NURS 6565: Synthesis in Advanced Practice Care of Complex Patients in Primary Care Settings | Week 6

Nationally recognized competencies and practice standards ensure our profession is meeting the benchmark for excellence in health care delivery to include acute, chronic, and preventive care. Research has proven that the care provided by NPs improves patient outcomes significantly. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) developed NP Competencies to use as a guide for ensuring NPs have mastered their program of study and are ready to transition from the role of RN to the role of NP and pursue National Certification with one of the current certifying bodies. NURS 6565: Week 6: Certification, Licensure, and Scope of Practice.

Once certified, NPs are then eligible to apply for licensure as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in the state provider status is desired. Currently for FNPs and AGPCNPs, The American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Credentialing center both support the outcome of the APRN Consensus Model to ensure licensure after completion of an accredited program(s) of study and certification, which is recognized on a national level. The consensus model supports the goals of the nationally recognized APRN certification process with the ultimate goal of aligning credentials in regards to education, accreditation, licensure, and certification to establish a more uniform practice across the country.

This week you will review the importance of certification and licensure and recognize the differences in the application process at the state level. Additionally, students will examine the importance of Scope of Practice in regard to certification, licensure, and practice.

Learning Objectives – NURS 6565: Week 6: Certification, Licensure, and Scope of Practice

By the end of this week, students will:

• Analyze NP certification, licensure, and relocation processes
• Compare Scope of Practice among acute care, family practice, and adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioners
• Evaluate certification exam options
• Create plans for passing National Certification Exams
• Analyze state restrictions or limitations for practice

Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this module. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this module’s assigned Learning Resources.

Required Readings

American Nurses Association (n.d.). Advanced Practice Nurses. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/AdvancedPracticeNurses

Barton Associates (n.d.). Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Laws. Retrieved from http://www.bartonassociates.com/nurse-practitioners/nurse-practitioner-scope-of-practice-laws/

Buppert, C. (2015). Appendix 1-A, state by state definitions of the nurse practitioner. In Nurse Practitioner’s Business Practice and Legal Guide (5th ed.) (16-32). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (n.d.). Boards and Regulations. Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/boards.htm

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (2011). Statement on Acute Care and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Practice.Retrieved from http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/imported/NPPrimaryCareAcuteCarePracticeFINAL.pdf

O’Connell, J., Gardner, G., & Coyer, F. (2014). Beyond competencies: Using a capability framework in developing practice standards for advanced practice nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(12), 2728-2735.

Pearson, L. (2014). 2014 Pearson Report. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett. Retrieved from http://d2jw81rkebrcvk.cloudfront.net/assets.navigate/Nurse_Practitioners_Business_Practice_Legal_Guide/CWS/The_Pearson_Report.pdf

Wood, D. (2015). Everyday Ethics for Nurses: Addressing Ethical Challenges – Turning the Nurses Week theme into Year-Round Ethical Practice. Retrieved from http://essynursingservices.com/everyday-ethics-for-nurses-addressing-ethical-challenges/

Document: Licensing and Certification (PPT Presentation)

Document: Nurse Practitioner Certification Applications (Word document)

Document: Test Taking Strategies to Prepare for Your Certification Exam

Note: All nurses who review this presentation will earn one contact hour.

Certification Sites

The purpose of the credentialing body is to provide a valid and reliable program for entry-level nurse practitioners to recognize and validate their education, knowledge, and professional expertise as a nurse practitioner. Both credentialing bodies will be reviewed including application process.

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (n.d.). American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Program. Retrieved from http://www.aanpcert.org/index

American Nurses Association (n.d.). American Nurses Credentialing Center. Retrieved from http://www.nursecredentialing.org/

Required Media – NURS 6565: Week 6: Certification, Licensure, and Scope of Practice

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2011, April 19). A Brief History of the AANP [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M9gyjvpetw

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes.

Optional Resources

Delaney, K. R. (2014, November). 2015 Is Here: The Impact of LACE on the Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing Workforce. Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 27, (161-162). doi:10.1111/jcap.12096.

