Assignment: Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting NURS 6050

Assignment: Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting NURS 6050

Assignment: Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting NURS 6050

• Both national nursing associations and boards of nursing play significant roles in the nurse practitioner profession and the general scope of their practice. Therefore, understanding the differences between the two helps lend credence to the expertise of different healthcare professionals.

Nurses at all stages of their careers ought to commit to ongoing career growth and development. Therefore, national nursing associations provide unique opportunities for career advancement, opportunities for networking, as well as the provision and promotion of the best practice guidelines. National nursing associations offer access to leadership development as well as mentoring that are not always accessible to professionals within their organization of work. National nursing associations provide opportunities for general membership and can sometimes target specific roles, including critical care nurses and student nurses (Alotaibi, 2017). National nurses associations often gain strength through expansive collaboration and exchange of ideas. Members of national nurse associations often benefit from the foundation built on shared professional experiences. Boards of Nursing refers to the agencies that promote and protect the general public’s health and welfare by assuring and overseeing that licensed nurses are involved in the provision of competent and safe healthcare services. The Board of Nurses is led by the elected Board of Directors, who oversee different activities to ensure effective operational processes.

Assignment: Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting NURS 6050

Differences between A Board Of Nursing and a Professional Nurse Association

• Private membership requiring potential members to pay dues to enjoy benefits
• Mainly involved in the protection of nursing professionals
• Involved in the protection of nurse’s interests and may assist in cases of disciplinary actions
• Members are elected, no payment of due
• Mainly involved in the protection of public interest
• Boards of Nursing supervise the licensure renewals, issuance, and applications; they also pursue disciplinary actions in case nurses violates the laws

 

Both national nurse associations and the Board of nursing are led by directors elected that mainly consist of nurses and other members. The Board of Nurses is not always involved in the drafting of legislation. Also, they cannot oppose or support the proposed bills during legislative processes. However, the Board of nurses often establishes measures that ensure the provision of quality healthcare services to the general public. They are also involved in the development of policies that ensure that nurses and other healthcare professionals are involved in the provision of quality healthcare services to different types of patients. Even though it can sometimes appear that the board of nursing restricts different nursing practices, they often try to have an uneven keel when it comes to the protection of the public from harm through setting minimum qualifications and competencies (Stanley et al., 2019). National nurse associations, on the other hand, are involved in the protection of nurse’s interests. They always act on behalf of nurses to ensure proper working conditions.

Board for a Specific Region/Area:
Alabama Board of Nursing

• The main objective of the Alabama Board of Nursing is to promote and safeguard the safety, health, as well as welfare of the general public through licensing and approvals of qualified persons as well as adopting and imposing the legal standards for nursing education and nursing practice.

The Alabama Board of Nursing is mainly involved in the promotion and safeguarding of health and safety of the members of the public through the formulation of policies aimed at ensuring the nurse and other healthcare professionals adhere to the best practices that lead to the delivery of high-quality care. The Alabama Board of Nursing endeavors to ensure the delivery of quality care through the provision of regulatory excellence. The Alabama Board of Nursing is often involved in the enforcement and implementation of the Nurse Practice Act as well as rules and regulations in line with the Alabama Administrative code to ensure maintenance of public safety. The Alabama Board of Nursing is often involved in state-specific licensing and sets standards for the provision of safe nursing care (Heale & Rieck Buckley, 2020). The board also set or decide on the scope of practice among the nurses within Alabama’s jurisdiction and issue licenses to qualified candidates. Alabama Board of Nursing ensures that nurses are involved in providing quality care to all the public members.

Board Members and How to Become a Member

The board members consists of:

• President- Cheryl Bailey
• Vice president- Valorie Dearmon
• Secretary- Janice Seip
• Advanced practice registered nurses

Members of the Alabama Board of Nursing are appointed by the governor and they serve a four-year term limits. Besides, members can be re-appointed for additional term.

