For a full-fledged work in the framework of advanced nursing practice, a thorough study of the characteristics of work in this specialty is necessary. As with many other medical fields, getting an APN job comes with several complexities. It is essential to study the minimum requirements for the assignment of this status, what is necessary to maintain it, what nurses can prescribe, etc. However, these factors may differ from one state to another, so careful research should be done with regional considerations in mind. The purpose of this essay is to examine the APN working environment in Vermont and compare this information to that of New Jersey for comparative analysis.
In general, the term Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) refers to a trained healthcare professional who is at the forefront of providing advice and assistance. Unlike ordinary registered nurses (RNs), APNs have at least a Master’s degree (“APRN,” n.d.). Besides, these specialists’ activities are divided into four categories: nurse practitioners (NP), certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists (CNS), and certified registered nurse anesthetists. Each of these areas focuses on a specific area of medicine, providing the help people need.
All of the above categories are present in Vermont, and advanced practice nurses in this region are registered as APRNs. The State Council recognizes and oversees all categories, although introducing a slightly different definition for one of the – CNS is defined as a clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric and mental health nursing (“Advanced practice registered nurse requirements in Vermont,” n.d.). Thus, there is a significant difference in the state of New Jersey, in which, despite the similar presence of all four categories, one of them, namely certified nurse-midwives, is supervised by an independent body (“Advanced practice nurse license requirements in New Jersey,” n.d.). However, the conditions for obtaining APRN status are similar in both states.
In Vermont and New Jersey, a future advanced nurse must have at least a Master’s degree and be registered in advance as an RN. On the other hand, Vermont is not a party to the Nursing Licensing agreement, so applicants for this position must obtain national certification. At this point, both states also have similar requirements, recognizing organizations such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). To maintain a license, it is necessary to demonstrate continuous practice results, showing 400 hours of work over the past two years, or 960 hours over a five-year period. If the nurse spent some time without practice, a refresher course would be assigned depending on the lack of hours.
Vermont requires a nurse to complete a year to a two-year internship with 1,600 to 2,400 hours of experience before becoming an APRN. This agreement must be concluded either with a doctor or with another ARPN. However, this medical worker’s direction of work must be similar to the one under study (“Advanced practice registered nurse requirements in Vermont,” n.d.). This agreement specifies contact information, specialty, and specific data inherent in a particular medical field. There is no strict need to keep this agreement permanently after it has been signed and approved by the Vermont Council (“Steps to becoming an APRN in Vermont,” n.d.).
APRN nurses have the authority to prescribe drugs according to a standard protocol. Unlike New Jersey, there is no need for physician oversight in this state, and nurses have complete independence in this matter. Vermont APRNs can prescribe Schedules II-V controlled substances by registering their DEA number (Phillips, 2018). Those workers who have access to and prescribe controlled substances due to their occupation must complete a two-hour course of study of this material every two years to have up-to-date information regarding existing medicinal products.
As in New Jersey, APRNs in Vermont can hold hospital privileges. However, the latter state is distinguished by the presence of clear agency protocols regulating this activity (Phillips, 2018). Since Vermont APRNs have much the same status as doctors, the restrictions are minimal. With full independence, nurses can open their practices in a way that their New Jersey counterparts cannot. This allows expanding the scope of medical services through the formation of separate personal clinics.
Besides, in this state, APRNs can prescribe drugs just like physicians. The only limitation is the need to queue at the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System when prescribing opioids or long-term nonpalliative pain relief therapy (Phillips, 2018). However, Vermont’s requirements on this issue are much lower than in New Jersey due to the lack of various additional protocols. However, nurses still cannot prescribe physical therapy, end-of-life care, or home health care, and neither can their New Jersey counterparts.
Thus, we can conclude that in many respects, the legislation of the two states regarding the issue of advanced medical practice converges. Both Vermont and New Jersey have nearly identical APRN qualifications. The use of similar documentation also makes the medical representatives of these two regions similar. However, there are differences, mostly centered around the independence of professionals. Unlike New Jersey, nurses in Vermont have nearly the same rights as physicians, allowing them to operate without additional supervision. This decision is beneficial for the development of private businesses, which ultimately positively affects people’s health.
References
Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). (n.d.). ANA Enterprise. Web.
Advanced practice nurse license requirements in New Jersey: Nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist. (n.d.). NursingLicensure. Web.
Advanced practice registered nurse requirements in Vermont. (n.d.). NursingLicensure. Web.
Phillips, S. J. (2018). 30th annual APRN legislative update: Improving access to healthcare one state at a time. The Nurse Practitioner, 43(1), 27-54. Web.
Steps to becoming an APRN in Vermont. (n.d.). GraduateNursingEDU. Web.