Reference no: EM133607224
Case study
The COVID-19 pandemic required a coordinated response to facilitate the abilities of states to address healthcare workforce needs and promote access to care during the crisis. One role of NRBs within this context was the creation of regulatory waivers in response to the lack of available testing sites for nurse licensure exams and APRN certification exams. A state must grant an NRB the authority to create waivers in order for the NRB to pursue such action. Authority may be granted through statute or via an executive order issued by the governor of a state. One state recently enacted legislation that included provisions granting the NRB authority to waive requirements in the NPA to allow emergency health services to the public if a state of emergency is declared.
Pursuant to the authority granted to the NRB under the new law, the NRB created such waivers for LPNs, RNs, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. Certified nurse practitioners (CNPs) are jointly regulated by the NRB and medical board (MB) in the state. The MB has similar emergency provisions in statute which allow for the creation of waivers; the NRB and MB worked collaboratively to create the waivers for CNPs during the pandemic. Certified nurse midwives (CNMS) are regulated by a separate regulatory board in the state, the statutory provisions for the CNM regulatory board do not include the authority to create waivers.
Case Study Discussion Questions
1. Discuss other potential remedies that are available to the CNM regulatory board to pursue the ability to temporarily waive CNM regulations during the declared state of emergency.
2. Discuss the supporting evidence that the CNM regulatory board should include in prepared comments for a public hearing to pursue the statutory authority to grant emergency waivers.
3. The BON and MB worked collaboratively to create the CNP waivers. Discuss the potential implications of the requirement for joint regulatory authority in this situation.
Reference
Short, N. M. (2022). Milstead's Health Policy & Politics. Jones & Bartlett Learning.