Alabama Board of Nursing consists of the president who is in charge of all the activities undertaken. The president is always elected by the members; the election process is often done after the determination of the qualification of the potential candidates. The president is assisted by the vice president, who is also elected. The main role of the board members is to make policies and decide on different practices that ought to be followed to ensure successful operational processes. The current president of the Alabama Board of Nursing, Cheryl Bailey, is serving her second four-year term, she was re-elected as the Board president in the year 2019, and she is mainly interested in assisting team members in promoting and safeguarding the safety, health as well as the welfare of the public. The board members have well-defined objectives that are expected to enhance the operation of the entire organization. Board members are always elected based on their level of competency.

Regulation Related to General Nurse Scope of Practice and How the Regulation Influence The Nurse’s Role

• One of the regulation related to the general nurse scope of practice is the licensing processes.
• All nursing practice licenses are only given to the qualified nurses after successfully undergoing the required training
• The above regulation impact’s the nurses roles in different ways including:

1. Improved development of competency in the nursing practice
2. Improved quality of healthcare delivered to patients
3. Advocate for the well-being of the patients

Alabama State has stiff regulations that ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services to patients. These regulations impact nursing practice in different ways. The regulations also ensure that patients are given quality healthcare services from different healthcare institutions. Alabama State has strict regulations on the licensing processes. In other words, licenses are only given to qualified healthcare professionals or nurses; the reason is to ensure that only qualified and competent nurses are given the opportunity to manage patients and to provide effective healthcare services. The regulations are meant to enhance effective patient outcomes and ensure that proper treatment guidelines are followed. Every state often has unique regulations that ensure that healthcare professionals adhere to the required practices. Also, these regulations are meant to facilitate the delivery of quality healthcare to all patients. The state government of Alabama is committed to providing quality healthcare services to all the patients and ensuring general improvement in public health; thus, they are often engaged in the formulation of effective strategies.

 

How the Regulation Influence Delivery, Cost, and Access to Healthcare

Strict licensing process for nurses ensures that only qualified nurses are recruited in different healthcare facilities; thus the impacts are observed:

1. In the improved delivery of quality care
2.  Reduction the costs of healthcare delivery due to quality procedures and research-based approaches
3. The general improvement access to different types of healthcare services

Strict licensing procedures ensure that only highly qualified healthcare professionals are recruited to serve patients in different healthcare institutions. Highly qualified nurses are able to apply evidence-based practices and other research processes in ensuring that healthcare services are delivered in line with the required standards and within the ethical regulations. Also, with the effective licensing processes, healthcare institutions are able to acquire enough nurses, a scenario that can lead to the delivery of different healthcare processes at different levels of care. In most cases, the cost of medication often arises as a result of a lack of enough facilities in different healthcare institutions. Thus, with the flexibility yet, strict licensing process, healthcare institutions can significantly reduce the cost of medication and other healthcare services. Additionally, the cost rising cost of healthcare is normally attributed to inadequate research processes and qualified healthcare professionals. However, with the effective licensing processes, there are always opportunities for the management to receive qualified healthcare professionals capable of providing evidence-based practice healthcare services.

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State Regulation Related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNS)

• The state of Alabama has specific regulations for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).
• One of the regulation is: APRN ought to have Master’s degree in nursing as well as the certification from the national certifying agency recognized by the board of nursing.

Advanced practice registered nurses is always required to have advanced educational achievement, preferably Master’s level. At this level, they are supposed to have research skills as well as knowledge of evidence-based practices. Thus, they are the main agents when it comes to the provision or delivery of quality care to different patients. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses include clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, as well as nurse-midwives. All these professionals play significant roles in the provision of quality healthcare services. The APRN is regarded as the primary care provider; they are always at the forefront of engaging in the provision of preventive care services to the public members. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses ought to have a Master’s degree from a recognized university in the state of Alabama. With this qualification, it is believed that they have research skills as well as evidence-based practices surrounding the provision of quality care. The state of Alabama has specific regulations for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).

How the State Regulation Related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNS) Influence The Nurse’s Role

• The regulation allow nurses to engage in the provision of quality healthcare services
• The regulation also allow nurses to adhere to the evidence-based practices which are critical in the effective patient outcomes
• Also, the regulation allow nurses to develop collaborative skills in the delivery of quality healthcare services to all the patients.

