The provision of high-quality clinical services is a priority for both the state and federal governments. The state and federal governments should administer policies that support quality and safe health experiences. Health legislators have a crucial role in developing suitable legislation and providing funds for the construction of healthcare infrastructure in order to improve the reliability and efficacy of service delivery (Torrens et al., 2020). The paper investigates how APRN practice regulations have been applied in Texas and New Jersey.
Texas Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Regulations
Nursing graduates of recognized nursing education programs, as well as nurses certified in other jurisdictions seeking Texas licensure through endorsement, are issued licenses by the Texas Board of Nursing. All nurses must renew their licenses every two years and provide documentation of mandatory continuing nursing education. Nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse midwives are all authorized to practice as advanced practice registered nurses under the BON (Zolnierek et al., 2021). The Texas Board of Nursing has also approved nursing schools that prepare nurses for their first year of practice. The BON is charged for enforcing the Nursing Practice Act and Rules by defining basic standards for nursing practice and education, conducting investigations into nurse complaints, and adjudicating complaints.
New Jersey’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Regulations
You must be certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing to work as an Advanced Practice Nurse in New Jersey. The organization also collaborates with participating physicians to build a collaborative protocol that ensures adherence to legal practice standards (Philips, 2021) Thus, the scope of practice is more reduced than restricted. The board in collaboration with registered APRNs, works to raise public awareness in order to improve access to care, collaboration among professionals, and effective leadership (Torrens et al., 2020). They also ensure that the federal government’s legislation governing the provision of evidence-based practice and patient safety is adhered to.
The Comparison
Both states rely on their nursing regulation bodies to dictate the development and execution of regulations that define the rights and privileges of the nurses. The Board of Nursing in New Jersey certifies nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists as Advanced Practice Nurses, or APNs (Philips, 2021). The Midwifery Liaison Committee certifies nurse midwives as Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs). Advanced practice nurses in Texas are licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing. Advanced practice licensing requires a registered nursing license from either Texas or another state that is a member of the nurse licensure compact. Graduate degrees as well as national certification are required. Prescriptive authority may or may not be included in APRN licensure (Zolnierek et al., 2021). Because of their licensing, nurse anesthetists have restricted prescribing authority. In some circumstances, the APRN is required to apply.
If an APRN hires a physician to supervise their practice, they are limited to practicing to the degree of their education and training. In Texas, physicians must review charts on a regular basis and sign a paper permitting the APRN to prescribe (Zolnierek et al., 2021). In New Jersey, which is not a full practice authority state, the requirement for APNs to adopt a collaborative protocol is limiting access to care (Philips, 2021). When an APN’s physician collaborator leaves, they lose their capacity to prescribe medications and medical equipment, reducing their ability to give proper treatment to their patients.
Application of the Regulations
APRNs have advanced clinical knowledge, education, and skills, allowing them to provide community-based specialty care. As a result of their adherence to the standards, they will be able to define the scope of their professional engagement as well as the boundaries of their activities (Zolnierek et al., 2021). Furthermore, before enrolling in a nursing advanced degree program, the regulations specify the amount of years of experience and certificates required. Every nurse practitioner, for example, must be certified by a Board of Nursing before becoming an APRN. If nurses finish the required school levels to become nurse specialists, they can follow the regulations. Non-adherence to the regulations may cause termination of license which restricts practice.
References
Phillips, S. J. (2021). 33rd annual APRN legislative update: unprecedented changes to APRN practice authority in unprecedented times. The Nurse Practitioner, 46(1), 27-55.
Torrens, C., Campbell, P., Hoskins, G., Strachan, H., Wells, M., Cunningham, M., … & Maxwell, M. (2020). Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the advanced nurse practitioner role in primary care settings: a scoping review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 104, 103443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103443
Zolnierek, C., Watson, J. J., & Ruiz, D. (2021). Texas Team Action Coalition Advancing Health Through Nursing: Past, Present, and Future. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 45(1), 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000451
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