Nurse Practice Regulation Summary
According to the American Nurses Association (n.d.) both the role and scope of APN practice is determined and regulated by each state’s Board of Nursing, and delineated in the state’s Nurse Practice Act. In this author’s state, Florida, CRNAs, CNMs and NPs are designated as Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP) and are defined as someone who in addition to being licensed to practice professional nursing, is “certified in advanced or specialized nursing practice” (Florida Nurse Practice Act, 2017 § 464.003).
Licensure and education requirements for NPs in the state of Florida include valid licensure as a registered nurse, a master’s degree or post-master’s certificate in a specialty area from an accredited nursing education program,
successful completion of a national certification exam, and proof of malpractice insurance CITE FL BOARD OF NURSING. In addition to any continuing education required for certification renewal, NP’s are required to complete three hours of continuing education regarding prescription of controlled substances, and two hours of continuing education in human trafficking CITE FL BOARD OF NURSING.
Florida grants NPs restricted practice authority, meaning that NPs operate within the guidelines of practice protocols established with, and signed by a supervising physician, allowing the NP to monitor and manage stable chronic diseases, and uncomplicated acute illnesses, order physical and occupational therapy, and make diagnoses and treatment recommendations related to behavioral problems (Florida Nurse Practice Act, 2017). Although NPs in the state of Florida have prescriptive privledges, when prescribing Schedule II medications, NPs are restricted to writing for a seven day supply, and only psychiatric NPs may prescribe psychiatric medications for patients under the age of 18 (Florida Nurse Practice Act, 2017). Additionally, according to the Florida Nurse Practice Act (2017), all protocols are to be maintained at the NP’s practice location, and in the event that the practice has multiple supervising physicians, only one supervising physician’s signature is required.
Licensure and education requirements for NPs in the state of Florida include valid licensure as a registered nurse, a master’s degree or post-master’s certificate in a specialty area from an accredited nursing education program,
successful completion of a national certification exam, and proof of malpractice insurance CITE FL BOARD OF NURSING. In addition to any continuing education required for certification renewal, NP’s are required to complete three hours of continuing education regarding prescription of controlled substances, and two hours of continuing education in human trafficking CITE FL BOARD OF NURSING.
Florida grants NPs restricted practice authority, meaning that NPs operate within the guidelines of practice protocols established with, and signed by a supervising physician, allowing the NP to monitor and manage stable chronic diseases, and uncomplicated acute illnesses, order physical and occupational therapy, and make diagnoses and treatment recommendations related to behavioral problems (Florida Nurse Practice Act, 2017). Although NPs in the state of Florida have prescriptive privledges, when prescribing Schedule II medications, NPs are restricted to writing for a seven day supply, and only psychiatric NPs may prescribe psychiatric medications for patients under the age of 18 (Florida Nurse Practice Act, 2017). Additionally, according to the Florida Nurse Practice Act (2017), all protocols are to be maintained at the NP’s practice location, and in the event that the practice has multiple supervising physicians, only one supervising physician’s signature is required.