 

One of the major roles of APRNs is to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services to all patients. They can achieve this through engagement in research-based healthcare services. Advanced practice registered nurses also play critical roles in the provision of effective leadership in the nursing processes. They guide other professionals in ensuring that patients are given healthcare services in line with their consent. In Alabama, for nurses to be become APRNs, they ought to have a Master’s degree from a recognized university. They also need to have research skills and the knowledge of evidence-based practices to ensure that there is the delivery of quality care. The state government of Alabama has advanced nursing training processes meant to produce more APRN nurses to meet the demands of the growing healthcare needs. However, the training processes offered differ significantly from the areas of specialties. Over the years, the state has been able to enhance the provision of quality care through the recruitment of more APRNs.

How the APRN Regulation Influence Delivery, Cost, and Access to Healthcare

• Recruiting APRNs with Master’s degree has enabled delivery of quality healthcare services. Improved delivery of healthcare processes has open the door for treatment of various complications and management of different patients within the healthcare institutions.
• With the recruitment of more APRN nurses, healthcare institutions have been able to undertake training processes aimed at increasing the number of nurses (Partin, 2019). The increase in the number of nurses has significantly reduced the cost of healthcare delivery. Also, with the increase in nurses, there have been an increase in the access of different healthcare services.

 

The recruitment of highly qualified professionals to be part of the APRN has led to the delivery of quality services. Alabama State has stiff regulations that ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services to patients (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2018). These regulations impact nursing practice in different ways. The regulations also ensure that patients are given quality healthcare services from different healthcare institutions. Alabama State has strict regulations on the educational qualification has allowed for the increased research processes and adherences to the evidence based practices. In other words, licenses are only given to qualified healthcare professionals or nurses; the reason is to ensure that only qualified and competent nurses are given the opportunity to manage patients and to provide effective healthcare services. The regulations are meant to enhance effective patient outcomes and ensure that proper treatment guidelines are followed. Every state often has unique regulations that ensure that healthcare professionals adhere to the required practices. Also, these regulations are meant to facilitate the delivery of quality healthcare to all patients. The state government of Alabama is committed to providing quality healthcare services to all the patients and ensuring general improvement in public health; thus, they are often engaged in the formulation of effective strategies.

Conclusion

• Both national nurse associations and the Board of nursing are led by directors elected that mainly consist of nurses and other members. The Board of Nurses is not always involved in the drafting of legislation. Also, they cannot oppose or support the proposed bills during legislative processes.

National nursing associations provide opportunities for general membership and can sometimes target specific roles, including critical care nurses and student nurses. National nurses associations often gain strength through expansive collaboration and exchange of ideas. Advanced practice registered nurses is always required to have advanced educational achievement, preferably Master’s level. At this level, they are supposed to have research skills as well as knowledge of evidence-based practices. Thus, they are the main agents when it comes to the provision or delivery of quality care to different patients. The Alabama Board of Nursing is mainly involved in the promotion and safeguarding of health and safety of the members of the public through the formulation of policies aimed at ensuring the nurse and other healthcare professionals adhere to the best practices that lead to the delivery of high-quality care.

References

• Alotaibi, M. (2017). Factors affecting nurses’ decisions to join their professional association. International Nursing Review, 54(2), 160-165. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1466-7657.2007.00555.x
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2018). National guidelines for nursing delegation. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 7(1), 5-14. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2155825616310353
• Stanley, J. M., Werner, K. E., & Apple, K. (2019). Positioning advanced practice registered nurses for health care reform: Consensus on APRN regulation. Journal of Professional Nursing, 25(6), 340-348. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S875572230900146X
• Heale, R., & Rieck Buckley, C. (2020). An international perspective of advanced practice nursing regulation. International nursing review, 62(3), 421-429. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/inr.12193
• Partin, B. (2019). Consensus model for APRN regulation. The Nurse Practitioner, 34(6), 8. https://journals.lww.com/tnpj/Citation/2009/06000/Consensus_model_for_APRN_regulation.3.aspx

Nursing is a very highly regulated profession. There are over 100 boards of nursing and national nursing associations throughout the United States and its territories. Their existence helps regulate, inform, and promote the nursing profession. With such numbers, it can be difficult to distinguish between BONs and nursing associations, and overwhelming to consider various benefits and options offered by each.

