Response 1
For this week’s discussion board topic, we were tasked to discuss the difference between two APRN board of nursing regulations with those of other states and to see how they may differ. I decided to choose my home state of Ohio and compare it with that of Maryland.
In the state of Ohio there is no rule on how to select the collaborating physician as long as the physician chosen is licensed in Ohio. They also must be practicing the same or similar specialty as the APRN specialty (OAAPN, n.d.). In Maryland there are rules that state that before full practice can be granted, the APRN must have a relationship with the physician for 18 months prior (NCSL, 2021).
An APRN in Ohio may prescribe drugs including Schedule III – V controlled substances in collaboration with a physician. They may prescribe level II if the patient has a terminal condition (NSCL, n.d.). They can prescribe the Scheduled III – V if they complete additional courses and have 5 years’ experience (Ohio APRNs, n.d.). While in Maryland the APRN may independently prescribe Schedule II – V controlled substances (NCSL, 2021).
These regulations apply to practicing APRN’s in their respective states by guiding the APRN in their practice. This allows them to legally provide the care to their patients that their patients require. AN example of an APRN adhering to these regulations would be if a APRN had a patient in the state of Ohio that required a Schedule III drug they would need to collaborate with a physician to get that patient the drugs that they require. 2 APA references
Responses 2
In this post, I will list the difference between advanced practice registered nurses’ rules and regulations in my home state New Jersey in contrast with California. In addition, I will explain how the regulations apply to advanced practice registered Nurses.
Like any profession, advanced practice registered nurses have rules and regulations to which they adhere to. The scope of practice of advanced practice registered nurses varies by state. In New Jersey, advanced practice registered nurses has rules and regulations to which they adhere to. In New Jersey, nurse practitioners must collaborate with a physician to prescribe medications known as a joint protocol. Nurse practitioners are recognized in NJ to be primary care providers; however, they must collaborate with physicians. Nurse practitioners in NJ are allowed to pronounce death and perform DOT physicals (Nurse Practitioner Schools, n.d.).
On the contrary, in Florida, advanced registered nurses’ scope of practice is different from New Jersey. Florida recognizes nurse practitioners to be primary care providers and can work independently from doctors (NCSL, n.d.). Florida also allows APRNs to prescribe any drug, including controlled substances, whereas NJ APRNs have to collaborate with a doctor (New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, n.d.). Being an NJ resident, it is very common to visit a doctor’s office and have multiple APRNs in the office working with the doctor. Based on my research findings I can only question when will New Jersey grant full practice to their APRNs?
With so many variations of full practice authority regulations for APRNs at the state level, it can affect APRNs in different ways. For example, relocation depending on salary or family circumstances can make an APRN think twice if the state differs from the practices in the present state of residency. Another example is working independently versus having to collaborate with a physician. Some APRNs might feel uncomfortable depending on the practice they are used to. 2 APA refernces
