Discussion: Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations
Each state body outlines a scope of practice for nurse practitioners for their own state. In the State of Michigan, nurse practitioners must work under physician orders and do not have autonomy in the state. I choose prescriptive authority and practice authority as my two regulations for this discussion.
In the State of Michigan, “nurse practitioners are only allowed to write for prescriptions of non-scheduled prescription drugs, controlled substances 2-5 must be written and signed by both physician and nurse practitioner “(Michigan Legislature – Section 333.17211a, n.d.). Practitioners here usually work in hospitals or in doctors’ offices working under a physician supervision. “Nurse practitioners in this state must work under a physician directive that falls withing their scope of practice” (Michigan Legislature – Section 333.16215, n.d.). I feel that this is part of the reason why there is a shortage of practitioners in the state. All this education and we still must be supervised by a physician.
In contrast, the State of Florida allows full autonomy to their nurse practitioners. “a nurse practitioner may prescribe all medications, including controlled substances, if they are practicing autonomously” (Florida Scope of Practice Policy – State Profile, n.d.). I read this as if you open your own practice, you do not need a physician to write any prescriptions. Whereas in a hospital setting, you would still have to have a physician signature. “Nurse practitioners may practice autonomously in primary care settings including family medicine, general pediatrics, and general internal medicine” (Florida Scope of Practice Policy – State Profile, n.d.). The State of Florida is a much better state if you want full autonomy. However, it costs money to open your own practice and hire staff to operate it, so there are advantages and disadvantages to full autonomy.
References
Michigan Legislature – Section 333.17211a. (n.d.). Michigan Legislature. Retrieved March 29, 2021, from http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(2s1hyab0wsrofw4hejdqlwgg))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-333-17211a
Michigan Legislature – Section 333.16215. (n.d.). Michigan Legislature. Retrieved March 29, 2021, from http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(ubl4ehvh1x3c54rpie1dkeoh))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-333-16215
Florida Scope of Practice Policy – State Profile. (n.d.). Scope of Practice Policy. Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://scopeofpracticepolicy.org/states/fl/
Discussion: 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..
By Day 3 of Week 5
Post a comparison of at least two APRN board of nursing regulations in your state/region 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.
By Day 6 of Week 5
Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days and explain how the regulatory environment and the regulations selected by your colleague differ from your state/region. Be specific and provide examples.
