Health License Defense » APRN

New rules for APRNs and PAs by the Texas Medical Board

Taralynn Mackay — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:18:16 +0000

There are new prescriptive delegation rules drafted by the Texas Medical Board and many physicians, APRNs or PAs may not be aware of the changes. The rules apply to prescriptions, delegation by physicians, practice sites, and review of charts. One of the big areas that can impact an APRN or PA is the requirement for registration (the forms and further info can be found on the Medical Board’s website). Physicians that delegate prescriptive authority to PAs or APNs are required to register with the Texas Medical Board. This became effective on 1/31/2010.

A Disciplinary Action or Agreed Order Is Forever

Taralynn Mackay — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:10:11 +0000

Disciplinary actions or Agreed Orders remain on a nurse’s license forever. When stipulations/restrictions are placed on the license, the nurse’s license is encumbered and those restrictions show up on the license when the license is verified (for example, the verification page will show “Warning with Stipulations” or “Remedial Education”). Once the stipulations/restrictions are completed and the Board sends a letter of completion to the nurse, the verification page will show clear; however, the disciplinary history remains. If asked if the nurse has ever been sanctioned or disciplined*, the nurse will have to answer “yes.”

Recently, I have received several inquiries regarding “setting aside board orders.” This cannot be done and this is misinformation. While criminal incidents can sometimes be expunged or sealed, administrative actions currently cannot be removed from one’s license. Once a disciplinary action occurs, the history remains even once the “probation” is complete.

* The Texas BON currently asks, “Has any licensing authority refused to issue you a license or ever revoked, annulled, cancelled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a professional license, certificate or multi-state privilege held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded or otherwise disciplined you?” to obtain information about past disciplinary actions.

New Prescriptive Rules for APRNs

Taralynn Mackay — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:47:05 +0000

The Texas Nursing Board has posted new prescription rules for APRNs and the deadline to comment on the rules in 12.27.09 (scroll down to find the Nursing Board rule). The new rules have some “clean-up” language including changing APN to APRN; however, there are significant changes that require APRNs to review these rules. There is new language regarding practice sites and there is a requirement that the delegating physician must designate to the Texas Medical Board that the APRN is authorized to sign a prescription. There are restrictions on prescribing off label usages of medications. There some definite changes recommended and all APRNs should review these proposed rules.

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Texas

Taralynn Mackay — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:28:55 +0000

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Texas

There’s more to being a nurse than meets the eye, especially if you’re a nurse practitioner. At one of the highest levels of nursing there is, nurse practitioners are generally qualified to examine and diagnose patients. Some states even allow them to prescribe medication.

While they must work under the supervision of or in tandem with doctors, most nurse practitioners usually have autonomy in educating families on the need for preventive measures and in ensuring their general wellbeing. They generally work in rural and underserved areas, treating families, children and communities and teaching them about health, prevention, self care and other skills that are necessary to keep disease at bay. Nurse practitioners need to have at least a graduate degree and generally specialize in family practice, pediatrics, cardiology, acute care, women’s health, adult practice, geriatrics, occupational health, palliative care, and anesthetics (as a certified registered nurse anesthetic).

If you want to become a nurse practitioner in Texas, here’s some information that you’ll find useful:

Nurse practitioners are called Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) in this state
You must be a registered nurse with a license that is valid in Texas
You must also complete a master’s or doctoral program in any specialty of your choice that focuses on advance practice nursing, one that is approved by the Board of Nursing or accredited by a national accrediting agency recognized by the Board of Nursing.
Your graduate program must be at least a year in duration and include a practicum program or a preceptorship.
You must become nationally certified in the specialty of your choice before you can apply for a license to practice as an APRN in Texas.
The Board of Nursing does allow you to practice as an APRN while you’re waiting for the results of your certification examination. You need to procure an interim license from the board for this purpose.
If you plan to study online for your advanced degree, most universities allow you to complete your practicum program at a healthcare facility in your area. Check with your school for your available options.
As an APRN in Texas, you can hope to earn around $85,000 per year; the sum tends to increase if you specialize in acute care settings like neonatology and emergency care and decrease if you opt for general medicine and family practice.
There are many accredited universities in Texas that offer graduate nursing programs, and to learn more about them, you could check out the information available on the website of the Texas Board of Nursing.

By-line:

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of nurse practitioner schools . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson1@gmail.com