This Nurse’s Week Learn How To Protect Your License As A Nurse Practitioner.
As we celebrate Nurse’s Week, we would like to celebrate you, our Advanced practice provider colleague.
We wanted to share some essentials on maintaining your license using the GIFT.
Our colleague Lorie A. Brown, RN, MN, JD has designed a system named “GIFTS” that nurses can utilize to help protect their licenses.
An NP can always get another job … but cannot get another license! If an NP is not able to be “giving” to his or her patients in the way that provides them with the highest level of care, then that NP should leave before it is too late.
FACT
Although Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are mandated to read and follow their state’s Nurse Practice Act when taking the board exams, NPs are tested on “how” to be a nurse practitioner, not on their knowledge of the laws that they are required to follow. State Nurse Practice Acts are written by legislators and attorneys, which unfortunately can be vaguely written or difficult for nurses to understand. Consequently, nurses are unaware of the consequences that they can face with their State’s board and are vulnerable to receiving action against their license.
· G: Giving – Along with prioritizing the needs of their patients, NPs should also consider the situational demands of the practice(s) that they are working with. It is more commendable for a NP to leave an arduous practice if he/she feels they cannot provide adequate care to patients. Departing from the position beforehand and avoiding termination can help prevent NPs from having to defend their licenses.
· I: Integrity– Nurses should exemplify integrity by being honest when completing license renewal applications, job applications, and other forms of documentation. Furthermore, nurse practitioners should not provide care for patients without having a professional-patient relationship.
· F: Focus and Follow Through– Nurse practitioners need to focus on their patient’s needs and follow through with their recommended treatment options. If a patient is persistently refusing to receive a recommended treatment option or follow directions, nurse practitioners reserve the right to end the patient relationship. This process involves nurse practitioners sending a certified letter to the patient notifying them that after 30 days of care, the professional relationship will end. Doing so accordingly can help prevent action from being taken against a nurse practitioner’s license.
· T: Trust Your Gut– It is advised for nurse practitioners to trust their instincts before completing an action, depending on whether the choice will provide optimal care to their patients.
· S: Source– Nurse practitioners are ultimately the “source” of the quality of care that is provided to patients within their practice, regardless of the patient’s compliance. Nurse practitioners should advocate for following positive solutions, even in times of difficult situations.
· Nurse practitioners should take continuing education courses on the Nurse Practitioner Act and legal issues that can impact their license. Moreover, licenses “are a privilege and not a right” yet, should be protected as such.
CHECK Out Our CE Course to learn more.
Happy NP Week
Refrence: Brown, L. A. (2017). License Protection for Nurse Practitioners. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 13(2), e83–e85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2016.11.015
