Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations NRSE 6050

An Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) is a certified registered nurse who has completed national certification for a specialized area (Arizona Board of Nursing, 2020) such as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). This nurse will compare the regulations from two of the places she has lived in, Alaska and Arizona

According to Ariz. Rev. Ann § 32-1601(20) (ARNP) has full independent authority and practice under licensure authority of the State Board of Nursing instead of a licensed physician (NCSL Scope of Practice Policy, 2021). The same is true in Alaska, (ARNP) have full independence to practice without the supervision of a physician according to Alaska Admin. Code §12-44.400. This means that both states allow (ARNP) to:

1. Examine a patient and establish a medical diagnosis by client history, physical examination, and other criteria.
2. For a patient who requires the services of a health care facility: Order and interpret laboratory, radiographic, and other diagnostic tests, and perform those tests that the RNP is qualified to perform.
   • Admit the patient to the facility,
   • Manage the care the patient receives in the facility, and
   • Discharge the patient from the facility.
3. Prescribe, order, administer and dispense therapeutic measures including pharmacologic agents and devices if authorized under R4-19-511, and non-pharmacological interventions including, but not limited to, durable medical equipment, nutrition, home health care, hospice, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
4. Identify, develop, implement, and evaluate a plan of care for a patient to promote, maintain, and restore health.
5. Perform therapeutic procedures that the RNP is qualified to perform.
6. Delegate therapeutic measures to qualified assistive personnel including medical assistants under R4-19-509.
7. Perform additional acts that the RNP is qualified to perform and that are generally recognized as being within the role and population focus of certification. (ARIZONA STATE BOARD OF NURSING, 2017)

One key difference is in the prescribing and dispensing authority within each state.

Arizona requires that evidence of a minimum of 45 contact hours of education within the three years immediately preceding the application be submitted, covering one or both of the following topics consistent with the population focus of education and certification: Pharmacology, or Clinical management of drug therapy (ARIZONA STATE BOARD OF NURSING, 2017).

While Alaska requires the applicant to provide evidence of completion of 15 contact hours of education in advanced pharmacology and clinical management of drug therapy within the two-year period immediately before the date of application (DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, 2021)

Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations NRSE 6050 References:

• Arizona Board of Nursing. (2020, July 24). Arizona Board of Nursing Scope of Practice APRN Questions & Answers SCOPE OF PRACTICE Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved from Arizona Board of Nursing: https://www.azbn.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/FAQs%20Final%20Questions-%20NP%207.24.20%20%281%29.pdf
• ARIZONA STATE BOARD OF NURSING. (2017, July 1). RULES OF THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING. Retrieved from ARIZONA STATE BOARD OF NURSING: https://www.azbn.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/rulesjuly12017final.pdf
• DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING. (2021). Statutes and Regulations Nursing Nursing. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (p. 23). State of Alaska.
• NCSL Scope of Practice Policy. (2021). State Overview: Arizona. Retriev