Standardized Protocols and Procedures Paper

Standardized Protocols and Procedures Paper

The State Board of Nursing California regulates the practice of nursing in California. They provide guidelines for advanced nursing practice, including standardized protocols and procedures. These standardized protocols and procedures provide a framework for advanced practice nurses to deliver quality and consistent patient care (Coffman et al., 2021). This paper will discuss the importance of standardized protocols and procedures, the components required for each standardized procedure in California, the difference between a disease-specific standardized procedure and a process protocol, and the steps required for NPs to prescribe in California.

Standardized protocols and procedures guide advanced nursing practice by establishing a consistent framework for patient care. These protocols and procedures provide nurses with evidence-based guidelines for diagnosing, treating, and managing a particular disease or condition. By following standardized protocols and procedures, advanced practice nurses can provide safe and effective care to their patients (Coffman et al., 2021). In addition, these protocols and procedures help to reduce variations in care, improve patient outcomes, and promote the use of best practices.

Components of Each Standardized Procedure

According to California state requirements, each standardized procedure should include the following components:

1. Purpose and Scope: The purpose and scope of the standardized procedure should be clearly defined. This includes the intended population, the specific condition or disease being addressed, and the specific interventions or procedures included in the protocol.
2. Authorization and Accountability: The standardized procedure should be authorized by the supervising physician and the advanced practice nurse who will be implementing it (Coffman et al., 2021). The advanced practice nurse should be accountable for following the protocol and for any deviations from the protocol.
3. Procedure: The standardized procedure should include the steps required to implement the protocol. This includes assessing, diagnosing, treating, and managing the condition or disease.
4. Evaluation and Documentation: The standardized procedure should include guidelines for evaluating the patient’s response to the protocol and for documenting the care provided (Coffman et al., 2021). This includes monitoring for adverse effects, evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention, and documenting the patient’s response.
   

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Difference Between a Disease-Specific Standardized Procedure and A Process Protocol

In healthcare, standardized protocols and procedures are developed to provide a consistent and evidence-based approach to diagnosing, treating, and managing different diseases and conditions. These protocols and procedures are designed to guide healthcare providers in providing safe and effective patient care (Blijleven et al., 2019). Two types of standardized protocols and procedures are disease-specific standardized procedures and process protocols. While both are critical in healthcare, their purpose and scope differ.

A disease-specific standardized procedure is a protocol that is developed to manage a specific disease or condition. It outlines a comprehensive set of interventions or procedures designed to treat or manage that disease or condition. A disease-specific standardized procedure focuses on providing a standardized approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of a specific health condition. Examples of disease-specific standardized procedures include protocols for managing diabetes, hypertension, and asthma (Blijleven et al., 2019). On the other hand, a process protocol is a protocol that outlines a set of procedures or steps to be followed, regardless of the specific disease or condition being treated. The focus of a process protocol is to provide a standardized approach to a specific process or procedure, such as administering medication, conducting a physical examination, or performing a surgical procedure (Blijleven et al., 2019). Process protocols are designed to promote consistency in healthcare delivery and reduce variations in care quality.

One significant difference between disease-specific standardized procedures and process protocols is their scope. Disease-specific standardized procedures focus on a specific disease or condition and are designed to guide the diagnosis, treatment, and management of that particular condition (Blijleven et al., 2019). In contrast, process protocols focus on a specific process or procedure and are designed to guide the healthcare provider in performing that process or procedure consistently and effectively. Another difference between disease-specific standardized procedures and process protocols is their complexity. Disease-specific standardized procedures are often more complex than process protocols because they require a comprehensive understanding of a specific disease or condition. Disease-specific standardized procedures may involve multiple steps, including diagnostic tests, medications, and other interventions (Blijleven et al., 2019). On the other hand, process protocols tend to be less complex and straightforward, outlining a specific set of steps to be followed for a particular procedure.

Required To Enable NPs To Prescribe

The steps required to enable NPs to prescribe in California include the following:

1. Education and Certification: The advanced practice nurse must complete a master’s or doctoral degree program in nursing, including coursework in pharmacology and clinical management of patients (Fox et al., 2022).
2. National Certification: The advanced practice nurse must be certified by a national certifying organization recognized by the California Board of Registered Nursing (Fox et al., 2022).
3. Collaborative Practice Agreement: The advanced practice nurse must have a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed physician that includes the authority to prescribe medications.
4. Furnishing Number: The advanced practice nurse must obtain a furnishing number from the California Board of Registered Nursing to prescribe and dispense medications.

In addition, there are additional requirements for prescribing controlled substances in California. Advanced practice nurses must complete a course in controlled substance prescribing and register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The advanced practice nurse must also comply with the regulations and requirements of the Controlled Substances Act and the California Department of Justice (Fox et al., 2022).

Conclusion

Standardized protocols and procedures play an essential role in guiding advanced nursing practice in California. These protocols and procedures provide a framework for delivering safe and effective care to patients, reducing variations in care, and promoting best practices. Each standardized procedure should include the purpose and scope, authorization and accountability, procedure, and evaluation and documentation. There is a difference between a disease-specific standardized procedure and a process protocol. To prescribe in California, advanced practice nurses must complete education and certification, obtain national certification, have a collaborative practice agreement, and obtain a furnishing number.

References Top of Form

Blijleven, E. E., Thomeer, H. G., Stokroos, R., & Wegner, I. (2019). Protocol for a validation study of the translated stapesplasty outcome test 25 for measurement of disease-specific quality of life in Dutch patients with otosclerosis. BMJ Open, 9(12), e030219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030219

Coffman, J., Spetz, J., Seago, J. A., Rosenoff, E., & O’Neil, E. (2021). Nursing in California: A workforce crisis. San Francisco: California Workforce Initiative and the UCSF Center for the Health Professions.

Fox, A., Thamm, C., Crawford-Williams, F., Joseph, R., Cardiff, L., Thoms, D., & Chan, R. J. (2022). What workforce preparation is required for the successful implementation of nurse prescribing under supervision? Collegian. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2022.09.013

Mason, D. J., Perez, A., McLemore, M. R., & Dickson, E. (2020). Policy & politics in nursing and health care-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

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my State is California, State board of Nursing California

Go to your state board of nursing website and review the requirements to prescribe in your state. Review the standardized procedures requirements for APRN practice in your state if they exist. If they do not review the standardized procedures requirements in another state.

Answer the following questions:

How do you think these standardized protocols and procedures guide advanced nursing practice?

What are the components that each standardized procedure should include according to your state requirements?

Discuss the difference between a disease-specific standardized procedure and a process protocol.

What steps are required to enable NPs to prescribe in your state and are there additional requirements for prescribing controlled substances?