Posted: September 2nd, 2023

APRN in Georgia Expectations 250 words

APRN in Georgia. Expectations

Length: A minimum of 250 words, not including references
Compare APRNs in Georgia and California (requirements, CEUs, Scope of Practice)
Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA from within the last 5 years

Link to Georgia state requirement for the completion of the pharmacology course:
https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/410-11

The state of Georgia requires an official transcript that verifies a master’s degree in nursing from an approved nursing education program that includes evidence of advanced pharmacology.

Discuss your state requirements and scope of practice for APRN’s in your state.
Georgia state requirements for the scope of practice authority for APRNs include current active licensure as a registered professional nurse and an official transcript that verifies a master’s degree or higher in nursing for the different nurse practitioner specialties. The state of Georgia is one of the restricted states in the US where the scope of practice of APRNs is limited. According to the Georgia State Nurse Practice Act, NPs can practice only under the delegation of the supervisory physician (American Medical Association, 2017). An ARRN can perform selected tasks like ordering diagnostic tests and prescribing medications except controlled substances (Johnson, Nelson, & Eades, 2021). The state of Georgia law requires a supervisory agreement with a physician. A legally binding agreement called “Nurse Protocol” is required by Georgia law between a nurse practitioner and a supervising physician. Under this protocol, the supervising physician allows a nurse practitioner to perform certain medical tasks. The supervising physician needs to be available to answer questions and queries that the nurse a practitioner might have while seeing patients in real-time. The physician needs to review patient charts quarterly as part of the nurse protocol (Advanced Practice Legal Issues, 2014).

Discuss the process of how to obtain an NPI number.
An NPI number is a National Provider Identifier number issued to all healthcare providers nationally. Any provider can apply through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). To obtain an NPI number, providers visit and submit an online application at http://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/. Fill out the paper or electronic application form (CMS-10114) with the required personal and contact information. After verification of all information, the application will be approved by CMS. Finally, the NPI number will be assigned to the applicant provider.

Discuss CEU requirements for your state for APRN certification renewal.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) are required for APRN certification renewal and to maintain licensure in Georgia (Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, 2023). At least 30 hours of continuing education are required for APRNs to renew their certification. CE is necessary to follow updated information in the field of medicine to improve patient safety and outcomes. APRNs as healthcare providers earn 30 hours of CE as a mandatory requirement to maintain an active license in Georgia.

What information is required by your state to be on your prescription pad when prescribing controlled substances?
In Georgia, the rule 480-22-.03 (manner of issuance of controlled substance prescription drug order) describes in detail the required information for prescribing controlled medicines. The APRN in Georgia with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approval may prescribe Schedule III-V only, not Schedule I-II.

All controlled substance prescriptions should bear the prescribing practitioner’s name, address, telephone number, and the DEA permit number assigned to the practitioner, and each shall be signed and dated on the same day as issued. During dispensing, it should include the patient’s name, address, the drug name, strength, dosage form, quantity prescribed, indication, and direction of use, for any refill for zero for none.

Discuss considerations for prescribing (non-controlled substances) when using telemedicine.
The Georgia Partnership for Telehealth implements telemedicine to improve the health outcomes of Georgians living in rural areas without spending the time and money to travel for an in-person appointment. Georgia has been a leader in telemedicine since it mandated private-payer reimbursement parity for telehealth in 2005. Subsequently, the state produced rules and standards of practice in 2014. The 2019 Senate Bill 118 made several amendments to the Georgia Telehealth Law. The law now recognizes telehealth as using information and telecommunication technologies, including phones, to facilitate clinical healthcare, consultations with medical professionals, health education, and health administration. Telehealth policies and legislative updates guide nurse practitioners (NPs) regarding health care issues and telehealth billing. NPs need adequate knowledge and skills to properly bill for providing service through telehealth (Snyder & Kerns, 2021). Considerations for prescribing non-controlled substances, APRNs should strictly follow patient assessment guidelines, medical history, current health issues, and related information. Other important consideration includes proper documentation, informed consent, explaining the probable risks of replacement of in-person visit, how prescriptions will be dispensed/ sent to a pharmacy of the patient’s preferences, the provider should hold active licensure, and ensure timely follow-up.

