The development of nursing standards of practice for a given state is an important process that helps ensure quality care and improve patient safety. Each state has its own unique set of regulations, laws, and governing bodies to oversee the development of these standards in order to meet the varying needs of their respective populations. In this essay, I will outline the general process for developing nursing standards of practice in my state while also examining how they affect the nursing process within my chosen specialty areas.
In most states, there are two main entities that are responsible for developing and implementing nursing standards: the Board of Nursing (BON) and professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA). The BONs exist as autonomous bodies that establish rules and regulations based on legal authority granted by each particular state’s legislature. These rules can include anything from licensure requirements to disciplinary actions related to nurse negligence or malpractice (Sheridan & Larew, 2018). Professional organizations such as ANA create evidence-based standards at a national level which then get adapted by individual states depending on their specific population needs. For instance, ANA’s Code of Ethics for Nurses serves as a foundational document for many states when setting policy guidelines or establishing educational criteria for nurses within their borders (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015).
Once both governing bodies have come together to identify what basic principles should be included in the standard practices guidebook, they work with local health agencies and experts within various specialties to determine more specific policies relating to each area of practice. For example, if I am a labor-and-delivery nurse who works in my state, my specialty would involve working with pregnant women during childbirth processes such as monitoring vital signs or offering pain relief options. Thus when creating a standard practices handbook for nurses like myself operating in this field it is necessary to consider relevant factors – including demographic data about our region – when deciding upon policies such as dosages limits for medications administered during labor or follow-up care procedures after delivery (Dutta et al., 2019).
Outline the process for the development of nursing standards of practice for your state, including discussion of the entities involved in developing the standards of practice and how the standards of practice influence the nursing process for your areas of specialty.
While BONs often provide general guidance on topics like documentation requirements or workload demands through multi-state agreements known as Nurse Practice Acts (NPAs), it is ultimately up to individual employers and/or healthcare systems to create detailed protocols associated with day-to-day operations regarding specialties like mine (Kozier et al., 2013). This means that even though all nurses across any given jurisdiction may be subject NPAs set forth by their respective state boards; those who work within more specialized fields need access additional resources specific to those areas so they know how best conduct themselves while providing optimal care services according to established ethical codes endorsed by both public regulatory agencies and professional associations alike(Jachuck et al., 2017).
To sum up ,the development process for nursing standards involves collaboration between multiple stakeholders – primarily BONs empowered by legislative authority provided at local levels alongside professional organizations operating nation wide – coming together with knowledge experts from diverse clinical backgrounds assess key variables impacting patient outcomes before crafting comprehensive protocols applicable each area . After completion , these newly created documents not only help ensure quality care but also serve provide direction aiding practitioners hone skills better whilst caring individuals seeking medical services .