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Does the Florida Board of Nursing maintain of list of approved APRN programs?
The Florida Board of Nursing does not complete a primary source verification of education for all of its Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).
We do not maintain a list of “approved” APRN programs.
Florida APRN applicants are required to hold an active Florida RN license or an active multistate RN license from another jurisdiction, a master’s degree or post-master’s certificate in a nursing clinical specialty area and national advanced practice certification from an approved nursing specialty board. The certification requirements for all the Board approved certifying bodies mirror the licensure requirements for Florida. Therefore, we only require proof of the applicant’s national certification.
Rule 64B9-4.002(3), F.A.C., provides the professional or national nursing specialty boards recognized by the Board. You may find the full rule on the web at: www.flrules.org
Please visit your prospective certifying body’s website, for additional information regarding APRN certification eligibility requirements. www.nursingworld.org/certification
Generally, certifying bodies require a program to be accredited by CCNE or ACEN (formerly NLNAC) and to include advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours, and content in health promotion and disease management.
Can I use my specialty nursing certification to fulfill the continuing education requirements to renew my license?
A nurse who is certified by a health care specialty program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification is exempt from continuing education requirements. This must be reported to the Department’s tracking system powered by CE Broker.
Please note: The CE exemption based on certification does not apply to the 3 hour Safely Prescribing Controlled Substances course requirement nor the 2 hour Human Trafficking course requirement.
Can an APRN sign death certificates?
Only an APRN who registered and been approved for autonomous practice can sign a death certificate according to House Bill 607.
The Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics looks forward to supporting and welcoming Autonomous Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (AAPRNs) as online users of the state’s Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS). Completion of the death certificate is critical to families when their loved one passes away and becoming an online EDRS certifier is easy and free. The Bureau of Vital Statistics has an online tutorial and training tools that will educate AAPRNs on their roles and responsibilities in certifying death certificates. The attached brochure gives certifiers a quick look at how to properly complete the cause of death section and the importance of the death certificate.
For information on how to become an online certifier within EDRS, please contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics Helpdesk toll-free at 1-866-295-5902, Monday through Friday from 8am – 6pm ET and Saturday from 9am-2pm ET. Access forms will be provided, along with a link to an online tutorial, will need to be completed before gaining access to EDRS.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has information for certifiers on how to properly complete the medical portion of the death record and specific training videos on certifying COVID-19 deaths. To access the CDC’s materials, click on this link: //www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/coding-and-reporting.htm .
Do all nurses qualify for the designation as a “Psychiatric” nurse?
No, only an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who has met the necessary requirements outlined in statute is recognized as a psychiatric nurse.
Pursuant to s.394.455(35), F.S., “Psychiatric nurse” means an advanced practice registered nurse certified under s.464.012 who has a master’s or doctoral degree in psychiatric nursing, holds a national advanced practice certification as a psychiatric mental health advanced practice nurse, and has 2 years of post-master’s clinical experience under the supervision of a physician.
In addition, Section 464.012(4), FS, references: (e) A psychiatric nurse, who meets the requirements in s. 394.455(35), within the framework of an established protocol with a psychiatrist, may prescribe psychotropic controlled substances for the treatment of mental disorders.
For more information about this advanced practice certification, please visit the “Latest News” section of our website at //floridasnursing.gov/latest-news/important-legislative-update-regarding-hb-977/.
What CE courses are accepted as equivalent to the graduate level semester hours required for Autonomous APRN Registration?
Three graduate-level semester hours are equivalent to forty-five (45) Continuing Education credits offered by the entities set forth in Section 464.013(3)(b), F.S. and Rule 64B9-4.002(2), F.A.C.
The pharmacology course content must address the therapeutic uses and biological effects of drugs.
The differential diagnosis course content must address advanced health assessment, differential diagnosis, critical thinking, or diagnostic reasoning.
Courses may be completed at any time within the 5 years before applying for Autonomous APRN Registration.
Do I have to do a CE course before registering for autonomous practice?
CE is an equivalency for registration applicants who do not meet the semester hours requirements.
Three graduate-level semester hours are equivalent to forty-five (45) Continuing Education credits offered by the entities set forth in Section 464.013(3)(b), F.S. and Rule 64B9-4.002(2), F.A.C.
The pharmacology course content must address the therapeutic uses and biological effects of drugs.
The differential diagnosis course content must address advanced health assessment, differential diagnosis, critical thinking, or diagnostic reasoning.
Courses may be completed at any time within the 5 years before applying for Autonomous APRN Registration.
Do all nurse practitioners need to file protocols?
Effective June 23, 2017, the Board of Nursing is no longer required to receive, review, or maintain Advanced Practice Registered Nurse protocols.
Statutory authority on protocols is Section 464.012(3), F.S. — An advanced practice registered nurse shall perform those functions authorized in this section within the framework of an established protocol which must be maintained onsite at the location or locations at which an advanced practice registered nurse practices. In the case of multiple supervising physicians in the same group, an advanced practice registered nurse must enter into a supervisory protocol with at least one physician within the physician group practice.
In addition, Section 464.012(4), FS, references: (e) A psychiatric nurse, who meets the requirements in s. 394.455(35), within the framework of an established protocol with a psychiatrist, may prescribe psychotropic controlled substances for the treatment of mental disorders.
How long will it take to get my license?
There is no set timeframe for approval of an application. We process applications in date order received. Applications are processed as quickly as possible, but timeframes vary based on the number of applications received and on the length of time it takes receive all necessary documentation.
Do I need malpractice insurance to be licensed?
APRNs practicing in Florida are required to be covered by malpractice insurance unless they qualify for an exemption listed on the Financial Responsibility Form.
The Financial Responsibility form must be completed and filed with the board office before APRN certification is granted. This form is included in the initial application and is also available separately on the Resources page.
Do I need National Certification?
Yes. Effective July 1, 2006, all specialties of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse applying for licensure in Florida must provide proof of National Certification.
Do I need a dispensing license?
If it is in your protocols that you are to dispense medications for a fee, you must be authorized to dispense. Dispensing is writing and filling a prescription and selling the medication to a patient. Giving samples is not dispensing. The dispensing license must also be renewed when renewing your APRN license. You may add dispensing to your license from your online account under “Manage my License” or you may submit the Dispensing Practitioner Application to the Board.
How many contact hours do I need for a full biennium?
All Florida-licensed LPNs, RNs, and APRNs are now in a 24-month renewal cycle and must complete 24 hours of appropriate continuing education during each renewal period. The 24 hours must include two (2) hours on Prevention of Medical Errors, two (2) hours in Laws and Rules that govern the practice of Nursing, (2) hours in recognizing impairment in the workplace and every other biennium thereafter (every 4 years), effective August 1, 2017 and two (2) hours on Human Trafficking, as defined in s.787.06(2), F.S., effective October 1, 2017. HIV/AIDS is now a one-time, 1- hour CE requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal. Domestic Violence (DV) CE is now a 2 hour requirement every third renewal (every 6 years). Since Domestic Violence (DV) is a 2-hour requirement, the licensee will have 26 hours of CE during the renewal period when DV is taken.