West Virginia Pursing Practice Certification and Licensure
Application Processes and Regulations in West Virginia
The process of applying for certification and licensure in the state of West Virginia varies from state to state and is contingent upon the specific regulations of each state. There is also a lack of uniformity in state regulations regarding prescriptive authority.
In certain states, prescriptive authority is granted exclusively to APRNs who work in collaboration with a physician. Conversely, other states permit APRNs to work and prescribe independently, subject to specific conditions (Buppert, 2019).
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State Board Application Process
The procedure for APRNs to apply for licensure in West Virginia involves several sequential steps. Initially, the APRN candidate must successfully complete an accredited graduate program (Nursinglicensure, n.d.). Following the successful completion of the accredited graduate program, the APRN candidate can submit a comprehensive application, along with the requisite fees, via an online portal to the state board of nursing (Nursinglicensure, n.d.) West Virginia Pursing Practice Certification and Licensure. Additionally, the APRN candidate will be required to provide the state board with supporting documents such as official transcripts (Nursinglicensure, n.d.). Furthermore, if the APRN candidate answers affirmatively to any questions on the application related to criminal convictions, professional discipline, drug usage, or conditions that may lead to impairment, they must provide an explanation along with supporting documentation (Nursinglicensure, n.d.). Once the completed application is submitted, the necessary fees are paid, and all supporting documentation is received by the board, the APRN candidate will be scheduled for the licensure examination at a specified date and time (Nursinglicensure, n.d.) West Virginia Pursing Practice Certification and Licensure.
NURS-6051N Discussion: Interaction Between Nurse Informaticists and Other Specialists
Application for Prescriptive Authority
In West Virginia, APRNs have the option to apply for and obtain prescriptive authority, either in collaboration with a physician or independently, depending on their level of experience (Buppert, 2019). For both independent and collaborative prescriptive authority, APRNs must have completed a minimum of 45 hours of board-approved, graduate-level advanced pharmacology contact hours, possess a valid and unblemished license, submit a comprehensive application, and fulfill all mandatory fees (Buppert, 2019). During the initial three years of their practice, APRNs may apply for and receive collaborative prescriptive authority (Buppert, 2019). To be eligible for collaborative prescriptive authority, APRNs must demonstrate documentation of pharmacotherapy utilization during their educational program (Buppert, 2019). Additionally, they must provide written verification of the collaborative agreement with a physician licensed in West Virginia, holding an unrestricted license for prescriptive practice (Buppert, 2019). After the initial three-year period of collaborative prescriptive authority, APRNs are eligible to apply for and receive independent prescriptive authority (Buppert, 2019). Alongside the completion of the three-year collaborative agreement, APRNs must also furnish documentation of 15 contact hours in advanced pharmacology completed within two years preceding the application (Buppert, 2019) West Virginia Pursing Practice Certification and Licensure.
Impact of Prescriptive Authority
The limitations and conditions imposed on APRNs concerning prescriptive authority are implemented with the primary goal of safeguarding patient well-being. States like West Virginia, which mandate a specific duration of collaborative prescriptive authority before granting independent authority, take significant measures to ensure patient safety. The compulsory collaboration between APRNs and physicians enables APRNs to gain practical experience while being supervised by a licensed physician. Requiring collaboration between APRNs and physicians ensures that APRNs can prescribe medications under the guidance of a licensed physician, ultimately contributing to patient safety.
Impact of Prescriptive Authority, Credentialing, and Clinical Privilege
Regulations and criteria regarding prescriptive authority, credentialing, and clinical privilege exist to uphold patient safety. These criteria and regulations serve as a means to verify that APRNs have met the minimum eligibility and competency requirements. Without these regulations and criteria, there would be no reliable way to confirm whether an APRN has completed the requisite education or to ascertain the extent of the APRN’s abilities, knowledge, and skills (West Virginia Pursing Practice Certification and Licensure).
Prescriptive Authority
Prescriptive authority refers to an APRN’s capability and authorization to prescribe medications (Scope of Practice Policy, 2020). Across the United States, there is a lack of consistency regarding APRNs’ authority to prescribe medications. Furthermore, various professional nursing organizations have differing position statements on prescriptive authority for APRNs. For example, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2020) contends that prescriptive authority should be solely regulated by state boards of nursing, aligning with the APRN’s role, education, and certification. In contrast, the American Nurses Association asserts that all APRNs should be granted full practice authority, including prescription privileges (NursingWorld, n.d.) West Virginia Pursing Practice Certification and Licensure.
Credentialing
Credentialing encompasses the mechanisms for overseeing, gathering, and verifying an APRN’s professional qualifications (Hamric et al., 2018). National-level credentialing for APRNs is achieved by meeting eligibility standards and successfully passing a national certification examination (Hamric et al., 2018). Similarly, state-level credentialing for APRNs is attained through licensure, following the fulfillment of eligibility criteria (Hamric et al., 2018). Eligibility criteria for state-level APRN credentialing include the completion of mandatory graduate education and successful performance on a national certification examination (Hamric et al., 2018).
Clinical Privilege
Clinical privilege can be defined as the authorization granted to an APRN to provide treatment or specific healthcare in a particular setting (Summers, 2017). The authorization of clinical privilege for APRNs is contingent upon factors such as licensure, training, education, health status, judgment, competence, and experience (Summers, 2017). Authorities responsible for granting clinical privilege to APRNs include entities such as human resources or medical staff (Summers, 2017) West Virginia Pursing Practice Certification and Licensure.
References
Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) requirements in West Virginia. (n.d.). Nursinglicensure.org, https://www.nursinglicensure.org/np-state-/west-virginia-nurse-practitioner.html
Buppert, C. (2019). Nurse Practitioner’s Business Practice and Legal Guide, 5th Edition [Bookshelf Ambassadored]. https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781284143003/
Hamric, A., Hanson, C., Tracy, M., & O’Grady, E. (2019). Advanced Practice Nursing: An Integrative Approach. Fifth Edition. Elsevier. ISBN 978-1-4557-3980-6.
Keeling, A. W. (2015). Historical perspectives on an expanded role for nursing. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 20(2), Manuscript 2. Doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol20No02Man02
Nurse practitioners overview. (2020). Scope of Practice Policy, https://scopeofpracticepolicy.org/pratitioners/nurse-practitioners/
Nurse practitioner prescriptive authority. (2020). American Association of Nurse
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