Boards of Nursing and Professional Nurse Associations – Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting
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Differences Between a Board of Nursing and a Professional Nurse Association
Board of Nursing regulates nursing practice to protect public, as mandated by state.
BON ensures proper licensure, sets education standards, and handles disciplinary actions for nurses.
Professional nurse associations advance nursing profession and promote high practice standards.
BONs focus on public protection through regulation; associations support professional growth and advocacy.
Nurse associations influence policy, provide networking opportunities, and improve nurses’ working conditions.
A board of Nursing is a regulatory entity legislated by a state government with the mandate to protect the public by regulating the nursing practice (Nursejournal.org, (2023). The BON ensures that a nurse has the requisite licensure qualifications and can practice safely and competently. Its roles include licensure, setting educational standards, and disciplinary actions. In contrast, professional nurse associations, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), work to advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and healthy environment. Also, ensures quality of health and well-being for all people, and influencing policy through accurate, timely information to policymakers and helping nurses network (ANA, n.d.). Whereas BONs center their activities on protecting the public via regulation, the nurse associations tend to focus on issues related to the professional growth of nurses and furthering their profession to improve working conditions. They have complementary but distinct missions and purposes- the BONs regulate practice; associations provide professional support and advocacy.
Texas Board of Nursing
The Texas Board of Nursing governs nursing practice for safe patient care.
Board comprises thirteen members: six RNs, three LVNs, and four public members.
Governor appoints members representing diverse nursing specialties and the general public.
Board composition ensures representation from education, administration, and direct care sectors.
Board influences policies affecting nursing practice, including the Code of Ethics.
The Texas Board of Nursing is the governing board of nursing practice in Texas and works for safe and competent patient care. The board includes thirteen members: six registered nurses, three licensed vocational nurses, and four public members. They are appointed by the governor and come from a wide variety of nursing specialties as well as the public at large (Bon.texas.gov, n.d). The composition of the committee is such that both the education, administration, and direct care sectors of nursing are fully represented to provide completeness to the nursing profession. It is a board that can play a major role in influencing policies affecting nursing practice in Texas, including the practice of nurses under the Code of Ethics.
Becoming a Member of the Texas Board of Nursing
Texas BON members are appointed by the governor with Senate advice and consent.
Candidates are nominated based on nursing expertise or to represent the public.
Nurse members must be in active practice and not in education/regulation.
Public members cannot be in healthcare professions; members serve six-year staggered terms.
BON writes nursing practice rules and takes disciplinary actions to protect public.
A person becomes a member of the Texas BON by appointment of the governor of Texas with the advice and consent of the Senate. Such an appointment is made after nominating candidates for specific qualifications, including expertise in the practice or education of nursing, or to represent the public. The nurse members must also be in active practice for at least five years and cannot be employed with any nursing education program or regulatory agency. Public members cannot be in the healthcare professions (Bon.texas.gov, n.d). Members are appointed to serve six-year staggered terms. Other activities include writing rules and regulations regarding the practice of nursing in addition to licensure disciplinary actions when such actions are necessary to protect the public.
Texas Regulation on Nurse Scope of Practice
The Texas NPA outlines nurses’ scope of practice and promotes patient safety.
Nurses must act within their education, experience, and competence level.
The NPA guides nurses to avoid working beyond their competence level.
Nurses can provide care within self-government boundaries while collaborating with others.
Continuing education is required for nurses to maintain competence in practice.
The Texas Nurse Practice Act (NPA) outlines the general description of the scope of practice for all nurses and speaks to patient safety through care delivery and professional accountability. Among such key regulations is that the nurse is supposed to act within her scope as defined by her education, experience, and competence. This provision guides a nurse’s responsibility to not work up to or beyond their level of competence, which involves the patients’ safety and ethics. The NPA allows a nurse to give care within the boundaries of self-government while still providing the best care for the patient in collaboration with other interdisciplinary professionals. They must also engage in continuing education about staying competent (Bon.texas.gov, n.d).
Influence of Regulation on Healthcare Delivery, Cost, and Access
Texas nurse practice regulation ensures consistent, safe patient care and effective care delivery.
Regulation reduces medical errors and improves patient outcomes in healthcare settings.
Strict practice limitations may reduce access to care in underserved areas.
Healthcare costs increase when specialized tasks must be performed by more expensive professionals.
Regulation prevents improper care, costly lawsuits, and patient injuries in medical practice.
The regulation of the Texas nurses on the scope of practice affects them in care delivery because it ensures that patient care is delivered consistently and safely; therefore, it has been effective in the care provided. This then reduces the chances of medical errors, thereby improving the patient’s outcomes. However, strict practice limitations can reduce access to care, especially in underserved areas where patients may, otherwise, in theory, receive other services from nurses. Healthcare costs also suffer because specialized tasks must be performed by more expensive professionals such as physicians (Bon.texas.gov, n.d). On the regulation-plus side, improper care is prevented, along with costly lawsuits and patient injuries.
Impact of Regulation on Care for Culturally Diverse Patients
Nursing scope of practice regulations influence care for patients from diverse cultures.
Texas exemplifies the need for cultural competence due to its Hispanic population.
Nurses must provide education within their scope, sometimes involving other professionals.
Cultural liaisons may be necessary to address culturally specific health practices.
Overcoming language barriers is crucial for patient understanding of care and procedures.
