To attain equal access to services and health coverage, it is imperative to have skilled and well-trained personnel who are adaptable, flexible, and reactive to community requirements. For the efficient operation of health systems and the provision of high-quality services, access to trained and experienced health workers is essential. Health professionals who are driven, evenly dispersed, given authority over resources, and who have received formal education can provide the services that the public requires. Therefore, each state has specific regulations, such as Minnesota and Florida, which, although they have similarities in terms of medicine and oversight, are different in some requirements.
To safeguard the public’s health, security, and well-being, boards of nursing are charged with creating regulations and authorizing nursing programs. Additionally, boards can legally issue nursing licenses and penalize nurses for harmful behavior (Cassiani et al., 2020). Although accreditation is voluntary, ensuring that courses fulfill criteria of organization, functionality, and effectiveness, authorization is a mandatory requirement by the boards of nursing for the goal of safeguarding the security, health, and well-being of the general public (Cassiani et al., 2020). Therefore, it can be seen that key regulations might influence nursing practice since these rules advance quality and patient safety and protect professional conduct. The way they can be influenced is through the level of autonomy and the extent of decision-making.
When it comes to comparing my state’s regulations and those of another state, Florida and Minnesota’s regulations will be compared. When it comes to Florida, only advanced practice registered nurses who have completed a master’s or doctorate program in a patient care specialized field and have received education in specific professional skills is permitted to prescribe or distribute controlled substances as described in s. 893.03 (Toney-Butler & Martin, 2018). In turn, in my region, Minnesota, “licensed APRNs are authorized to prescribe, dispense and administer drugs, controlled substances (Schedule II through V) and therapeutic devices” (Minnesota Board of Nursing, n.d.). Therefore, the regulations are similar in terms of the requirement for credentials. However, they are different in the context of degree requirements since while Minnesota demands a license for such a process, Florida requires a degree.
Other regulations that can be compared involve supervision by other professionals. For example, it is necessary to have general medical or dental monitoring in Florida. The level and procedure of supervision and guidance, as established by the APRN and the doctor or dentist, must be clearly stated in the written protocol and be suitable for responsible healthcare professionals in comparable situations (AMA, n.d.). In turn, in Minnesota, an NP must perform a minimum of 2,080 hours in a facility or unified clinical environment where APRNs and doctors collaborate to provide care coordination under the terms of a collaborative agreement (AMA, n.d.). Therefore, the guidelines are different in terms of the level of autonomy. Here, the APRNs might adhere to the regulation by either consulting with the physician or reaching a specific hour of training before gaining full autonomy.
Hence, although Minnesota and Florida have commonalities in terms of medical and control, they differ in several rules, which are exclusive to each state. Boards of nursing are tasked with making rules and approving nursing programs in order to protect the health, safety, and wellness of the public. Florida and Minnesota rules were compared when analyzing my state’s laws with those of another state. While in Florida, the prescription of medication requires a medical degree, in Minnesota, nurses can prescribe unrestricted medication. Moreover, the guidelines for physician supervision are different in terms of the level of autonomy, requiring a specific amount of time in Minnesota or physician presence in Florida.
References
AMA. (n.d.).State law chart. American Medical Association. Web.
Cassiani, S. H. B., Lecorps, K., Rojas Cañaveral, L. K., da Silva, F. A. M., & Fitzgerald, J. (2020). Regulation of nursing practice in the Region of the Americas. Pan American Journal of Public Health, 44, 1-7. Web.
Minnesota Board of Nursing. (n.d.). Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensed general information. MBN. Web.
Toney-Butler, T. J., & Martin, R. L. (2018). Florida nurse practice act laws and rules. National Library of Medicine. Web.