APRN Legal Case Study

According to Buppert (2017), federal laws prevail over state laws when clarifying what rules the advance practice registered nurse (APRN) must follow. There are several guidelines listed within the Consensus Model for APRN that was created in 2008 by the APRN Consensus Work Group and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing APRN Advisory Committee (American Associations of Nurse Practitioners, 2017). I have listed several of the regulations that the APRN must follow below.

• There is no standardized uniform model that regulates all APRN’s across the nation. Each state individually determines the legal scope of the APRN practice.

• The APRN identifies four roles of practice which are the certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse-midwife (CNM),

The APRN is expected to practice within the ARPN Model Act.

• The APRN must have appropriate licensure. The APRN must have attended an accredited graduate level program. The APRN must hold a state RN license in the state they wish to obtain their APRN licensure in. Each state may vary on requirements and level of functioning as well as continued competency method of learning following initial certification.

• Coverage of care for patients on Medicare. The APRN must follow regulations and policies outlined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. NP’s must give care in collaboration with the physician. A physician must order home care. A NP can participate in the care but a physician must have their name on the chart as the attending to comply with federal regulations. If a NP does not follow the Medicare guidelines that can be charged with Medicare fraud.

• Billing and care of the patients covered by Medicare. A nurse practitioner is reimbursed at a lower rate than a physician (85%). Patients in a nursing home under federal law must have a physician oversee their