Nurse practitioner

Running Head: NURSE PRACTITIONER
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Nurse Practitioner
Name
Institution
NURSE PRACTITIONER
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In South Carolina state, being certified and licensed as an APRN is a systematic step.
The first step necessitates acquiring a graduate degree in advanced nursing programs like
advanced health assessment, pharmacology, or physiology (Phillips, 2016). The next step
entails earning the national certification; the state health and nursing commissions recognize
three ARNP designations, encompassing of certified nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, and
certified registered nurse anesthetist, all that is earned via an independent certification
procedure (George et al., 2018). Besides, the certification encompasses competency-based
assessment requirements for a specific specialty. The next step entails applying for the license
that needs the provision of the US social security digits. Additional qualifications include
official transcripts and proof of having a national certification. Further, after the license is
issued, it must be renewed every two years. Also, the APRNs are expected to register for the
nursing license, a master’s degree in nursing, and South Carolina state certification (Buppert,
2020). Thus, if an individual has the documentation of ARNP and RN licenses, national
certification, a graduate degree from an advanced nursing program, experience as an ARNP,
and a complete application with the required fee, they can apply for the APRN certificate in
South Carolina.
The South Carolina Board of the nursing website is accountable for licensing the
nursing professionals. Also, the board regulates their nursing practices. The URL for the
board is https://llr.sc.gov/nurse/. In the state and any other limited practice state, offering
patients’ treatment is perceived as a struggle. In line with the South Carolina Nurse Practice
Act, nurse practitioners are expected to practice within about forty-five miles of the
supervising physicians, hence it is implausible to offer health care services within rural areas
without physicians (Staff Writers, 2021). Even though most nurse practitioners have
graduate-level training in the provision of primary care, they are not expected to serve as
providers without the physical proximity of the healthcare supervisor. Besides, the states’
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advanced practice nurses, APRNs, have extreme restrictions in ordering services mainly for
the disabled, schedule II medications, home health services, and hospice care, hence
curtailing their capability to offer adequate treatment to the individuals who require their
services. Further, not only South Carolina’s nurse practitioners being denied the power to
practice to the full extent as aligned to their advanced education, but also the vulnerable
populace within the remote areas do not have enough access to the health care services (Bell,
Hughes & Lòpez-De Fede, 2018).
The nurses in the South Carolina state do not have the full practice authority since
they are required to be within close proximity with the supervising physicians. However, the
nurse practitioners must be trained in educational programs and certified by an acknowledged
agency to provide healthcare services and operate in the authorized scope of practice
(Chesney & Duderstadt, 2017). Thus, the nurses can have the accountability to take care of
the patients if they follow the preceding provisions. On the other hand, acquiring the DEA
license entails applying online at the US Department of Justice website. The DEA is normally
available to the novel applicants, and calling the DEA registration field office guarantee an
individual can get the forms to fill to start the application procedure. Also, the applications
processed before first January would expire on first April of the next year, while those
processed after January would expire on April the next year (Opie, 2021). Hence, an
individual can only submit the request and application, and the request is held awaiting
approval until after first January if they expect to start practice within the state. When
submitting the application form, the individuals should include a photocopy of the South
Carolina professional license or even a photocopy of the note issued from the South Carolina
Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, which states the licensure. Also, if applicable,
the individual should attach a duplicate of the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy license.
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There is a prescription monitoring program in South Carolina state. The portal enables
the healthcare practitioners mainly to query the database of the monitoring programs of other
states through the application of the multistate function. The state of South Carolina describes
the nurse practitioners-controlled substance authority stating that the APRN might initiate,
monitor, as well as alter the drug therapies. However, before such an order is implemented,
the nurses must seek the doctor’s approval in practice. Further, Madden (2018) asserts that
nurse practitioners can prescribe medication consisting of controlled substances in South
Carolina. Overall, the legislative and advocacy in NPs are involved within the state allows the
NPS to advocate award for the clinical and non-clinical practice initiatives.
Over the research on nurse practitioners in South Carolina, I was surprised that the
nurses within the state do not have the power to practice without being in close proximity of
the healthcare supervisor. This gives them little power to deliver care to the people who
require it, especially those in rural areas. This limits their opportunity to advance in their
career and denier the people who actually need the care chance to be attended to.
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References
Bell, N., Hughes, R., & Lòpez-De Fede, A. (2018). Collaborative practice agreements and
their geographic impact on where nurse practitioners can practice. Journal of Nursing
Regulation, 9(3), 5-14.
Buppert, C. (2020). Nurse practitioner’s business practice and legal guide. Jones & Bartlett
Learning.
Chesney, M. L., & Duderstadt, K. G. (2017). States’ progress toward nurse practitioner full
practice authority: Contemporary challenges and strategies. Journal of Pediatric
Health Care, 31(6), 724-728.
George, T. P., Munn, A. C., Kershner, S. H., & Phillips, T. A. (2018). Predictors of Success
in a Graduate Nurse Practitioner Program. Online Journal of Rural Nursing & Health
Care, 18(2).
Madden, R. W. (2018). Advance Practice Nurses Receive Green Light to Prescribe Schedule
II Medications. Turner Padget. Retrieved from:
https://professionallicensedefense.turnerpadget.com/advance-practice-nurses-receivegreen-light-prescribe-schedule-ii-medications
Opie, S. R. (2021). Preparing Cannabis Laboratory Business License Applications. Cannabis
Laboratory Fundamentals, 55-69.
Phillips, S. J. (2016). 28th annual APRN legislative update: advancements continue for
APRN practice. The Nurse Practitioner, 41(1), 21-48.
Staff Writers. (2021). South Carolina NPs: The Fight for Full Practice Authority. Nurse
practitioner school. Retrieved from:
https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/practice-authority/south-carolina/
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