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Regulatory Processes for Nurse Practitioners
In Florida, nurse practitioners (NPs) work within a unique regulatory framework to ensure adequate healthcare safety. Additionally, the regulation establishes standards and requirements for practice within which the Florida Board of Nursing regulates NPs in Florida.
Licensing and Education
To be licensed as an NP in Florida, one must already be a licensed RN. Beyond that, one must have completed a graduate-level accredited NP program—for example, a CCNE or ACEN program. Further, they must undertake a national accreditation test within their line of speciality body by a national accrediting body like the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Definition of Scope of Practice
The state of Florida does have guidelines in its regulatory framework for the NP scope of practice. Historically, in Florida, NPs were required to practice in a limited fashion under a supervisory agreement with a physician. However, with time, legislation has been passed, making them more independent than before. In 2020, NPs were granted independent practice in Florida, provided that certain conditions were met, specifying their degree and years of experience (Yang et al., 2021). This law applies to NPs with at least 3000 hours of supervised practice along with some educational requirements and certifications.
Prescriptive Authority
According to state and federal laws, NPs in Florida have the power to prescribe medications, including controlled substances. They have to obtain a DEA number to prescribe controlled substances and follow the provisions specified in the collaborative practice agreement with an attending physician unless they meet the requirements of independent practice under the new law.
Continuing Education
In order to retain their license, NPs practicing in Florida must fulfill specific Continuing Education (CE) requirements, which are renewed every two years. This involves CE of not less than 30 hours, focusing on medical errors, law and rules, and identifying impairment in the workplace. NPs who prescribe substances in schedules II through V must do an additional three hours of CE on the risks of and effective means of prescribing medications on those schedules.
Professional Conduct and Discipline
The Florida Board of Nursing also regulates the professional conduct of NPs. According to Cimiotti et al. (2019), they can penalize the guilty NPs for unethical practices like practicing out of the allowed scope, substance abuse, or other dishonest conduct. Such disciplinary actions include fines, suspension, or removal of the license, depending on the severity of the offense.
References
Yang, B. K., Johantgen, M. E., Trinkoff, A. M., Idzik, S. R., Wince, J., & Tomlinson, C. (2021). State nurse practitioner practice regulations and US health care delivery outcomes: a systematic review. Medical Care Research and Review, 78(3), 183-196.
