1. What is the exact title that is used to identify advanced practice nurses as a whole? Which specialties of APNs that we have discussed in this course are included in whatever APN title(s) each state uses? Are these titles “protected”? If not all specialties are specifically noted in the nurse practice act (NPA), in what other statute are these other specialties licensed and which state agency regulates their practice? (5 points)

1. What is the exact title that is used to identify advanced practice nurses as a whole? Which specialties of APNs that we have discussed in this course are included in whatever APN title(s) each state uses? Are these titles “protected”? If not all specialties are specifically noted in the nurse practice act (NPA), in what other statute are these other specialties licensed and which state agency regulates their practice? (5 points)

2. How is licensure addressed; that is, must APNs have separate RN and APN licenses? (5 points)

3. What are the requirements for education and certification of each type of APN? (10 points)

4. Compare and contrast how APN oversight is addressed in each state: Is there physician oversight? If so, is it: Supervision (written or unwritten agreements) or collaboration (written or unwritten agreements)? Or is there independent/autonomous authority?  If independent authority, are there specific requirements before an APN is eligible for this autonomy? Are other limitations to this autonomy (e.g., must submit a formulary of medications that the APN will prescribe, etc.)?  (15 points)

5. What body is responsible for controlling APN practice? Board of Nursing (or its equivalent)? Board of Medicine? Both Board of Nursing and Board of Medicine? Some other entity (e.g., Department of Health)?   Is there APN representation on the Board of Nursing (or its equivalent) and if so, how many APNs are required?  (10 points)

6. What is allowed or not allowed in terms of prescriptive authority and how does it relate to the issue of supervision or collaboration described above? Is the dispensing of sample medications specifically mentioned one way or the other? What are the regulations about controlled substances (e.g., must APNs obtain a controlled substance license from their state prior to applying for a DEA number)?  What are the other requirements regarding prescriptive authority? (15 points)

7. How does each statute address the components of the APRN Consensus Model for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (a.k.a., LACE)? NOTE: It is unlikely that any practice act will specifically mention the terms APRN Consensus Model or LACE. Your task is to interpret and convey if there are any requirements in either act that seem to correspond to any of the components of LACE (albeit in other words).  (10 points)

8. Do the practice acts specifically address APNs having hospital admitting and/or discharging privileges or otherwise mention some other type of hospital clinical privileges? If so, describe the details of those privileges. (Note: APNs simply being able to perform admission history and physicals is NOT the same as having admission privileges.) If privileges are not addressed in the statutes or rules, review TNPJ article for this information.  (10 points)

9. Do the practice acts address reimbursement for APN services?  If not noted in the practice acts themselves, what does the TNPJ article have to say about this topic? Also, what other elements of scope of practice are noted either in the practice acts or the diagram on the Barton Associates website?  (10 points)

10. Overall appearance of PowerPoint slides: Appropriate graphics are encouraged (but, please, no graphics of women wearing nurses’ caps!). There should be some color to the slides.  Points will be deducted if the following are not present: (a) Slides should include appropriate citations that correspond to the reference list at the end of the presentation, (b) proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Again, much of the content should be formatted in bullet points and legal language should be carefully paraphrased. It is acceptable (indeed, desirable) for citations to be in a much smaller font compared to the rest of the words on a slide. (10 points)