Healthcare industry changes occur rapidly and frequently, requiring nursing professionals to adapt to meet clinical demands. As role duties and responsibilities expand, facility leaders may find it increasingly difficult to ensure their team provides safe, appropriate care in compliance with changing laws and regulations. To combat these challenges, each state has developed laws that govern nursing practice and dictate minimum care standards. In Arizona, this legislation is known as the Arizona Nurse Practice Act.
The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) holds Arizona nursing professionals accountable for the patient care they provide. This law establishes rulemaking authority, outlines licensure requirements, and sets sanctions for nursing professionals who practice outside of their legal scope.
In this article, we outline the rules enforced through the Arizona NPA, summarize key components that could impact a clinician’s daily care duties, and provide three helpful tips for facilities looking to empower their clinicians and optimize care quality.
Licensed Health Aides, CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and APRNs practicing in the state of Arizona are required to follow the rules and guidelines included in the Arizona Nurse Practice Act. This law influences nursing care by:
While each state’s NPA document is unique, they all contain similar processes for regulating their nursing board and establishing licensure requirements. Understanding the specific regulations included in your state’s nurse practice act is crucial to providing high-quality patient care. In the chart below, we list some of the key components unique to Arizona’s NPA.
Arizona Administrative Code, Title 4, Chapter 19:
Note: The board may grant a 48-hour temporary emergency RN license for nurses who have an unencumbered nursing license in another state. The nurse must present a job offer letter within 7 days of the start date and meet additional criteria set by the board.
Additionally, the BON may initiate further investigation that could result in:
By understanding the intricacies of the Nurse Practice Act, Arizona clinicians and facility leaders can ensure their patients receive the best possible care. How can administrators share key elements of the NPA in a helpful and meaningful way? Here are three ideas to get the ball rolling.
While most employees are familiarized with general NPA laws in nursing school, they may not be aware of regulatory changes that could impact the care they provide. Creating a nurse practice act training module can ensure your team practices and delegates within the confines of the law.
Review this training module with all employees at orientation and during annual competency training sessions to get everyone on the same page. Be sure to outline the Arizona Nurse Practice Act scope of practice for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs to help them gain awareness of the duties of each clinician.
The Arizona state board of nursing has developed a 50-question exam that covers topics essential to safe nursing practice, including:
This test was designed for two reasons — to educate nurses new to Arizona and to provide remedial training for those who have displayed a deficit in knowledge during clinical practice. Encourage all staff to take this test, whether they’re new to the state or have been practicing nursing for years, to ensure your team stays compliant.
It’s important to recognize that the development of nursing standards of practice in Arizona starts at the bedside. Encouraging clinical staff to form shared governance councils can empower them to drive change efforts and take charge of their own professional practice.
In these leadership groups, nursing professionals work to develop facility policies and procedures that align with state NPA laws. They then disseminate these new guidelines to fellow care providers, ensuring that everyone is aware of regulatory and clinical care updates. Involving clinicians in policy change efforts can promote multidisciplinary teamwork and build trust between leadership and bedside employees.
Understanding the importance of the Arizona Nurse Practice Act is the first step to improving health outcomes. Follow along in our free newsletter for more regulatory compliance updates and evidence-based practice guidelines to ensure your team provides the best care possible.
Legal Disclaimer: This article contains general legal information, but it is not intended to constitute professional legal advice for any particular situation and should not be relied on as professional legal advice. Any references to the law may not be current, as laws regularly change through updates in legislation, regulation, and case law at the federal and state level. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.