Both boards of nursing and national nursing associations have significant impacts on the nurse practitioner profession and scope of practice. Understanding these differences helps lend credence to your expertise as a professional. In this Assignment, you will practice the application of such expertise by communicating a comparison of boards of nursing and professional nurse associations. You will also share an analysis of your state board of nursing.

To Prepare:

• Assume that you are leading a staff development meeting on regulation for nursing practice at your healthcare organization or agency.
• Review the NCSBN and ANA websites to prepare for your presentation.

The Assignment: (9- to 10-slide PowerPoint presentation) 

Develop a 9- to 10-slide PowerPoint Presentation that addresses the following:

• Describe the differences between a board of nursing and a professional nurse association.
• Describe the geographic distribution, academic credentials, practice positions, and licensure status of members of the board for your specific region/area.
  • Who is on the board?
  • How does one become a member of the board?
• Describe at least one federal regulation for healthcare.
  • How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare (e.g., CMS, OSHA, and EPA)?
  • Has there been any change to the regulation within the past 5 years? Explain.
• Describe at least one state regulation related to general nurse scope of practice.
  • How does this regulation influence the nurse’s role?
  • How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?
• Describe at least one state regulation related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).
  • How does this regulation influence the nurse’s role?
  • How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?

By Day 7 of Week 6

Submit your Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting Presentation.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK6Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 6 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 6 Assignment  You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer Find the document you saved as “WK6Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submitbutton to complete your submission.
• Due to the nature of this assignment, your instructor may require more than 5 days to provide you with quality feedback.

• ***Please use CNO college of nurses of ontario as the board for my specific region/ area in this assignment*

Difference Between a Board of Nursing and a Professional Nurse Association

Board of Nursing

uAn executive-branch state government administrative agency charged with the power of duty to enforce laws and regulations governing the practice of nursing in the interest of public protection (Milstead, J. A. & Short, M. N., 2019, p.57).

Professional Nurses Association

uProfessional organizations that help with the improvement and quality of healthcare by fostering high standards of nursing practice; promote safe and ethical work environments; bolster the health and wellness of nurses; and advocate on healthcare issues that affect nurses and the public (ANA, n.d.).

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Name: NURS_6050_Module03_Week06_Assignment_Rubric

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Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Boards of Nursing vs. Professional Nurse Associations

Develop a 9- to 10-slide PowerPoint presentation that addresses the following:

·   Describe the differences between a board of nursing and a professional nurse association.
·   Describe the geographic distribution, academic credentials, practice positions, and licensure status of the members of the board for your specific region/area.
·   Who is on the board?
·   How does one become a member of the board?
·  Speaker notes are included on every slide and are used to explain and elaborate the significant points on each slide.

Points Range: 23 (23%) – 25 (25%)
The response accurately and thoroughly describes the differences between a board of nursing and a professional nurse association.

Response provides a complete and accurate description of who is on a board of nursing, detailing geographic distribution, academic credentials, practice positions, and licensure status.

The response provides a detailed and thorough explanation of how one becomes a member of the board of nursing.

Presentation includes speaker notes that explain and elaborate the points of the presentation.

Points Range: 20 (20%) – 22 (22%)
The response accurately describes the differences between a board of nursing and a professional nurse association.

Responses provides an accurate description of who is on a board of nursing, and detailing geographic distribution, academic credentials, practice positions, and licensure status.

The response provides an accurate explanation how one becomes a member of the board of nursing.

Presentation includes speaker notes that explain the points of the presentation.

Points Range: 18 (18%) – 19 (19%)
Description of the differences between a board of nursing and a professional nurse association is inaccurate or incomplete.

Description of who is on a board of nursing is incomplete or inaccurate in detailing geographic distribution, academic credentials, practice positions, and licensure status.

Explanation of how one becomes a member of the board of nursing is vague or inaccurate.

Presentation includes speaker notes that are incomplete or lack appropriate explanation.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 17 (17%)
Description of the differences between a board of nursing and a professional nurse associations is inaccurate and incomplete, or is missing.