Discussion: Understanding Scope of Practice in relation to Certification and Licensure

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a non-profit organization comprised of members from each state board of nursing in the U.S., the District of Columbia, and the four U.S. territories. Their role is to provide a platform for all state boards of nursing to convene, discuss, and ensure all state boards work together to provide the appropriate regulation to ensure that public health, safety, and welfare is the primary focus. A key element of NP licensure is understanding the components of Scope of Practice and subsequent practice within the parameters of the educational program completed and appropriate national certification.

To prepare:

• Consider the differences in certification exams options for your specialty
• Consider whether primary care NP graduates are qualified to seek employment in acute care settings such as ER, OR, or hospitalist/intensivist
• Review and select one of the following case studies to research in depth:
  • Case Study One: Selecting the Certification Exam for your specialty.
    Mary is in the last two months of her program of study. She is trying to decide whether to take the American Association of Nurse Practitioner Credentialing Exam or the American Nurses Credentialing Exam.
  • Case Study Two: Obtaining initial licensure post matriculation.
    Amy, FNP-BC has recently graduated from an accredited Family Nurse Practitioner Program. She decides to relocate from her home state of Tennessee to Missouri and practice in a rural area. She is very excited about her new role and new position.

By Day 3

Post the National Certification Exam you plan to take, a brief explanation for why you chose this exam, and an outline of your plan for passing the National Certification Exam you selected. Then, provide an explanation of the professional and/or clinical practice issues the new Nurse Practitioner will need to consider and address with the certification, licensure, credentialing, or relocation process. Compare Scope of Practice between the Acute Care, Family Practice, and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and how practice may differ from state to state. Then, identify and explain at least two types of settings that are appropriate for FNP and AGPCNP graduates to practice.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 7

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on three different days in one or more of the ways listed below. Respond to colleagues who selected a different Case Study than you did.

• Reflect on the differences between certifying bodies that offer credentialing exams for registered nurses.
• Provide key components a Nurse Practitioner should consider when relocating from one state to another.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. NURS 6565: Week 6: Certification, Licensure, and Scope of Practice

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFO 

Certification, Licensure, and Scope of Practice for Nurses

Introduction

Nurses are a vital part of the healthcare industry. They provide care in hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities. Nurses help patients and families manage their health needs by providing education, counseling and support services.

Educational Requirements, Nurse Practitioner Licensure, and Scope of Practice

• Educational Requirements:

• To be certified as a registered nurse, you must have completed an accredited program of nursing education. There are many different types of programs available and they vary in length, type and location. The length of your program will depend on how long it takes you to graduate from high school or college; however, most four-year programs require two years or more for full completion (depending on which institution).

• Licensure:

• The initial step toward becoming a licensed RN is completing an approved educational program that meets state requirements for licensure as an RN or LPN/LVN. This may include passing exams such as NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination) with at least a passing score issued by either Pearson VUE Testing Centers or Prometric Testing Centers in order to qualify for licensure as an RN or LPN/LVN; otherwise known as board certification

Certification and Licensure, with Scope of Practice

The first thing to understand is that nurses are certified and licensed. Nurses can be certified in one state, but they must also be licensed in another one. For example, if you are a nurse practitioner in California, your scope of practice will include treating acute care patients as well as managing chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension. However if you were practicing as an independent contractor in Massachusetts (where there is no board), your scope of practice would only include managing chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension—not acute care patients at all!

This difference between the two states has everything to do with how each state chooses to regulate their nurses’ workforces: whether they want them working independently (as independent contractors) or whether they want them working under someone else’s watchful eye (like hospital employees).

There are many types of nurses and they all work within their educational standards.

Nurses are educated in many different ways. Some nurses have a BSN and others have an associates degree. Nurses can also be certified by their state if they work in certain areas, such as emergency care or psychiatric nursing.

Conclusion

We hope that you now have a better understanding of the many different types of nurses and their scope of practice. As you can see, there are many different levels of certification and licensure, but each state has its own standards for nurses practicing within their state. It is also important to note that nurse practitioners (NPs) are not required in all states – they’re just one example out of many types of RNs!