CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - September 15, 2008) - The National Council of State Boards of
Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN®) Board of Directors endorsed the Consensus Model
for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education
paper at their September 2008 meeting. The NCSBN Delegate Assembly adopted
revised Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Model Act and Rules to
parallel this model in August 2008.
As health care has evolved over the last few decades, APRNs have become a
vital and integral part of patient care and management; however, because of
a lack of uniformity across the nation, APRNs cannot easily move from state
to state to practice. Each state independently determines the APRN legal
scope of practice; the roles that are recognized; the criteria for entry
into advanced practice; and the certification examinations accepted for
entry-level competence assessment. Additionally, educational programs,
certification agencies and accreditation agencies each face considerable
differences within their own disciplines. This leads to practice barriers
and decreased access to care for patients.
The result of a multiyear collaboration between NCSBN and the APRN
Consensus Process Work Group, the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation:
Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education document presents an
APRN regulatory model created by APRN educators, accreditors, certifiers
and licensure bodies, which establishes a set of standards that protect the
public, improve mobility and expands access to safe, quality APRN care.
The paper defines APRN practice, describes the APRN regulatory model and
presents strategies for implementation. The model recommends independent
APRN practice; licensure at the role (certified registered nurse
anesthetists, certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists and
certified nurse practitioners) and population foci level;
(family/individual across the lifespan, adult-gerontology, pediatrics,
neonatal, women's health/gender-related or psych/mental health) and allows
for the emergence of new APRN roles and population foci.
The complete text of the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure,
Accreditation,
Certification & Education is posted at
https://www.ncsbn.org/7_23_08_Consensue_APRN_Final.pdf.
The APRN legislative language which parallels the Consensus Model can be
found at
https://www.ncsbn.org/APRN_leg_language_approved_8_08.pdf.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) is a
not-for-profit organization whose membership comprises the boards of
nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S.
territories.
Mission: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), composed
of Member Boards, provides leadership to advance regulatory excellence for
public protection.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900
Chicago, IL 60601-4277
Contact Information: Contact:
Dawn M. Kappel
Director, Marketing and Communications
312.525.3667 direct
312.279.1034 fax