California vs Washington APRN Board of Nursing Regulations Compared

Comparison of APRN Board of Nursing Regulations: California vs. Washington State

Introduction

Boards of Nursing (BONs) ensure public safety by regulating nursing practices (Halm, 2018). California and Washington have APRNs with regulatory frameworks in each state, governing through specific rules regarding licensure and scope of practice. The comparison will be made according to two dimensions considered very important: they allow APRNs to practice independently based on their education and experience, independent practice authority, and continuing education requirements California vs Washington Comparison of APRN Board of Nursing Regulations.

Independent Practice Authority

One of the significant differences between California and Washington state pertains to the autonomy granted to APRNs. Historically, APRNs have been much more restricted in California and must practice under standardized procedures with physician supervision (Bosse et al., 2017). This has recently changed through legislation changes that allow qualified APRNs with a threshold requirement, such as three years of full-time practice, to apply for independent practice authority. This gives APRNs more autonomy, but a transitional process still regulates the pathway to complete independence.

By contrast, APRNs are granted full practice authority in Washington State from licensure forward. In effect, APRNs in Washington can diagnose and treat patients independently and prescribe medications, including and excluding controlled substances, from the beginning of their careers without requiring physician collaboration. Based on these measures, Washington emerges as one of the more APRN-friendly states, where advanced practice nurses, from the very outset, can utilize their fullest scope in improving healthcare access for underserved populations California vs Washington Comparison of APRN Board of Nursing Regulations.

Continuing Education Requirements

Continuing education is inherent in APRNs for competency. APRNs in California require 30 hours of CE for license renewal every two years. Continuing education requirements include courses in pharmacology, especially the courses with prescriptive authority to keep up with the best practices in the medication management process.

APRNs in the State of Washington must also have completed 45 hours of continuing education related to their scope of practice, including current issues in patient safety and updates to clinical practice. The CE requirements in Washington have a degree of flexibility that could allow the APRNs to meet specific interests or clinical needs and, therefore, may lead to more specialized expertise.

Implications for APRN Practice

These differences in independent practice authority and continuing education represent varying professional freedom that APRNs experience in states like California and Washington. APRNs in California need to undergo a more articulated process before they begin independent practice, thus postponing the full use of their training (Bosse et al., 2017). Contrarily, the entire practice authority of Washington immediately allows APRNs, upon licensure, to integrate into advanced roles that might help alleviate such healthcare shortages in rural areas. Continuing education requirements similarly keep APRNs in Oregon and Washington updated in their knowledge, but the flexibility offered by Washington allows perhaps more tailored learning and skill development.

Adherence to Regulations

APRNs, therefore, in these states practice their profession within their legal authority through strict adherence to their regulating law. For example, APRNs seeking practice authority independence in California will have to meticulously record their years of practice before seeking independence (Halm, 2018). In Washington state, on the other hand, an APRN may practice independently at the point of licensure, with ongoing continuing education during licensure to provide safe, evidence-based care California vs Washington Comparison of APRN Board of Nursing Regulations

Conclusion

This comparison of APRN regulations, side by side, between California and Washington state underlines how often similar rules emanate from a specific state, thus setting the professional environment for APRNs. Both states similarly wish to protect public safety and maintain high nursing practice standards. Yet, the immediate full practice authority available in Washington is in contrast to that of California, which provided a more incremental approach, thus influencing the speed and manner in which APRNs could fully employ their training and experience. As these state regulations continue to evolve, APRNs must also seek knowledge on effective navigation across changing state lines.

References:

Bosse, J., Simmonds, K., Hanson, C., Pulcini, J., Dunphy, L., Vanhook, P., & Poghosyan, L. (2017). Position statement: Full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses is necessary to transform primary care. Nursing Outlook , 65(6), 761–765.

Halm, M. A. (2018). Evaluating the impact of EBP education: Development of a modified Fresno test for acute care nursing. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing , 15(4), 272–280. doi:10.1111/wvn.12291 California vs Washington Comparison of APRN Board of Nursing Regulations