California Board of Registered Nursing Discussion Paper

Response

Great post! You’ve provided a comprehensive overview of the certification and licensing process for nurse practitioners in Maryland, and it’s interesting to compare this with the situation in California, my home state. In California, like Maryland, nurse practitioners must complete a graduate-level nursing program accredited by recognized bodies. However, here, national certification can be obtained through different organizations such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). The state does not specify one particular certification body. The application process for certification in California typically involves submitting proof of education, national certification, and RN licensure to the California Board of Registered Nursing (California Healthcare Foundation, 2019). Much like Maryland, applicants may also need to undergo a background check. The California Board of Registered Nursing website serves as a valuable resource, similar to Maryland’s Board of Nursing site, offering information on licensing requirements, scope of practice guidelines, and renewal processes. California Board of Registered Nursing Discussion Paper

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In terms of scope of practice, California grants nurse practitioners full practice authority. This means they can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications without physician oversight. It’s a significant difference compared to Maryland’s requirement for a collaborative practice agreement. This change came into effect to address the state’s healthcare provider shortage and increase access to care. California also has a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) that collects and monitors controlled substance prescriptions, much like Maryland’s program (California Board of Registered Nursing, n.d). However, the autonomy nurse practitioners have in prescribing controlled substances in California aligns with the statewide full practice authority. One aspect that might differ is the specific process for DEA licensure in California. While nurse practitioners must apply for a DEA license, it is often a formality, given their full practice authority.

It’s fascinating to see how regulations and practice conditions for nurse practitioners can vary between states, reflecting the unique healthcare needs and policies of each region. In your case, your familiarity with the Maryland Board of Nursing’s website showcases the importance of staying updated on state-specific regulations to ensure safe and effective nursing practice. California Board of Registered Nursing Discussion Paper

References

California Board of Registered Nursing. (n.d). Nursing Practice Act. https://www.rn.ca.gov/practice/npa.shtml

California Healthcare Foundation. (2019). California’s Nurse Practitioners: How Scope of Practice Laws. 

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11:36amLocal: Aug 30 at 11:36am<br>Course: Aug 30 at 1:36pm
Certification and Licensure Plan

In this discussion, I will post a summary of my findings on my state, Maryland based on the questions listed. I will then explain the types of regulations that exist and the barriers that may impact nurse practitioner independent practice in your state. Lastly, I will describe what surprised me from the research. California Board of Registered Nursing Discussion Paper

Certification and Licensing Process

Certification and licensing of nurses are required for them to practice in Maryland. To be licensed and certified as an advanced nurse practitioner in Maryland, one must first complete a graduate-level nursing program (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2020). The program must be accredited by a recognized accrediting body. After completion, candidates can apply for national certification in their specific APRN role and population focus (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2020). It is done through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). California Board of Registered Nursing Discussion Paper

Application Process for Certification

In Maryland, a process is followed when applying for certification. It involves applying to the Maryland Board of Nursing (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2020). The application typically includes proof of education, documentation of national certification, verification of registered nurse (RN) licensure, and payment of the required fees (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2020). Applicants may also need to provide additional documents and undergo a criminal background check.

Maryland Board of Nursing Website

The Maryland Board of Nursing website serves as a valuable resource for APRNs in the state (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2020). It provides information regarding licensing requirements, scope of practice guidelines, renewal processes, and other relevant resources for APRNs practicing in Maryland. California Board of Registered Nursing Discussion Paper

Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners

In Maryland, the scope of practice for nurse practitioners is defined by the Nurse Practice Act and regulations set forth by the Maryland Board of Nursing (Buppert, 2021). Nurse practitioners in Maryland are authorized to diagnose and treat common acute and chronic conditions, order and interpret diagnostic tests, initiate and manage treatments, and prescribe medications within their specialty area and population focus.

State Practice Agreement

Maryland requires nurse practitioners to collaborate with a physician through a collaborative practice agreement (CPA). The CPA outlines the parameters of the collaboration between the nurse practitioner and the physician, including communication methods, protocols, and conditions for referral (Buppert, 2021). This agreement is designed to ensure patient safety and provide a framework for collaborative care.

DEA Licensure

DEA is responsible for prescribing and regulating the distribution of controlled medications such as narcotics and sedatives in the United States (Buppert, 2021). Nurse practitioners need this license to prescribe controlled drugs. To be licensed one has to apply to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) (Buppert, 2021). If one meets the stated standards he or she is given the license. California Board of Registered Nursing Discussion Paper

The Prescription Monitoring Program

The state has a prescription program known as the Maryland Prescription and Monitoring Program. It monitors and regulates the prescription of drugs (Pardo, 2017). This program collects and monitors data on controlled substance prescriptions to prevent the misuse and diversion of prescription drugs (Pardo, 2017). Nurse practitioners are required to comply with reporting and monitoring regulations outlined by the PDMP.

Controlled-Substance Prescriptive Authority

In Maryland, nurse practitioners have prescriptive authority for controlled substances (Buppert, 2021). The specific drug schedules that nurse practitioners are authorized to prescribe isdetermined by state regulations (Buppert, 2021). These regulations may vary depending on the nurse practitioner’s specialty area and population focus.

There is nothing that surprised me since I have been practicing as a nurse for a long. The knowledge, skills, and experience gained makes me more used to the Maryland Board of Nursing since it is one of the websites that I have been using for licensure and checking updates or changes in nursing practice. California Board of Registered Nursing Discussion Paper

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Conclusion

In a nutshell, becoming a certified and licensed APRN in Maryland requires completion of a graduate-level nursing program, national certification, and application to the Maryland Board of Nursing. Nurse practitioners in Maryland have a defined scope of practice, collaborate with physicians through a collaborative practice agreement, and have prescriptive authority for controlled substances.

References

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2020). State practice environment. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environmentLinks to an external site.

Buppert, C. (2021). Nurse practitioner’s business practice and legal guide (7th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning

Pardo, B. (2017). Do more robust prescription drug monitoring programs reduce prescription opioid overdose? Addiction, 112(10), 1773-1783.https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13741 California Board of Registered Nursing Discussion Paper