Introduction
The U.S consists of the state boards and the national nursing board (NCSBN). The State Boards of Nursing (BON), develop and enforce nursing practice laws. Professional Nurse Associations (PNA) advocate for nurses during the development of these laws. The law development process allows nursing organizations to influence the outcome. PNAs ensure nurses’ and patients’ needs and interests are protected.
The Board of Nursing
- Performs criminal background checks;
- Imposes disciplinary actions;
- Setting licensure fees;
- Oversees the nursing licensure training procedure;
- PNAs are committed to their members and the nursing profession’s advancement;
- Guides the legal nursing practice scope;
- Upholds nursing education standards;
- Oversees advanced nursing practice;
- Accredits nursing education program;
- Contrarily, PNAs set the quality standards of practice and ethical guidelines;
- BON is public-based while PNAs are privatized.
Description of the Ohio Board of Nursing
It consists of ten board members appointed by the state’s governor. Members: 8 RNs, 2 LPNs, 1 advanced practice nurse, and 1 consumer member. The president and vice-president lead the board (“About the board,” n.d.). The board implements and enforces Chapter 4723 of the Ohio Revised Code (“About the board,” n.d.). The board reviews the code at least once every five years. The code delineates the basic practice standards for all nurses.
How to Become a Board Member
- Be a U.S citizen;
- Graduate from an approved education program;
- Have an active license to practice in Ohio;
- Being an active practicing nurse in the last five years
State Regulation of General Nurse Scope of Practice
RNs in Ohio have independent authority to engage in all licensed practice aspects with minor exceptions (“Scope of practice,” 2018). RNs can delegate, supervise, and evaluate LPNs’ nursing practice.
Influence on Nurses’ Role
This particular restriction limits their capacity to work to the full extent of their education. Their supervisory role facilitates the delivery of quality care (MacKinnon et al., 2018). APRNs can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications for their patients (4-19y/o) (“Scope of practice,” 2018). However, they can only perform these roles in collaboration with a physician. Care delivery under physicians’ supervision exacerbates perceptions of APRNs incompetency. This, in turn, promotes role ambiguity and incongruence.
Influence on Delivery, Cost, and Access to Healthcare
Restricting RNs’ practice scope limit primary care services’ access. RNs’ full practice can help address the shortage of primary care services (MacKinnon et al., 2018). When allowed to practice to their education’s full extent, RNs’ can create and implement affordable care plans. This approach will help reduce healthcare costs. A newly-introduced house bill in Ohio expanded Aprn’s practice scope in Ohio.
Supervisory approaches during care delivery can fragmented care, inadequate access, and high healthcare costs (Bosse et al., 2017). Cooperative practice agreement: Each party operates within the defined legal boundaries. APRNs cannot perform a physician’s role despite their qualifications. Consequently, this treatment approach encourages fragmentation. Fragmentation, in turn, increases healthcare costs.
State Regulations for APRNs
Several reimbursement programs do not compensate APRNs for their services. APRNs authorized to perform to their practice’s full extent are denied reimbursements (Bosse et al., 2017). This may increase out-of-pocket expenses and deter patients from accessing healthcare. The limited practice also increases commuter time (Neff et al., 2018). It also reduces the number of available primary care providers (Neff et al., 2018).
References
About the board/contact: What we do. (n.d.). Ohio Board of Nursing. Web.
Bosse, J., Simmonds, K., Hanson, C., Pulcini, J., Dunphy, L., Vanhook, P., & Poghosyan, L. (2017). Position statement: Full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses is necessary to transform primary care. Nursing Outlook, 65(6), 761–765.
MacKinnon, K., Butcher, D. L., & Bruce, A. (2018). Working to full scope: The reorganization of nursing work in two Canadian Community hospitals. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 5, 1–14.
Neff, D. F., Yoon, S. H., Steiner, R. L., Bejleri, I., Bumbach, M. D., Everhart, D., & Harman, J. S. (2018). The impact of nurse practitioner regulations on population access to care. Nursing Outlook, 66(4), 379–385. Web.
Scope of practice. (n.d.). American Nurses Association. Web.
Scopes of practice: Registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). (2018). State of Ohio Board of Nursing.
The world leader in nursing regulatory knowledge. (n.d.). National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Web.