Major Provisions of the Bill and Quality Care
The 2017 Florida Legislative Session conducted by Florida Board of Nursing issued several bills related to nursing practice and aimed at improving it. One of the most important bills is 543 Regulation of Health Care Practitioners. It proposes the commitment to an established protocol regarding the practice of the Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) (“CS/CS/HB 543,” 2017). The document also emphasizes that no new protocols will be accepted as of the effective date of the bill. It should be emphasized that this bill covers the state of Florida.
Through the given bill, Florida Board of Nursing declares its authorization to change nursing educational programs. Among the major provisions, there are the elimination of the requirement that applicants should have a certain preparation certificates and the clarification regarding the probationary status. 543 Regulation of Health Care Practitioners affects nurses’ ability to provide a high-quality care by offering more opportunities for their education.
For example, due to the introduction of the requirement to wait for three years after termination of a certain program allows nurses to focus on the most relevant educational options, thus advancing their knowledge and skills. Another opportunity that can be used by nurses refers to the mandate that nursing education programs to reveal a probationary status. To assist with the passage of the mentioned bill, nurses may express their positive attitudes and advocate for its implementation as well as constant advancement (Arabi, Rafii, Cheraghi, & Ghiyasvandian, 2014).
In case of their negative views in relation to this bill, nurses may influence the defeat of the legislation by collaborating and communicating within their teams and focusing on such concepts as knowledge, competency, and advocacy.
History, Background, and other Issues
HB 543 Regulation of Health Care Practitioners reconsiders the obsolete regulations and sets new ones in accordance with the modern requirements in the field of nursing practice. In particular, it eliminates the obligatory committee decisions about the content of educational programs for advanced nurses along with irrelevant certification requirements. In other words, the bill focuses on the background of nursing practice and determines new trajectories, which can help practitioners to perform their work in the most effective way (“CS/CS/HB 543: Regulation,” 2017).
More to the point, this bill enables the Florida Center for Nursing to review programs annually and access their content. There were no issues stalling this legislation.
As for the history of the bill, its consideration began on 25 January, 2016 and lasted untill 26 June, 2017. Addressed to the Health Innovation Subcommittee, it was then directed to the Health and Human Services Committee and the Health Policy Committee, and ultimately presented to the Governor. Thus, two chambers, namely, house and senate, participated in the consideration of the mentioned bill. It seems essential to point out that HB 543 Regulation of Health Care Practitioners has two related bills.
CS/HB 7011 Health Care Access and CS/SB 328 Regulation of Nursing have some similar provisions with those noted in the above one (“CS/CS/HB 543: Regulation,” 2017). There are eight amendments, which clarify some correction made in the text of the bill. One should also mention that the vote history consists of three episodes, each of which presents almost unanimous agreement with the bill (118 Yeas – 0 Nays, 38 Yeas – 0 Nays, and 116 Yeas – 1 Nays).
It seems that such an undisputed manner of voting is associated with the paramount goal of the bill aimed at the removal of obsolete regulations and innovation introduction to nursing practice. It is essential to identify the key stakeholders and their positions.
Stakeholders’ Positions, Supporters, and Opponents
According to information provided by the official website of the Florida Senate, among the key stakeholders, there are Health and Human Services Committee, Pigman, and Health Innovation Subcommittee. In general, there were 272 votes for, and only Altman-52 voted against the bill (“Chapter 2017-134,” 2017). The official sources provide no information regarding the mentioned decision of Altman.
However, there is evidence of other stakeholders’ positions. One of the key aspects proposed by them is the improved access to nursing educational programs that would subsequently lead to better health outcomes of patients. For example, by providing an additional chance to obtain a licensure for a therapist assistant, the stakeholders pursue the idea of providing equal and accessible education.
Another example that reflects their position is the provision, which establishes 465.1893, F.S. statute, which authorizes a pharmacist to inject antipsychotropic medication to patients in case he or she has the corresponding education and a protocol (“Chapter 2017-134,” 2017).
In addition, the review of the bill and the related information shows that the stakeholders understand the rapidly changing nature of health care and nursing practice, thus leaving some place for timely change. The latter can be accomplished due to the provision that enables Florida Board of Nursing to evaluate the programs annually. Thus, the stakeholders’ position is positive and beneficial to advanced nursing practice that, in its turn, seems to be rather important for high-quality health care services.
References
Arabi, A., Rafii, F., Cheraghi, M. A., & Ghiyasvandian, S. (2014). Nurses’ policy influence: A concept analysis. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 19(3), 315-322.
Chapter 2017-134 Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 543. (2017). Web.
CS/CS/HB 543, engrossed 2. (2017). Web.
CS/CS/HB 543: Regulation of health care practitioners. (2017). Web.