Advanced Practice Nursing Vs Consensus Model

The Consensus Model vs The New Jersey Board of Nursing

Abstract
Advanced practice nursing is a growing and evolving career in nursing. Understanding the definition and the core roles of an Advanced Practice Nurse is imperative. According to the Consensus Model, “Advanced practice registered nurses are licensed independent practitioners who are expected to practice within standards established or recognized by a licensing body.” (Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education, 2008) There are several licensing bodies that regulate the requirements for Advanced Practice Nurses. In this paper I will be comparing the regulations between the New Jersey Board of Nursing and the Consensus
The goal of this project is to offer a better understanding of the role of APRN’s. This model uses four elements to define an APRN and they are Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education. This model goes further to define APRNs and their scopes of practice by dividing it into the four different types of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, which are The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, The Certified Nurse –Midwife, The Clinical Nurse Specialist, and the Certified Nurse
“Certification is a formal process used by a certifying agency to validate, based on predetermined standards an individual’s knowledge, skills and abilities” ( Hanson, 2009). The Certification requirements listed in N.J. Board of Nursing can be found in the same section as the licensure requirements, section 45:11-47. They are the same aforementioned requirements listed under licensure. The Consensus Model guidelines for certification will,“ follow established certification testing, assess the APRN core and competencies, assess specialty competencies and be accredited by a national certification accreditation body” (Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education, 2008). The basic requirements for certification are the same but the Consensus Model provides a more detailed description while addressing the assessment of the APRNs competencies. Once the certifications are obtained there are also regulations for maintaining certification. The guidelines for maintaining certification are best explained in the N.J. Board of Nursing Law. It states that the advanced practice nurse does not need to repeat the initial certification exam. Instead the applicant is required to provide evidence of completing continuing education