The regulation ensuring nurses practice within their scope directly influences how nurses provide care and education to patients from diverse cultures. For example, Texas would fall into this category due to its vast population of Hispanics, requiring a nurse to be culturally competent in order to provide appropriate care in the interest of the patient’s cultural and linguistic needs. The scope of practice regulations mandates that education must be provided within the scope of practice for nurses, which at times will involve cooperation with other professionals or cultural liaisons to appropriately cover culturally specific health practices. This also encompasses making sure language barriers are not barriers to patients’ understanding of their care, particularly on the part of medical procedures and patient education.
Texas Regulation on Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
Texas regulates APRN practice under guidelines requiring physician supervision or collaboration.
APRNs must enter agreements with physicians to prescribe medication or offer advanced services.
This regulation limits APRNs’ ability to practice independently within their competence level.
The requirement polarizes APRNs to work with physicians even in their areas of expertise.
Care access may be limited in rural or underserved areas lacking physician availability.
In Texas, the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) is regulated under specific guidelines requiring physician supervision or collaboration (Bon.texas.gov, n.d). One of the key regulations makes it obligatory that an APRN enters into a supervisory or collaborative agreement with a physician to prescribe medication or offer specific advanced services. This regulation curtails the APRN’s scope of practice to the level at which they probably can independently practice, polarizing them to work with a physician even in areas where they are competent and could offer their services. This may be very limiting, especially in rural or underserved areas where physicians may not be available, thus leaving a limit to care.
Influence of APRN Regulation on Healthcare Delivery, Cost, and Access
Texas regulation requiring physician oversight for APRNs impacts healthcare delivery, cost, and access.
Physician collaboration may improve quality but often restricts APRN independent practice in rural areas.
Regulation delays care as patients must wait for physician collaboration, increasing administrative costs.
Physician oversight requirement adds financial burden to patients and healthcare settings.
APRN autonomous practice relieves shortages and lowers costs compared to physician care.
The Texas regulation requiring physician oversight for APRNs strongly impacts healthcare delivery, cost, and access. While collaboration might offer improved quality through integrated approaches, it too often restricts APRNs from practicing independently, as so many are doing in rural areas of the state where physicians are limited. This regulation delays care because a patient must wait for physician collaboration. Besides, the need for physician oversight calls for added administrative and financial costs to have the care of a physician-oversight setting; this increases the cost of care for both the patients and the healthcare setting (Bon.texas.gov, n.d). On the other hand, the free hand given to APRNs in autonomous practice has benefits in relieving shortages and lowering replacement costs, as APRNs charge less compared to physicians.
Recent Changes in APRN Regulation in Texas
APRNs in Texas have seen little change in their status over five years.
Texas BON continues to regulate APRNs through physician oversight requirements despite reform attempts.
COVID-19 pandemic highlighted workforce shortages, prompting discussions about relaxing APRN practice restrictions.
A 2021 legislative attempt to provide greater APRN autonomy in Texas failed.
Advocates argue full practice authority would improve access, lower costs, and enhance outcomes.
APRNs in Texas have seen little change in their status over the past five years, with much discussion but minimal actual action. The Texas BON regulation via physician oversight requirements for APRNs is ongoing, although there have been attempts to relax these restrictions, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on workforce shortages in health services (Bon.texas.gov, n.d). A 2021 legislative attempt to provide greater practitioner autonomy for APRNs failed. This debate about full practice authority for APRNs is still quite timely, and its advocates argue that this will enhance access to care in areas with the highest need, lower costs in healthcare, and improve patient outcomes.
References
ANA, (n.d).About ANA. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/about-ana/
Bon.texas.gov, (n,d). Nursing Practice Act- Chapter 301. Retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/npa1.asp.html#:~:text=(a)%20The%20Texas%20Board%20of,of%20a%20nurse%20faculty%3B%20and
Bon.texas.gov, (n.d). Practice-APRN Scope of Practice. retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/practice_scope_of_practice_aprn.asp.html
Nursejournal.org, (2023). What Is the Role of the State Board of Nursing? Retrieved from https://nursejournal.org/resources/what-is-the-role-of-the-state-board-of-nursing/
Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting
Nursing is a very highly regulated profession. There are over 100 boards of nursing and national nursing associations throughout the United States and its territories. Their existence helps regulate, inform, and promote the nursing profession. With such numbers, it can be difficult to distinguish between BONs and nursing associations, and overwhelming to consider various benefits and options offered by each.
Both boards of nursing and national nursing associations have significant impacts on the nurse practitioner profession and scope of practice. Understanding these differences helps lend credence to your expertise as a professional. In this Assignment, you will practice the application of such expertise by communicating a comparison of boards of nursing and professional nurse associations. You will also share an analysis of your state board of nursing.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To Prepare:
Assume that you are leading a staff development meeting on regulation for nursing practice at your healthcare organization or agency.
Review the NCSBN and ANA websites to prepare for your presentation.
The Assignment: (8- to 9-slide PowerPoint presentation)
Develop a 8- to 9-slide PowerPoint Presentation that addresses the following:
Describe the differences between a board of nursing and a professional nurse association.
Describe the board for your specific region/area.
Who is on the board?
How does one become a member of the board?
Describe at least one state regulation related to general nurse scope of practice.
How does this regulation influence the nurse’s role?
How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?
If a patient is from another culture, how would this regulation impact the nurse’s care/education?
Describe at least one state regulation related to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).
How does this regulation influence the nurse’s role?
How does this regulation influence delivery, cost, and access to healthcare?
Has there been any change to the regulation within the past 5 years? Explain.
Include Speaker Notes on Each Slide (except on the title page and reference page)
Regulation for Nursing Practice Staff Development Meeting
