The Florida Nurse Practice Act is a set of statements that outline the minimum requirements for all nurses operating in the state of Florida. It defines and establishes the scope of practice, and it addresses the most common categories of nurses, such as Certified Nursing Assistants, Retired Nurse Volunteers, RN First Assistants, Advanced Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses (Toney-Butler and Martin 2020). The document primarily focuses on the restrictions and penalties for stepping over the set boundaries in regards to nursing practice. It is critically important for any nursing specialist to be familiar with the given set of rules in order to be able to operate in the state properly.
The given post will primarily focus on the penalty aspect of the document. The penalty can range from a suspension of the license to a felony of the third degree, which can lead to punishment in the form of imprisonment or a fine (Toney-Butler and Martin 2020). A person cannot practice obtaining certification through misleading, employing unlicensed nurses, using revoked or suspended licenses, and specialized or advanced practice without certification (Toney-Butler and Martin 2020). The state specifically prohibits to use of titles, such as “L. P. N.,” “R. N.,” “Licensed Practical Nurse,” and “Registered Nurse,” without the required license or certification. In comparison, the state of New York is more relaxed in regards to the nurse practice act, because a nurse practicing outside of his or her scope of competence is charged with professional misconduct. In addition, in the case of registered nurses, the New York law allows them to provide services in which they are not personally competent to conduct (“Scope of Practice” 2020). Therefore, there is an evident distinction among these two states, where Florida is highly restrictive.
Bibliography
“Scope of Practice.” 2020. New York State Nurse Association. Web.
Toney-Butler, Tammy J., and Romaine L. Martin. 2020. “Florida Nursing Laws and Rules.” AnneFrankHouse.org. Web.