Reference

Advanced Practice Legal Issues (2014). Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice: Georgia. https://www.thriveap.com/blog/nurse-practitioner-scope-practice-georgia

American Medical Association. (2017). State law chart: Nurse practitioner practice authority. Advocacy Resource Center. https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/…

Johnson, C., Nelson, M., & Eades, L. H. (2021). “Nurse Practitioner Autonomy in Georgia: Exploring Barriers to Full Practice Authority.”, Georgia State University. doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/24445727

Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. (2023). Chapter 410-11 Regulation of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/410-11

Snyder, E.F. & Kerns, L. (2021). Telehealth Billing for Nurse Practitioners During COVID-19: Policy Updates. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(3), 258-263.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.11.015

References

https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/410-11

http://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/

https://www.thriveap.com/blog/nurse-practitioner-scope-practice-georgia

https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/

https://doi.org/10.57709/24445727

https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/410-11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.11.015

When comparing the requirements, scope of practice, and continuing education requirements for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Georgia and California, there are some notable differences.
Georgia State Requirements:
In Georgia, APRNs must hold a current active licensure as a registered professional nurse and have a supervisory agreement with a physician. This agreement, known as a “Nurse Protocol,” allows the nurse practitioner to perform certain medical tasks under the supervision of a physician. However, nurse practitioners in Georgia are not allowed to prescribe controlled substances, including Schedule II drugs. They can order diagnostic tests and prescribe medications, except for controlled substances (Johnson, Nelson, & Eades, 2021).
California State Requirements:
In California, APRNs have more autonomy in their practice compared to Georgia. Nurse practitioners in California have full practice authority, which means they can practice independently without the need for physician supervision. They have the authority to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications, including controlled substances, within their scope of practice (California Association for Nurse Practitioners, n.d.).
Continuing Education Requirements:
In Georgia, APRNs are required to complete at least 30 hours of continuing education to renew their certification and maintain licensure. This ensures that APRNs stay updated with the latest advancements and knowledge in the field of medicine to improve patient safety and outcomes (Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, 2023).
In California, APRNs are also required to complete continuing education hours for license renewal. The California Board of Registered Nursing requires 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years for license renewal (California Board of Registered Nursing, n.d.).
Prescribing Controlled Substances:
In Georgia, APRNs with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approval can prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances but not Schedule I-II drugs. The prescriptions for controlled substances must include the prescribing practitioner’s name, address, telephone number, DEA permit number, and must be signed and dated on the same day as issued (Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, 2023).
In California, nurse practitioners have the authority to prescribe controlled substances, including Schedule II drugs, within their scope of practice (California Association for Nurse Practitioners, n.d.).
Considerations for Telemedicine:
Both Georgia and California have implemented telemedicine policies to improve access to healthcare, especially in rural areas. In Georgia, the Georgia Partnership for Telehealth has been a leader in telemedicine since 2005, and the state has established rules and standards of practice for telehealth (Snyder & Kerns, 2021). Nurse practitioners practicing telemedicine should follow patient assessment guidelines, proper documentation, informed consent, and ensure timely follow-up. They should also be knowledgeable about telehealth billing and reimbursement policies (Snyder & Kerns, 2021).
In California, telehealth services are recognized and reimbursed by private payers. Nurse practitioners should adhere to patient assessment guidelines, maintain proper documentation, and ensure that prescriptions are sent to the patient’s preferred pharmacy (California Association for Nurse Practitioners, n.d.).
In conclusion, while both Georgia and California have requirements and regulations for APRNs, there are notable differences in terms of scope of practice, prescribing authority, and telemedicine policies. Nurse practitioners in California have more autonomy and prescribing authority compared to those in Georgia. It is important for APRNs to stay updated with the specific regulations and requirements of their respective states to ensure compliance and provide quality care to their patients.
References:
California Association for Nurse Practitioners. (n.d.). Scope of Practice. Retrieved from https://canpweb.org/scope-of-practice/
California Board of Registered Nursing. (n.d.). Continuing Education. Retrieved from https://www.rn.ca.gov/ce/index.shtml
Johnson, C., Nelson, M., & Eades, L. H. (2021). Nurse Practitioner Autonomy in Georgia: Exploring Barriers to Full Practice Authority. Georgia State University. doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/24445727
Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. (2023). Chapter 410-11 Regulation of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. Retrieved from https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/410-11
Snyder, E.F. & Kerns, L. (2021). Telehealth Billing for Nurse Practitioners During COVID-19: Policy Updates. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(3), 258-263. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.11.015