Introduction
Licensing is an essential step for a nurse to become eligible for nursing practice in the United States. Each state has different regulations guiding the licensure of nurses for the protection of patient management. The exams are administered to measure the competencies of individuals in providing optimal patient-centered care. A set of questions are issued to students, touching on the various aspects of nursing management. Furthermore, the skills of personal primary care providers are evaluated using these questions. Licensing enables a nurse practitioner to practice in different states in the United States (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 2020).
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) are nursing boards that offer nurses’ licenses. This paper will focus on the national requirements for licensure and certification by the AANP and ANCC boards and the Missouri state regulations for practicing as advanced practice registered nurses.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
The ANCC is a competency-based evaluation of nurses conducted by examining their entry-level into a unit, service, or department influence. Nurses with this certification can oversee other licensed nurses and the unlicensed personnel in the daily activities of patients’ care. After passing this examination, one is given a license to practice nursing in the United States. This license is valid for the next five years after the examination and is eligible for review every five years (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 2020). The accreditation by this organization body supports the lifelong continued nursing education through assessing for any external influence during the study. It requires the students to provide all the information about the study’s external funding organizations’ role.
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
AANP is a nursing organization that supports the welfare of nurses. It provides nursing certification via a set of examinations focusing on the various aspects of the nursing practice. The AANP gives certificates in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care nursing practice, Family nurse practice, and emergency nursing practice to experienced nurses (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 2020). The AANP provides a criterion for validating the advanced practice nurses’ knowledge and competencies to practice as specialists in inpatient care. Achieving this professional certification is necessary for improving the public’s confidence in nurse practitioners’ capabilities. It is also a requirement by numerous nurse employers in the country. Therefore, pursuing professional certification is a practical step in the nursing profession.
Missouri Licensure Requirements
The certification process for advanced practitioner nurses in Missouri begins after the completion of the registered nursing education. Nursing students need to apply for sitting on a nursing certification program. They are also required to obtain a certificate of non-indulgence in criminal offenses from the police department in Missouri. The state accepts the certification from AANP and ACNN certification bodies to practice nursing in the state. The nurses who receive certificates from practicing as APRNs in Missouri may require applying separately for the ability to prescribe medications in other states.
I intend to take the advanced practice certification in family and adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner being offered by the AANP. The eligibility to apply for this certification in Missouri includes a registered nurse certification, nursing practice in a recognized institution, and payment of a pre-set fee for enrolling for the examination. Furthermore, I need to provide evidence of being a member of a professional nursing body.
I need to send the application documents within one month to be enrolled in the following scheduled certification exams. I choose this nursing specialty to gain licensure to prescribe pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options and offer effective health promotion techniques to prevent illnesses. The timeline for obtaining the various licensure and certification resources is to be completed within two months. Therefore, different requirements have to be met within a given period to receive a license to practice as an APRN in Missouri.
Reference
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). (2020). Certification and application documents. Web.
