ASSIGNMENT: PROFESSIONAL NURSING AND STATE-LEVEL REGULATIONS

Professional nursing and state-level regulations
Nurses, especially advanced practice nurses, should know the practice environment in their states and regions to understand their roles and responsibilities. Practice environments for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) range from full practice to restricted in various states (Barton et al., 2021). States have boards of nursing (BON) that regulate and oversee nursing practice activities. Each state board of nursing is a member of the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) which regulates nurses’ activities using clearly defined standards and practice regulations. In Illinois, the State Board of Nursing regulates the nursing practice and licensing of practitioners (AANP, n.d). The board also sets standards and scope of practice for all nurses, including advanced practice nurses (APN). This discussion compares nurse regulations and requirements in Illinois and Kentucky.

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Nurses in Illinois and Kentucky have reduced practice authority. In Illinois, nurses are required to practice under the supervision of a physician through a collaborative agreement. The requirements to practice in Illinois and Kentucky are similar. For instance, to qualify and practice as an APRN, the individual must have an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role, and national certification (Kapu, 2021). Secondly, Illinois requires NPs to have at least 200 practice hours to qualify as advanced practice nurses. However, in Kentucky, the State Board of Nursing requires the state assembly to determine the practice hours for one to qualify and practice in an NP role (Kentucky Board of Nursing, n.d).
These regulations apply to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have the legal authority to practice within the full scope of their education and experience as they limit their activities. The reduced practice authority in both states implies that APRNs cannot prescribe drugs in certain schedules. Professional autonomy is a critical aspect of nursing as it enables NPs to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability. As such, these regulations mean that APRNs in the two states will not offer care as primary providers in rural areas that require healthcare providers (Milstead et al., 2021). APRNs can adhere to these regulations by a collaborative agreement with physicians and practicing within the regulatory standards and scope. For instance, they can have an independent practice and prescribe medications after consulting the collaborating physician.

References
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) (n.d). Illinois: Information and Resources
for Illinois NPs. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/illinois
American Association Nurse Practitioners (AANP) (n.d.b). Kentucky: Information and Resources
for Kentucky NPs. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/kentucky
Barton, M. J., Hannum, B. C., Lindsey, M., & Towle, T. (2021). The Path Toward Full Practice
Authority: One State’s Strategy. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 147-152. DOI:10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.011
Kentucky Board of Nursing (n.d.). A Nurse Responsibility and Accountability.
https://kbn.ky.gov/advanced-practice-registered-nurse/Pages/default.aspx
Kapu, A. (2021). Patients are Choosing Nurse Practitioners as Their Primary Care Providers in
Many Communities Across the US. The journal of nursing administration, 51(9), 422–423. DOI: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001040.
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2021). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.).
Jones & Bartlett Learning.

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Boards of Nursing (BONs) exist in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Similar entities may also exist for different regions. The mission of BONs is the protection of the public through the regulation of nursing practice. BONs put into practice state/region regulations for nurses that, among other things, lay out the requirements for licensure and define the scope of nursing practice in that state/region.

It can be a valuable exercise to compare regulations among various state/regional boards of nursing. Doing so can help share insights that could be useful should there be future changes in a state/region. In addition, nurses may find the need to be licensed in multiple states or regions.

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.

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