Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting
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:
Develop a 2-page essay 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?
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Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting
Nursing is a highly regulated profession. There are over 100 boards of nursing and national nursing associations throughout the United States and its territories. These organizations play a vital role in protecting the public, advancing the nursing profession, and providing support to nurses.
In this staff development meeting, we will discuss the differences between boards of nursing and professional nursing associations. We will also take a closer look at the regulations that govern nursing practice in our state.
Boards of Nursing
Boards of nursing are government agencies that are responsible for regulating the practice of nursing in each state. Their primary function is to protect the public by ensuring that nurses are competent and qualified to practice.
Boards of nursing have a variety of responsibilities, including:
Licensure: Boards of nursing are responsible for issuing licenses to nurses. This process includes verifying that the applicant has met the educational and experience requirements for licensure.
Discipline: Boards of nursing investigate and discipline nurses who violate the nursing practice act. This may include suspension or revocation of a nurse’s license.
Regulation: Boards of nursing develop and enforce regulations that govern nursing practice. These regulations may address topics such as scope of practice, continuing education, and medication administration.
Professional Nursing Associations
Professional nursing associations are non-profit organizations that are dedicated to advancing the nursing profession. These organizations provide a variety of resources and services to nurses, including:
Advocacy: Professional nursing associations advocate for nurses and the nursing profession at the local, state, and national levels.
Education: Professional nursing associations offer a variety of educational opportunities for nurses, including continuing education courses, conferences, and workshops.
Research: Professional nursing associations support nursing research through grants and other funding opportunities.
Leadership: Professional nursing associations provide opportunities for nurses to develop leadership skills through mentoring, training, and other programs.
Comparison of Boards of Nursing and Professional Nursing Associations
There are a number of key differences between boards of nursing and professional nursing associations. These differences include:
Authority: Boards of nursing are government agencies with the authority to regulate the practice of nursing. Professional nursing associations are non-profit organizations that do not have the authority to regulate nursing practice.
Membership: Boards of nursing are composed of members who are appointed by the governor or legislature. Professional nursing associations are open to membership by all nurses.
Funding: Boards of nursing are funded by fees paid by nurses for licensure. Professional nursing associations are funded by membership dues and other sources of revenue.
State Regulation of Nursing Practice
In addition to the regulations that are set by boards of nursing, nursing practice is also regulated by state laws. These laws may address topics such as scope of practice, continuing education, and medication administration.
Scope of Practice
Scope of practice refers to the activities that a nurse is legally authorized to perform. The scope of practice for nurses is determined by state law.
In general, nurses are authorized to perform a wide range of activities, including:
Assessing and monitoring patients’ health status
Administering medications
Providing patient education
Advocating for patients
However, there are some activities that are restricted to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). APRNs are nurses who have completed advanced education and training. They are authorized to perform a wider range of activities than registered nurses, including diagnosing and treating patients.
Continuing Education
Continuing education is a requirement for all nurses who want to maintain their licenses. Continuing education helps nurses stay up-to-date on the latest evidence-based practice and ensure that they are providing quality care to their patients.
The amount of continuing education that is required varies from state to state. However, most states require nurses to complete a certain number of continuing education hours every two years.
Medication Administration
Medication administration is a critical nursing responsibility. Nurses are responsible for ensuring that patients receive the correct medications at the correct doses.
The laws governing medication administration vary from state to state. However, there are some general principles that apply to all states. These principles include:
Nurses must be properly trained to administer medications.
Nurses must follow the orders of a licensed prescriber.
Nurses must check the medication label three times before administering a medication.
Nurses must document all medication administration.
Conclusion
Nursing practice is regulated by a variety of organizations, including boards of nursing and professional nursing associations. These organizations play a vital role in protecting the public, advancing the nursing profession, and providing support to nurses.
References
American Nurses Association. (2023). The American Nurses Association: Who we are. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/
