Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations Discussion Paper

Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations Discussion Paper

Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations Discussion Paper

Nurse practitioners usually work in areas where health care is needed. Unlike physicians who follow the money, nurse practitioners establish their practice in areas with the greatest health care need (Davis et al., 2018). To perform optimally, nurses should work to the fullest of their training, education, and experience. However, state-level regulations affect how nurses work, including collaboration and the power to prescribe certain medications.

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Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) work under the reduced practice in Alabama. The defining element of the reduced practice is the state regulations reducing the nurses’ ability to engage in at least one element of practice (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2022). One of the board’s regulations is a career-long regulated collaborative agreement with a physician; the practice commences once all the requirements are met (Alabama Board of Nursing, n.d.). The other regulation is prescribing controlled substances with varying levels of restrictions. Nurse practitioners do not have full authority to prescribe some controlled substances (Schedule II-V). The situation is somewhat different in Texas, where nurse practitioners function under restricted practice. In Texas, APRNs work under career-long supervision from physicians to provide patient care (Wofford, 2019). They cannot prescribe Schedule II drugs.

The abovementioned regulations apply differently to APRNs who have the legal authority to practice within the full scope of their education and experience. Unlike APRNs under reduced or restricted practice, APRNs under the full practice authority do not need career-long supervision or collaboration. State practice and licensure laws allow them to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications and controlled substances (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2022). To adhere to the required regulations, APRNs should fully understand standardized procedures and execute their mandates as authorized.

Patient care quality and access depend on the availability of health practitioners. Despite this critical need, some states limit nurses’ ability to practice according to their education and training. Alabama is among such states since nurses are required to work under reduced practice. This implies that nurse practitioners must collaborate with another health care provider, primarily a physician.

References

Alabama Board of Nursing. (n.d.). Advanced practice nursing. https://www.abn.alabama.gov/advanced-practice-nursing/

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2022). State practice environment. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environment

Davis, M. A., Anthopolos, R., Tootoo, J., Titler, M., Bynum, J., & Shipman, S. A. (2018). Supply of healthcare providers in relation to county socioeconomic and health status. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 33(4), 412–414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-017-4287-4

Wofford, P. (2019). Texas nurse practitioners fight for full practice authority. nurse.org. https://nurse.org/articles/texas-nurse-practitioners-fight-for-practice

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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..

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.