Description of who is on a board of nursing detailing geographic distribution, academic credentials, practice positions, and licensure status is inaccurate and incomplete, or is missing.

Explanation of how one becomes a member of the board is vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Speaker notes are incomplete or missing altogether.
The Impact of Federal Regulation on Healthcare

Describe at least one federal regulation for healthcare.

·   How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare (e.g., CMS, OSHA, and EPA)?
·   Has there been any change to the regulation within the past 5 years? Explain.
·  Speaker notes are included on every slide and are used to explain and elaborate the significant points on each slide.

Points Range: 18 (18%) – 20 (20%)
Response clearly and accurately explains one or more federal regulations for healthcare.

Response clearly and accurately explains in detail how the regulation(s) influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare.

Response clearly and accurately explains in detail whether there has been any change to the regulation(s) within the past 5 years and specific, relevant examples are provided.

Presentation includes speaker notes that explain and elaborate the points of the presentation.

Points Range: 16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
Response accurately explains one federal regulation for healthcare.

The response accurately explains how the regulation(s) influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare.

Response accurately explains whether there has been any change to the regulation(s) within the past 5 years and a relevant example may be provided.

Presentation includes speaker notes that explain the points of the presentation.

Points Range: 14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
Explanation for one or more federal regulations for healthcare is vague or inaccurate.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare is vague or incomplete.

Explanation of whether there has been any change to the regulation(s) within the past 5 years is vague or inaccurate and/or examples are not relevant or are missing.

Presentation includes speaker notes that are incomplete or lack appropriate explanation.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 13 (13%)
Explanation of one or more federal regulations for healthcare is vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare is vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Explanation of whether there has been any change to the regulation(s) within the past 5 years and specific examples are vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Speaker notes are incomplete or missing altogether.
The Impact of State Regulation on Nurse Practice

Describe at least one state regulation related to general nurse scope of practice.
·  How does this regulation influence the nurse’s role?
·  How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?
·  Speaker notes are included on every slide and are used to explain and elaborate the significant points on each slide.

Points Range: 18 (18%) – 20 (20%)
Response includes a complete and accurate description that fully details how one or more state regulations are related to general nurse scope of practice.

Response clearly and accurately explains in detail how the regulation(s) influences the nurse’s role.

Response clearly and accurately explains in detail how the regulation(s) influences delivery, cost, and access to healthcare.

Presentation includes speaker notes that explain and elaborate the points of the presentation.

Points Range: 16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
Response includes an accurate description of how one state regulation is related to general nurse scope of practice.

Response accurately explains how the regulation influences the nurse’s role.

Response accurately explains how the regulation(s) influences delivery, cost, and access to healthcare.

Presentation includes speaker notes that explain the points of the presentation.

Points Range: 14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
Description of one or more state regulations that are related to general nurse scope of practice is incomplete or inaccurate.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influences the nurse’s role is vague or inaccurate.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influences delivery, cost, and access to healthcare is vague or inaccurate.

Presentation includes speaker notes that are incomplete or lack appropriate explanation.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 13 (13%)
Description of one or more state regulations related to general nurse scope of practice is vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influences the nurse’s role is vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influences delivery, cost, and access to healthcare is vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Speaker notes are incomplete or missing altogether.
Describe at least one state regulation related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).

·  How does this regulation influence the nurse’s role?
·  How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?
·  Speaker notes are included on every slide and are used to explain and elaborate the significant points on each slide.

Points Range: 18 (18%) – 20 (20%)
Response includes a complete and accurate description that fully details how one or more state regulations are related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).

Response clearly and accurately explains in detail how the regulation(s) influences the nurse’s role.

Response clearly and accurately explains in detail how the regulation(s) influences delivery, cost, and access to healthcare.

Presentation includes speaker notes that explain and elaborate the points of the presentation.

Points Range: 16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
Response includes an accurate description of how one state regulation is related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).

Response accurately explains how the regulation influences the nurse’s role.

Response accurately explains how the regulation(s) influences delivery, cost, and access to healthcare.

Presentation includes speaker notes that explain the points of the presentation.

Points Range: 14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
Description of one or more state regulations that are related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) is incomplete or inaccurate.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influences the nurse’s role is vague or inaccurate.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influences delivery, cost, and access to healthcare is vague or inaccurate.

