In Florida, the state granted the Florida Medical Association access to full nursing practice authority by passing a bill, which had been opposed by the senate but approved by the state house after seven years. That means as a nurse, an individual has full practice authority in Florida. Starting July 2020, an advanced nurse practitioner with more than 3,000 experience hours under physician supervision gained the right to autonomously operate primary care practice throughout the state without an attending doctor (Thomas, 2020). Additionally, to qualify as an independently practicing nurse, the candidate must complete the required minimum graduate-level coursework within differential pharmacology and diagnosis. Courtesy of the new law, signed in March 2020, independent nurses can now practice general internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine (Thomas, 2020). Moreover, the full authority to operate gave the practitioners a comprehensive working degree of their training and instruction, which will increase nurses’ access to quality care for every Floridian.
Full practice authority and removal of a collaborative practice agreement with requirements is a positive step in the commitment to how the healthcare approach is modernized. The bill’s passing into law means Floridian nurses can fully access healthcare, especially in rural areas, to provide complete quality care for those who are often underserved (Gancarski, 2020). The law demonstrates complete trust in the nursing practice where the practitioners are appreciated for their high skills and training. Moreover, it is an open platform where advanced practice professionals are provided with an opportunity to achieve higher marks in patient satisfaction and outcomes (Gancarski, 2020). From an alternate angle, full practice authority is a step forward toward the removal of some of the barriers that hinder healthcare delivery system modernization and increases medical access to quality care for the Floridians.
References
Gancarski, A. (2020). Ron DeSantis quickly signs scope of practice bills into law. Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Web.
Thomas, K. (2020). Florida Nurse Practitioners Gain Full Practice Authority – Daily Nurse. Daily Nurse. Web.