Introduction
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are two of healthcare’s most important regulatory agencies. These agencies impact all aspects of professional nursing practice, from patient safety to the scope of practice. As patient advocates, nurses are responsible for promoting safety and adhering to the Nurse Practice Act in their state. Furthermore, the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics provides a framework for ethical nursing practice. This essay will discuss the FDA/CMS, patient advocacy, the Florida Nurse Practice Act (NPA), two ANA Code of Ethics provisions, and a nursing error.
Comparing FDA vs. CMS Organizations
The FDA regulates all foods, dietary supplements, drugs, vaccines, biologics, and medical devices sold in the United States. It ensures that all these products are safe and effective for their intended use. In contrast, the CMS is responsible for administering the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health insurance for people with low incomes and those who are aged, disabled, or have certain conditions (Lynn et al., 2022). The CMS works with states to ensure the programs are properly administered and beneficiaries receive the necessary healthcare services.
These two regulatory agencies have a direct impact on professional nursing practice. The FDA regulates the drugs and medical devices nurses administer to their patients, while the CMS regulates the reimbursement of those services. Furthermore, the CMS sets standards for the quality of care required for reimbursement. Nurses must remain informed of these standards and ensure their practice adheres to them to succeed.
Nurses serve as patient advocates, ensuring safety and upholding their patients’ rights. If a patient expresses interest in trying an alternate therapy, nurses must investigate the therapy and confer with the treating physician (Lynn et al., 2022). They must also explain the risks and advantages of the therapy to the patient. Moreover, nurses must adhere to their state’s Nurse Practice Act, which delineates the scope of nursing practice and sets quality-of-care standards.
Florida Nurse Practice Act
In Florida, the NPA defines the scope of practice for registered nurses and sets standards for the quality of care that must be provided. It also defines the delegation of tasks to unlicensed personnel and sets standards for supervising those personnel (Boehing & Haddad, 2022). The nurse practice act also outlines the requirements for licensure and the disciplinary action that can be taken against nurses who violate the act.
ANA Code of Ethics
The ANA Code of Ethics offers guidance for ethically conducting nursing practice. Two provisions of the code of ethics that influence nursing practice are: “The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient” and “the nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person,” American Nurses Association. (n.d.). These provisions serve to remind nurses of their responsibility to their patients and to promote safe and ethical practice.
Medication administration errors may occur in clinical practice. These errors can range from administering the wrong medication to providing the wrong dose. Applying the two provisions of the ANA Code of Ethics, nurses should promote the patient’s health, safety, and rights by ensuring that medications are administered correctly (Lynn et al., 2022). They should also practice compassion and respect for the patient, considering their needs and preferences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the FDA and CMS are two government agencies with different responsibilities. The FDA regulates food, drugs, and medical devices, while the CMS administers Medicare and Medicaid. Nurses must promote safety, follow the Nurse Practice Act, and abide by the ANA Code of Ethics provisions to provide care with compassion and respect and protect patients’ rights. These provisions can be used to address nursing errors.
References
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). View the Code of Ethics for Nurses. Nursing World. Web.
Boehing, A. P., Haddad L. M. (2022). Nursing practice act. National Library of Medicine. Web.
Lynn, P., Bartlett, J. & Taylor, C. R. (2022). Fundamentals of nursing: The art and science of person-centered care. Wolters Kluwer Health.