Description
Q1. https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-b-45.pd…
Q2. The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) set rules and guidelines for Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs) practicing in the state. In 2020, Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 890, which provides further guidance and independence for APRN practice and outlines their new requirements. Nurse practitioners (NPs) must pass a national board certifying examination accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American Board of Nursing Specialties and the BRN (DCA, 2023). They must provide documentation on their completed education and clinical hours, which must be consistent with the BRN standards (DCA, 2023). In order to practice independently, California requires that NPs complete their education and work three years or 4600 hours under a physician before they can practice independently (Philips, 2021).
The NP’s scope is vast and is clearly laid out in the Nurse Practice Act. Some of the responsibilities include patient assessment, diagnosis, and prescribing medication. They order, perform, supervise, and interpret diagnostic and laboratory results. They initiate and manage treatment, including counseling, education, care coordination, or non-pharmacologic treatments (American Association of Nurse Practitioners [AANP], 2022). They can manage simple and complex patients in acute or primary care settings, and they advocate, research, and consult (AANP, 2022).
Q3. To obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number, the organization and candidate must apply, either online or by mail (U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [USCMS], 2023). If done online, the process should only take 20 minutes, with a turnaround time of about 10 days (USCMS, 2023). They will apply through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System. The NPI is a unique, required number for healthcare providers established by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as an identifier; this was done to further meet the needs of Medicare and Medicaid programs (USCMS, 2023).
Q4. Continuing education requirements for APRNs include 30 contact hours every two years (California Department of Consumer Affairs [CDCA], 2023). In addition, those with prescriptive authority must complete three of those 30 hours on Schedule II controlled substances (CDCA, 2023).
Q5. Beginning in 2021, California law requires that prescription pads contain a “12-character serial number, a corresponding barcode and other security features required by Assembly Bill 149” (Medical Board of California [MBC], 2023). The quantity box should be checked, as well as the prescriber’s preprinted name, licensure, license number, federal controlled substance registration number, and address (MBC, 2023). The number of refills box should be checked, and the check box next to the prescriber’s name if multiple prescribers are on the pad should also be checked (MBC, 2023).
Q6. The Medical Board of California sets standards for medical care both in healthcare settings and through telemedicine. In order to have prescribing authority for telemedicine in California, the provider must be licensed in the state; however, they are not required to reside there (MBC, 2023). The provider is not allowed to prescribe “dangerous” medications without “an appropriate prior examination and a medical indication” (Business and Professions Code Section 2242, n.d.).
References
American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2022). Scope of practice for Nurse Practitioners.
AANP.org. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/advocacy-resource/position-statements/scope-of-practice-for-nurse-practitioners#:
Business and Professions Code Section 2242. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. (n.d.).
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=2242.&lawCode=BPC
California Department of Consumer Affairs. (2023). Continuing education for license renewal.
California Board of Registered Nursing. https://www.rn.ca.gov/licensees/ce-renewal.shtml
Department of Consumer Affairs. (2020). Assembly Bill 890 (Wood, Chapter 265, statutes of
2020). California Board of Registered Nursing. https://www.rn.ca.gov/practice/ab890.shtml
Medical Board of California. (2023). Resources. mbc.ca.gov.
https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Resources/Medical-Resources/CURES/Prescribing-Rules.aspx#
Phillips, S.J. (2021). 33rd Annual APRN Legislative Update: Unprecedented changes to APRN
practice authority in unprecedented times. Nurse practitioner: the american journal of
primary healthcare. doi: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000724504.39836.69. PMID: 33332826.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). National Provider Identifier Standard
(NPI). CMS.gov. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/regulations-guidance/administrative-simplification
