New Jersey Nursing Practice Certification and Licensure

New Jersey Nursing Practice Certification and Licensure

NRNP 6565: Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice Care of Patients in Primary Care Settings

Week 1 Main Post

Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) are registered nurses who pursue graduate-level nursing education and advanced training, equipping them with the expertise to diagnose and treat acute and chronic medical conditions across diverse patient populations (“New Jersey Nurse Practitioners,” 2021). Overseeing APN practice in the State of New Jersey is the New Jersey Board of Nursing (BON) (Phillips, 2020) New Jersey Nursing Practice Certification and Licensure. To practice as an APN in New Jersey, the BON mandates that a licensed registered nurse completes an accredited master’s or doctorate program tailored to APN education and successfully passes an advanced practice state board exam within their specialized field of study (“New Jersey Board of Nursing Advanced Practice Nurse Certification,” 2015).

NRNP – 6565 –Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Primary Care Settings

In New Jersey, APNs are recognized as independent practitioners, granting them the authority to diagnose and treat patients without physician supervision (“New Jersey Board of Nursing Advanced Practice Nurse Certification,” 2015). Nevertheless, APN practice in NJ comes with a limitation—they can only prescribe medications or devices when collaborating with a licensed physician in New Jersey and obtaining their consultation before prescribing (“New Jersey Board of Nursing Advanced Practice Nurse Certification,” 2015). As a New Jersey resident, the author envisions practicing as an APN in NJ upon completing her studies.

Application Process in New Jersey:

1. Request the application from the BON via email, providing personal details, highest college/university degree related to Advanced Practice Nursing, specialty, and certification type (Initial certification, Endorsement, or Re-instatement).
2. Submit proof of a current New Jersey registered professional nurse license in good standing.
3. Complete the application form and include a nonrefundable application fee of $100.00, payable by money order or check only. (Note: After completing the application, there is an additional certificate fee of $80.00/$160.00, depending on the expiration of the Registered Professional Nurse License.)
4. Provide original official transcript(s) as evidence of compliance with the Board’s education requirements.
5. Demonstrate proof of passing the highest-level national Advanced Practice Nurse Examination in the clinical specialty area. (Certification information must be sent directly to the Board of Nursing from the Certifying Body.)
6. Verify the status of all advanced nursing practice certification(s)/licensure(s) held in other states (New Jersey Board of Nursing, 2021).

APNs in New Jersey must obtain a New Jersey CDS registration number and a federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certification number before they can prescribe controlled dangerous substances (CDS). Additionally, they are required to include their DEA number on any CDS prescription (“New Jersey Board of Nursing Advanced Practice Nurse Certification,” 2015). To prescribe CDS, APNs must have completed prior pharmacology education and consult with a supervising physician before making any prescriptions (“New Jersey Nurse Practitioners: Prescriptive Authority,” 2021). In New Jersey, APNs licensed are permitted to prescribe CDS Schedules II through V, provided they meet the aforementioned requirements (“Mid-Level Practitioners Authorization by State,” 2021; “New Jersey Board of Nursing Statutes and Regulations: Chapter 37,” 2020) (New Jersey Board of Nursing, 2021).

New Jersey is actively involved in various legislative advocacy activities through organizations like NJSNA. Some notable initiatives include the Pronouncement of Death Act, Advanced Practice Nurse Act, and Death Certification Bill (2015), among others.

References:

– New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Office of the Attorney General (2021). https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/Pages/APN-Certification.aspx

– American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association: The official guide to APA Style (Seventh ed.). American Psychological Association.

– Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) care for patients in New Jersey. (n.d.). New Jersey State Nurses Association. Retrieved on April 18, 2021, from, https://njsna.org/policy-and-advocacy/apns-in-nj/

– Advanced Practice Nurses of New Jersey (2021). https://njsna.org/policy-and-advocacy/njsna-legislative-successes/New Jersey Nursing Practice Certification and Licensure.