Difference in Regulations in the State of California and Nevada

Difference in Regulations in the State of California and Nevada

There are several stark differences in regulations within the State of California and Las Vegas, Nevada where I intend to practice in the near future.  Regulations in the State of California adhere to the Nursing Practice Act which is tasked with delineating the scope of practice for all qualified APRNs. Section 2700 of the California Business and Professions Code defines professional activities that APRNs can engage in as determined by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing (Justia US Law, 2018). California’s Nursing Practice Act is responsible for shaping the scope of practice by providing educational standards, board composition and important requirements for licensure.

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Furthermore, the act also goes a step further and outlines requirements for licensure and grounds for remediation. On the other hand, Las Vegas adheres to an updated APRN regulation model which was adopted in 2015. Certified nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), clinical nurse practitioners (CNPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) all have defined roles under this regulation model (“Nevada State Profile,” 2018). All applicants seeking to prescribe as APRNs within the state should hold a graduate degree or a post-masters certification from an accredited institution of higher learning.

The primary objective of enforcing regulation within the larger State of Nevada is the provision of concise scope of practice for all APRNs while still enhancing the utilization of critical patient services by citizens. Additionally, Nevada promotes a system that champions the presence of an independent prescriptive authority which evaluates the level of education and experience held by APRNs. The Nevada Nurses Association (NNA) is tasked with enforcing the aforementioned regulations while ensuring that an APRN’s role of providing competent healthcare services is always underscored.