health policy decision-making. This is regarding causes of diseases, issues impacting society, and intervention strategies.
In this discussion, you will focus on a recently proposed health policy. You must provide an analysis of evidence supporting this policy. To prepare, you must review the congress website in the learning resources and identify one proposed policy. Reflect on its background and development.
Discussion 2: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Word cloud generators are popular tools used in meetings and team-building events. Teams or groups use these applications to input words they feel best describe their team. The application generates a word cloud that makes the most-used terms prominent. It offers an image of how common the thinking of the participants is.
Nursing is one of the largest professions in the world. Hence, nurses have the power to influence politics and policies globally. Policy-making is, therefore, an increasingly popular term in the nursing industry.
Assignment: Advocating for the Nursing Role in Program Design and Implementation
Nurses and health professionals from different specialty areas must and should collaborate to create effective programs. Nurses possess specialties that automatically make them natural partners to professionals with varying things. The collaboration between nurses and these professionals produces better-designed and effective programs.
In this assignment, you will take on the leadership role in this collaboration by advocating for a healthcare program. You will also advocate for a collaborative role of the nurse in the design and implementation of this program. You will assume a professional organization is interviewing you regarding your opinions on the functions of a nurse designing and implementing healthcare programs.
The Assignment (2-4 pages)
Create an interview transcript of your responses to the following questions:
- What are the expected outcomes and costs of your healthcare program?
- Who is your target population?
- What is the role of nurses in providing the design of healthcare programs? Provide examples.
- What is your role as an advocate for this healthcare program? How do you impact design?
- What is the role of a nurse in implementing a healthcare program?
- Who are the members of a healthcare program that you believe are most essential when implementing a program?
NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy Module 5: Program/Policy Evaluation (Weeks 9-10)
Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation
One critical component of policy design is results evaluation. How comfortable are you with handling such matters? Although nurses are the best advocates for patients and other effective programs, some may hesitate. This is because they may prefer to focus on caring for the well-being of their patients or feel less equipped to dive into policy-making. In this discussion, you will analyze the role of nurses in policy evaluation.
Assignment: Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation
Program/policy evaluation is a critical tool to strengthen the quality of policies/programs and improve their outcomes on your target population. This evaluation answers basic questions about the effectiveness of a program/policy. It involves collecting and analyzing information about a program or policy. This analysis will help improve program services and policy initiatives.
In this Assignment, you will utilize nursing expertise by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and analyzing the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.
The Assignment: (2-3 pages)
In this Assignment, you must address the following:
- Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes
- The success of the program or policy measured
- Number of people reached by the selected policy or program
- The impact of the program or policy selected
- The data used to conduct the program or policy evaluation
- The unintended consequences identified
- Would you recommend using this program/policy at your place of work? Give reasons
- Identify two ways you, as a nursing advocate, could be of use in evaluating a program or policy
NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy Module 6: Global Healthcare Issues (Week 11)
Assignment: Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement
Several factors contribute to the complex environment that surrounds global healthcare issues. These factors include cultural beliefs, religion, ethnic customs, subcultures, and language. Failure to understand these differences can cause a gulf between practitioners and the public. In this Assignment, you will examine a global health issue and analyze the approach of the United States and one other country.
The Assignment: (1-to-2-page Global Health Comparison Matrix; 1-page Plan for Social Change)
Part 1: Global Health Comparison Matrix
Complete your global health comparison matrix by basing your paper on the United States and other countries you selected. Address the following:
- Compare the national health policies of the US and the other country you selected
- Explain the strengths and weaknesses of each of these policies
- Explain how social health determinants affect your fixed global health issue
- Analyze how each country’s government addresses cost, quality, and access to the global health issue
- Explain how the health policy you have chosen can impact the health of the global population
- Explain how global health issues affect local healthcare organizations and procedures in both countries
Part 2: A Plan for Social Change
In one page, create a plan for social change incorporating a global perspective or lens into your local practice and role as a nurse.
- Explain how you would advocate for incorporating a global perspective in your local practice and role as a nurse.
- Explain how this incorporation might impact your local practice and role as a nurse leader.
- Explain how incorporating a global perspective or lens into your local practice and role as a nurse contributes to social change. Ensure you are specific and give examples.
After you have completed all assignments in this module, you have completed the course.
Also Read: Special Topics in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry DQ 13
