*** I currently reside in Florida, USA and I am currently working towards my APRN in Psychiatry
TO PREPARE:
- Review practice agreements in your state.
- Identify whether your state requires physician collaboration or supervision for nurse practitioners, and if so, what those requirements are.
- Research the following:
- How do you get certified and licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in your state?
- What is the application process for certification in your state?
- What is your state’s board of nursing website?
- How does your state define the scope of practice of a nurse practitioner?
- What is included in your state practice agreement?
- How do you get a DEA license?
- Does your state have a prescription monitoring program (PMP)?
- How does your state describe a nurse practitioner’s controlled-substance prescriptive authority, and what nurse practitioner drug schedules are nurse practitioners authorized to prescribe?
BY DAY 3 OF WEEK 1
Post a summary of your findings on your state based on the questions listed above. Explain the types of regulations that exist and the barriers that may impact nurse practitioner independent practice in your state. Be specific. Also, describe what surprised you from your research.
Based on your location in Florida and your pursuit of APRN in Psychiatry, here’s a summary of the information you requested:
- Practice Agreements:
- Florida does not require nurse practitioners to have a practice agreement with a physician for collaboration or supervision.
- Certification and Licensing:
- To become certified as an APRN in Florida, you must first be licensed as a registered nurse (RN) in the state.
- After completing a graduate-level program in psychiatric nursing, you can apply for APRN certification through the Florida Board of Nursing.
- Application Process:
- The application process for APRN certification involves submitting proof of education, passing a national certification exam in psychiatric nursing, and meeting other requirements outlined by the Florida Board of Nursing.
- Board of Nursing Website:
- Florida’s Board of Nursing website is: http://floridasnursing.gov/
- Scope of Practice:
- The scope of practice for nurse practitioners in Florida includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of psychiatric conditions, including prescribing medication.
- Practice Agreement:
- Since Florida does not require a practice agreement with a physician, nurse practitioners have more autonomy in their practice compared to states with such requirements.
- DEA License:
- Nurse practitioners in Florida can apply for a DEA license to prescribe controlled substances once they have APRN certification and meet other specific requirements.
- Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP):
- Yes, Florida has a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) known as E-FORCSE (Electronic-Florida Online Reporting of Controlled Substance Evaluation Program).
- Prescriptive Authority:
- Nurse practitioners in Florida have prescriptive authority for controlled substances based on their APRN certification and meeting specific requirements set by the state.
- Florida allows nurse practitioners to prescribe medications categorized under Schedules II-V.
Regulations and Barriers:
- Florida’s lack of requirement for physician collaboration or supervision is favorable for nurse practitioners’ autonomy.
- However, barriers may still exist, such as limitations on controlled substance prescribing and requirements for DEA licensing.
- Some APRNs may find the application process for certification and licensing cumbersome.
Surprises:
- The absence of a requirement for practice agreements with physicians in Florida was unexpected, as many states impose such requirements.
- The inclusion of nurse practitioners in Florida’s PDMP demonstrates recognition of their role in prescribing controlled substances and managing patients with substance abuse issues.
Overall, while Florida offers relatively more autonomy for nurse practitioners compared to some other states, there are still regulatory requirements and barriers that may impact independent practice to some extent.