Presentation includes speaker notes that are incomplete or lack appropriate explanation.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 13 (13%)
Description of one or more state regulations related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) is vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influences the nurse’s role is vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Explanation of how the regulation(s) influences delivery, cost, and access to healthcare is vague and inaccurate, or is missing.

Speaker notes are incomplete or missing altogether.
Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:

Paragraphs make clear points that support well developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused–neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria.

Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity.

A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria.

Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive.

Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%- 79% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time.

No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion was provided.
Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards:

Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation

Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.

Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1-2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3-4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.
Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list.

Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct APA format with no errors.

Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1-2) APA format errors.

Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3-4) APA format errors.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors.
Total Points: 100
Name: NURS_6050_Module03_Week06_Assignment_Rubric

The United States is facing a worsening physician shortage that exacerbates patients’ inability to receive care. Zhang et al., 2020 report that by 2030 the U.S is estimated to have a physician deficit of 139,160 physicians. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) have the potential to make a significant impact on the lack of available, affordable healthcare when allowed to practice to the full scope of their abilities.

In Georgia, my home state, APRNs are not allowed to practice to their full scope. Georgia is considered a restricted practice state (Clarke, 2021). APRNs must always practice under a supervising physician (Clarke, 2021). APRNs must enter into a  written nurse protocol with a delegating physician and practice within the protocol (GA – GAC, 2021). This protocol list parameter that an APRN must conform to when treating patients. These parameters include under which circumstances prescriptions can be given, the number of refills an APRN can write, when and if radiographic testing can be ordered, and how often patient charts must be reviewed by the physician (State Law Chart: Nurse Practitioner Practice Authority, 2017).

In Stark contrast to Georgia’s APRN state regulations, Colorado is considered a full practice state. APRNs in Colorado can function independently without any supervision from a physician (Clarke, 2021). They can diagnose and provide treatment to their patients without any restrictive protocols or agreements. According to State Law Chart: Nurse Practitioner Practice Authority, 2017, APRNs in Colorado do not need to have any specific amount of experience before entering practice independently and can own their practices.

Many studies have shown that when able to practice within the full range of their scope, APRNs can significantly improve healthcare shortages. The Centers for Disease Control, 2016 reports that states that removed restrictive practice regulations had an increase in patient access to care. Full practice states have been shown to have fewer Emergency department visits for non-emergency care, lower hospital admissions, expanded healthcare utilization, and lower cost of care (Bosse et al., 2017). Nurse Practitioners have been shown to give equal outcomes to physicians in many aspects of patient care, including patient satisfaction, glucose and blood pressure control, and hospitalizations (CDC, 2016).

In conclusion, nurse practitioners and other APRNs continue to advocate for the right to practice to the fullest scope of practice and make the most of their ability to care for patients. As the healthcare community faces a growing concern for a shortage of primary care physicians, APRNs strive to fill the gap.

 

References

 

 

Bosse, J., Simmonds, K., Hanson, C., Pulcini, J., Dunphy, L., Vanhook, P., & Poghosyan, L. (2017). Position statement: Full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses is necessary to transform primary care. Nursing Outlook, 65(6), 761–765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.10.002

Clarke, E. (2021, November 12). Nurse Practitioner Practice Authority: A State-by-State Guide | NurseJournal.org. NurseJournal. https://nursejournal.org/nurse-practitioner/np-practice-authority-by-state/

GA – GAC. (2021). Rules.sos.ga.gov. https://rules.sos.ga.gov/GAC/410-11

State law chart: Nurse Practitioner Practice Authority. (2017). American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/corp/media-browser/specialty%20group/arc/ama-chart-np-practice-authority.pdf

STATE LAW FACT SHEET: A SUMMARY OF NURSE PRACTITIONER SCOPE OF PRACTICE LAWS, IN EFFECT APRIL 2016. (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/pubs/docs/SLFS_NSOP_508.pdf

Zhang, X., Lin, D., Pforsich, H., & Lin, V. W. (2020). Physician workforce in the United States of America: forecasting nationwide shortages. Human Resources for Health, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-0448-