Explain what Standardized Procedures are, Standardized Procedures for Nurse Practitioners in California what their function is, and how Nurse Practitioners utilize them in California. Discuss how this practice is different if you live in a state other than California.

Standardized Procedures for Nurse Practitioners in California

The standardized procedure can be defined as policies and protocols that define the scope of nursing practice. The protocols determine how the nurse practitioners, in coordination with the physicians, should diagnose and treat various health conditions. Essentially, standardized procedures are developed and approved by the collaboration of nurse practitioners, nurse administrators, and physicians. The policies and protocols list the requirements of nurse practitioners, including their qualifications and evaluation. According to the Board of Registered Nurses in California (2022), the standard procedures must be by the California Business and Professional Codes.

Eleven rules govern standardized procedures. For instance, each procedure is required to be in writing, signed and dated correctly. Each procedure should define which procedures the registered nurses are authorized to perform and under which situations. Thirdly, each procedure should also specify the protocol to be followed by the registered nurse while performing a certain procedure. The fourth rule is that each standardized procedure should define and identify the academic and experience requirements for the nurse practitioners. The fifth rule is that the standardized procedures should have an established method of continued evaluation of the nurse practitioners’ competency.

The sixth rule states that each of the standardized procedures should provide a method of maintaining written records of the person authorized to carry out standardized procedure functions. In the seventh rule, it is stated that each standardized procedure should specify the level of supervision required to perform the standard procedure functions. The eighth rule is that standardized procedures should set circumstances when a nurse practitioner should consult with the patient’s physician. The ninth rule states that the procedures should state the settings in which the standardized procedure functions can be performed. In the tenth rule, it is stated that each of the standardized procedures should specify the requirements for the patient’s record keeping. Lastly, it is stated that the standardized procedures should provide a method for regular timed review of the standard procedures.

Nurse practitioners utilize the standard procedures for medical procedures or processes beyond their usual nursing scope. However, the nurse must be evaluated and approved by the board of nursing because there are certain academic and experience requirements for one to perform the standard procedure functions. Nurse practitioner outside California is authorized to perform their functions within their scope of education and experience without necessarily using the standardized procedures (“Bill Text – AB-852 Nurse practitioners: scope of practice: practice without standardized procedures.”, 2022). For instance, advanced nurse practitioners are allowed to perform duties within their specialty without getting approval as it was with the standardized procedures of nurse practitioners. The nurses can, therefore, carry out an advanced assessment of their patient, order the appropriate diagnostic procedures, prescribe and administer drugs and even conduct physician consultation based on their specialty without having to strictly follow the California protocols. However, nurses should always ensure they work within their national scope of practice.

References

Bill Text – AB-852 Nurse practitioners: scope of practice: practice without standardized procedures.. Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. (2022). Retrieved 4 January 2022, from https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB852.