Assignment: Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting
Nursing is a very highly regulated profession. There are over 100 boards of nursing and national nursing associations throughout the United States and its territories. Their existence helps regulate, inform, and promote the nursing profession. With such numbers, it can be difficult to distinguish between BONs and nursing associations, and overwhelming to consider various benefits and options offered by each.
Both boards of nursing and national nursing associations have significant impacts on the nurse practitioner profession and scope of practice. Understanding these differences helps lend credence to your expertise as a professional. In this Assignment, you will practice the application of such expertise by communicating a comparison of boards of nursing and professional nurse associations. You will also share an analysis of your state board of nursing.
To Prepare:
Assume that you are leading a staff development meeting on regulation for nursing practice at your healthcare organization or agency.
Review the NCSBN and ANA websites to prepare for your presentation.
The Assignment: (9- to 10-slide PowerPoint presentation)
Develop a 9- to 10-slide Voice-Over PowerPoint Presentation that addresses the following:
Describe the differences between a board of nursing and a professional nurse association.
Describe the geographic distribution, academic credentials, practice positions, and licensure status of members of the board for your specific region/area.
Who is on the board?
How does one become a member of the board?
Describe at least one federal regulation for healthcare.
How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare (e.g., CMS, OSHA, and EPA)?
Has there been any change to the regulation within the past 5 years? Explain.
Describe at least one state regulation related to general nurse scope of practice.
How does this regulation influence the nurse’s role?
How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?
Describe at least one state regulation related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).
How does this regulation influence the nurse’s role?
How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?
By Day 7 of Week 6
Submit your Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting Presentation.
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Regulation of the Nursing Profession: Understanding the Roles of Boards of Nursing and Professional Associations
Introduction
Nursing is a highly regulated profession with oversight provided at both the state and national levels. Effective regulation is necessary to protect the public and ensure high standards of care, yet can also impact the scope and practice of nursing. This article explores the key regulatory bodies that govern nursing – boards of nursing and professional nursing associations – comparing their roles and examining how regulations influence nursing practice.
Boards of Nursing vs Professional Associations
Boards of nursing (BONs) and professional nursing associations both aim to support and advance the nursing profession, but have distinct functions. A BON is a regulatory agency established by law with a mandate to protect public health and safety (National Council of State Boards of Nursing [NCSBN], n.d.). Each U.S. state and territory has a BON responsible for licensing nurses, establishing standards of practice, and enforcing nursing laws and regulations (NCSBN, n.d.).
In contrast, professional nursing associations are voluntary membership organizations that promote the nursing profession through various programs and services (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2022). The largest national association is the American Nurses Association (ANA), which represents nurses from all practice areas and has over 100,000 members (ANA, 2022). Other major associations include the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. While associations advocate for the profession, only BONs have legal authority to regulate nursing practice (NCSBN, n.d.).
State Regulation of Nursing Practice
As the regulatory body for nursing, a state’s BON establishes rules regarding licensure, scope of practice, and standards of competent practice (NCSBN, n.d.). For example, in Massachusetts the Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) regulates over 170,000 licensed nurses through the Nursing Practice Act (BORN, 2022). BORN members include nurses, physicians and members of the public appointed by the governor (BORN, 2022). To become a BORN member requires nomination by the state nursing community and gubernatorial appointment (BORN, 2022).
The BORN establishes standards for various levels of nursing licensure from registered nurse to advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), impacting what care nurses can deliver (BORN, 2022). For instance, Massachusetts regulations allow certified nurse midwives to provide full midwifery care, helping to increase access to this type of maternity care (BORN, 2022). However, regulations can also limit scope – for example, prohibiting RNs from prescribing medications without additional education (BORN, 2022). Overall, state BON rules shape how and where nurses practice across different care settings.
Federal Regulation of Healthcare
At the national level, several federal agencies regulate aspects of healthcare delivery with implications for nursing. For instance, regulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) determine reimbursement rates for nursing services delivered to Medicare and Medicaid patients (CMS, 2022). This influences the availability of nursing jobs and types of care that can be financially supported.
Another example is occupational safety standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA regulations mandate measures like personal protective equipment, exposure limits, and safety protocols to protect healthcare workers from hazards like infectious diseases, needlesticks, and violence (OSHA, 2022). Adhering to OSHA standards impacts the resources required to ensure safe nursing practice. Some federal regulations have also expanded nursing roles – for instance, in 2022 CMS approved a rule allowing nurse practitioners to directly bill Medicare, improving their reimbursement (CMS, 2022). Overall, federal rules shape the healthcare system context within which nursing is delivered.
Conclusion
Effective regulation is necessary to protect the public and ensure high quality nursing care. Boards of nursing and professional associations both support nurses but have distinct functions – BONs regulate practice through licensure and scope rules while associations advocate for the profession. At both the state and federal levels, regulations influence nursing practice by determining standards, reimbursement models, safety protocols and the overall healthcare delivery system. Understanding these regulatory influences provides insight into how nursing is governed and helps ensure compliance with the rules that shape the profession.
References
American Nurses Association. (2022). About ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/about-ana/
Board of Registration in Nursing. (2022). About the board. https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-nursing
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). Nurse practitioners. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/MedicareProviderSupEnroll/NursePractitioners
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (n.d.). About NCSBN. https://www.ncsbn.org/about.htm
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2022). Healthcare wide hazards. https://www.osha.gov/healthcare
Regulation of the Nursing Profession Meeting Assignment
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Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting
Nursing practice is a dynamic and evolving profession that requires constant updating and improvement of skills and knowledge. One of the ways to achieve this is through staff development meetings, which are regular sessions where nurses share their experiences, learn from each other, and discuss current issues and trends in the field. Staff development meetings are also an opportunity to review and reinforce the regulations for nursing practice, which are the standards and guidelines that govern the profession and ensure quality and safety of care.
Regulations for nursing practice are established by various authorities, such as the state boards of nursing, the American Nurses Association (ANA), the Joint Commission, and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). These regulations cover various aspects of nursing practice, such as scope of practice, delegation, supervision, documentation, ethics, and professional conduct. Nurses are expected to comply with these regulations and to report any violations or concerns to the appropriate authorities.
Staff development meetings can help nurses to understand and apply the regulations for nursing practice in their daily work. Some of the benefits of staff development meetings are:
– They promote a culture of learning and improvement among nurses.
– They foster collaboration and communication among nurses and other health care professionals.
– They enhance nurses’ competence and confidence in their practice.
– They increase nurses’ awareness of current issues and challenges in the field.
– They support nurses’ professional growth and development.
To make staff development meetings effective and engaging, some of the strategies that can be used are:
– Plan ahead and set clear objectives and agenda for each meeting.
– Invite guest speakers or experts to share their insights and expertise on relevant topics.
– Use interactive methods, such as case studies, simulations, role plays, quizzes, or games, to stimulate discussion and learning.
– Encourage feedback and Assessment from participants and use it to improve future meetings.
– Provide recognition and rewards for participation and achievement.
Staff development meetings are an essential part of nursing practice that can help nurses to stay updated and informed about the regulations for nursing practice. By participating in staff development meetings, nurses can enhance their skills and knowledge, improve their performance and quality of care, and advance their professional career.
References:
– ANA. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Silver Spring, MD: Author.
– Joint Commission. (2018). Standards for hospital accreditation. Oakbrook Terrace, IL: Author.
– NCSBN. (2017). Model nursing practice act and model nursing administrative rules. Chicago, IL: Author.
