NURS 6050 Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations
NURS 6050 Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations
NURS 6050 Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations
Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in North Carolina are governed by the North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON). Nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and clinical nurse specialists are the four types of APRNs certified and registered in North Carolina (Griffith, 2022). The NCBON governs the standards for APRN education, certification, and license, as well as the area of practice and prescribing power. In North Carolina, for example, APRNs must have a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited nursing program, whereas APRNs in Texas can have a bachelor’s degree in nursing if they meet predefined certification requirements. Moreover, North Carolina mandates specialized continuing education for APRNs, but Texas merely requires continuing education for APRNs with prescription authority. Another distinction is in APRNs’ prescribing authority. In North Carolina, APRNs can prescribe Schedule II-V controlled medications if they have completed a graduate-level pharmacology course, have a current DEA registration number, and have a collaborative practice agreement with a physician (Griffith, 2022). APRNs in Texas have broader prescription power and can prescribe Schedule II-V controlled medications without a collaborative practice agreement with a physician.
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Education requirements are an important regulation for APRNs. APRNs must have a graduate nursing degree, often a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). This education requirement ensures that APRNs have the knowledge and skills needed to provide safe and effective care to patients within the scope of their practice (Gaddis, 2022). Certification requirements, in addition to education requirements, are critical in controlling APRNs. APRNs must pass a national certification test in their specialty area to demonstrate their expertise in their chosen career. APRNs have legal authorization to practice throughout the full breadth of their education and expertise, although the scope of practice varies by state. Some states allow APRNs to practice autonomously without medical supervision, while others require APRNs to work in collaboration with a physician.
In several states, APRNs have the legal power to prescribe pharmaceuticals, including banned narcotics. However, the particular conditions for prescribing power may differ from state to state. To prescribe controlled medications, some states mandate APRNs to establish a collaborative agreement with a physician, while others allow APRNs to prescribe without medical oversight (Gaddis, 2022). In North Carolina, for example, a nurse practitioner must have a master’s or doctorate from a recognized nursing institution and have completed the ANCC or NCC national certification test. The nurse practitioner must also maintain their certification by meeting continuing education requirements. The nurse practitioner can perform within the legal limits of their profession and deliver high-quality care to their patients, provided they meet education and certification standards.
References
Gaddis, G. (2022). Nurses with a doctorate in nursing practice (DNP) should not call themselves “doctor” in a clinical setting. Missouri Medicine, 119(4), 314–320. https://search.proquest.com/openview/dfba6d68f7945358a2038819921f73e4/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=6334268
Griffith, S. A. (2022). Protect your nursing license. Ncbon.com. https://www.ncbon.com/myfiles/downloads/course-bulletin-offerings-articles/bulletin-article-winter-2019-protect-your-nursing-license.pdf
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Post a comparison of at least two APRN Board of Nursing regulations in your state/region (North Carolina) 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 the 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.
