Regulation of Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners in Florida
Regulation of Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners in Florida
Registered Nurses (RNs) and Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners (APRNs) in Florida are subject to the Nurses Practice Act, which governs nursing practice in the state (Florida Board of Nursing, 2022). RNs must graduate from a Florida-approved nursing school and pass the National Council Licensure Examination to obtain licensure, with renewal requiring completion of continuing education credits every two years (Florida Board of Nursing, 2022). APRNs, in addition to RN licensure, must obtain a Master’s of Nursing degree from an accredited Florida nursing school, pass a specialized certification exam, and accrue 3000 supervised hours before practicing independently (Florida Board of Nursing, 2022).
Impact of Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners on Healthcare Delivery, Costs, and Access
In Florida, the increased involvement of APRNs, both independently and in collaboration with physicians, has facilitated enhanced healthcare access and reduced costs, particularly pertinent amid a growing elderly population (Cleveland et al., 2019). Utilizing APRNs more efficiently than physicians has the potential to generate significant cost savings for the state healthcare system, alleviating the strain posed by physician shortages and enhancing patient care efficiency.
References
American Nurses Association. (2021). American Nurses Association. ANA. Retrieved January 8, 2022, from https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/
Cleveland, K., Motter, T., & Smith, Y. (2019). Affordable care: Harnessing the power of Nurses. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.3912/ojin.vol24no02man02
CMS. (2021). Home – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS. Retrieved January 8, 2022, from https://www.cms.gov/
Florida Board of Nursing. (2022). Licensing and registration. Florida Board of Nursing. Retrieved January 8, 2022, from https://floridasnursing.gov/licensing/
National Council State Board of Nursing, Inc. (2022). Nursing regulation. NCSBN. Retrieved January 8, 2022, from https://ncsbn.org/boards.htm
Short, N. M., & Loversidge, J. M. (2019). Chapter 4 Government Response: Regulation. In Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed., pp. 56– 84). Jones & Bartlett Learning.