Discuss the influence of the Consensus Model for APRN: LACE. Why is it important? Support your discussions with at least two current scholarly articles (less than 5 years). Consensus Model Retrieved September 2018 from Consensus Model for APRN Regulation.

Answer:

The influences of the consensus model over the Advance Practicing Registered Nurse (APRN): Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education (LACE) are the following:

·        Licensure: - in this, the APRNs are no longer required to meet practicing license requirements of different states.

·        Accreditation: - in this, the students are ensured the uniformity in the curriculum or programs being taught in the nursing schools across the nation.

·        Certification: - in this, there is a common certification examination across all states that should be cleared by the registered nurse.

·        Education: - in this, the eligibility criteria for the APRNs are the same throughout the nation.

The importance of consensus model is to:

·        Increase the mobility of the APRNs

·        Provide the quality of care to the patients 

Explanation:

The consensus model for APRN: LACE is a regulatory model that was designed to orient the relationship between the LACE components (consisting of education, accreditation, certification, and licensure) to enhance the future of APRNs at the workplace.

The influences of the consensus model over the APRN: LACE is the following:

·        Licensure: - in this, with the help of APRN consensus model the practice licensure requirements for each state have now unified by which an APRN can now easily move to a different state and start practicing there without worrying about the need to meet the licensure requirements of the new state. Uniformity in the licensure of different states displays that APRN of a state is equivalent in terms of skills and knowledge to APRN of another state. The common licensing process also specifies the care for which the APRN is qualified to provide to the community. For example, there is a separate practicing license for the APRN- nurse-midwife and a separate practicing license of APRN- nurse practitioner, and so on.

·        Accreditation: - the APRN consensus model ensures that level of theoretical knowledge and practical skills of the nursing students across the country is at the same level so that there is no variation in the enhanced quality of care provided to the patients across the United States or in other words the APRN consensus model ensures that the program that is being taught to the nursing students meet the same standards that are defined as "common" throughout the nation for academic excellence. To fulfill the above mentioned the educational bodies are required to accredite their offered programs by at least one major nursing accreditation body.   

·        Certification: - the APRN consensus model defines that the nursing postgraduates across the United States are required to appear for a "single certification examination" which will make them eligible to practice as an APRN in the state of choice irrespective to the nursing regulatory standards of a particular state. The certification examination is common to all students who studied the course but is highly specific to the desired role of the APRN and also comes with validity after which the certification needs to be renewed by the APRN to ensure that the care provider remains competent with the advancements in the strategies of care and the quality of care is maximized.  

·        Education: - the APRN consensus model has mandated that only the individuals holding the MSN (Masters in Nursing) are eligible to appear in the certification examination. This is to ensure that level of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the nursing students are the same. The examination which is conducted for the APRN certification is the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the registered nurse as well as for the practicing nurse.    

The importance of consensus model is to:

·        Increase the mobility of the APRNs: - the consensus model allows the APRNs to practice in any state of choice without even worrying about the practicing standards for APRNs of that particular state. This ensures equality in the delivery of quality care to the patients.  

·        Provide the quality of care to the patients: - the consensus model also sustains the quality of care provided to the patients irrespective of the state to which the APRN or his/her education belongs because according to the consensus model the educational bodies across the country needs to meet the same curriculum/educational standards. 

References:

Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are not... : Journal of the American Academy of PAs. (n.d.). In Lww. https://journals.lww.com/jaapa/Fulltext/2016/04000/Physician_assistants_and_nurse_practitioners_are.1.aspx

A scoping review of advanced practice registered nurses... : Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (n.d.). In Lww. https://journals.lww.com/jaanp/Abstract/2018/12000/A_scoping_review_of_Advanced_Practice_Registered.8.aspx