It is the responsibility of nurses to be cognizant of their state’s regulations in relation to their area of specialization. It is worth noting that every state has separate rules and regulations that tend to vary significantly.  In this post, I will list some of the unique variations that exist in nursing guidelines between the state of Mississippi and my home state of Missouri.

Having worked in both Missouri and Mississippi, I have come to the realization that not all states permit APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses) to practice to the complete extent of their education and licensure. One major barrier preventing APRNs from practising to the full extent of their education and license revolves around the conflicting clauses in the federal and state scope of practice (Milstead & Short, 2019).  According to the Missouri State Board of Nursing, APRNS who wish to offer prescription services for controlled substances are required by the BON to complete an equivalent of three semesters of Advanced Pharmacology course that is provided by faculties accredited by the Board (Missouri Nursing Board, 2021). Other requirements include 3000 hours of mentorship training with drugs, medicines, and therapeutic devices, agreeing with a physician with an unrestricted drug enforcement agency (DEA) number, and being engaged in the same practice (Missouri Nursing Board, 2021).

These requirements differ substantially from Mississippi’s Board of Nursing, which mandates that all APRNs have all the requisite training and collaboration that the state of Missouri requires in addition to 720 hours of supervised practice alongside pharmacology training that can be achieved by pharmacology coursework incorporated into the advanced practice program. The other distinctive difference can be seen from the lens of educational requirements. In Mississippi, an APRN must possess a Master’s degree in addition to clinical experience alongside national accreditation through an association approved by the Board (Mississippi Board of Nursing, 2018).  Meanwhile, in Missouri, individuals are considered APRNs if they are licensed registered nurses and have recognition documents that qualify them for that particular role. Essentially, this means that APRNs are acknowledged based on the federal advanced practice certification and must meet the educational needs stipulated by the Board.

References

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Mississippi Board of Nursing. (2018). Advanced Practice Registered Nurse | Mississippi Board of Nursing. Ms.gov. https://www.msbn.ms.gov/licensure/advanced-practice-registered-nurse

Missouri Nursing Board. (2021). APRN license requirements. Mo.gov. https://www.pr.mo.gov/nursing.asp