Legislative and Regulatory Toolkit

Starter Kit for Impacting Change at the Government Level: How to Work with Your State Legislators and Regulators

Resources to assist you in advocating for key issues on the state and federal level.

NACNS What is a CNS

Table of Contents

1. Introduction/How to Use the Tool Kit for Impacting Change-  – Download

2.Guide to Media Advocacy

• Legislative Fact Sheets-Updated
  • Guide to Meeting with Congressional and State Representatives
  • Guide to Developing Legislation for CNS Practice
  • Other resources on legislation
    • APRN Handbook for Legislators
    • NCSBN’s Changes in Healthcare Professions’ Scope of Practice, Legislative Considerations
    • FAQ for Consumers on Scope of Practice CAC
• State Regulations Fact Sheets-Updated
  • Guide to Writing Letters to the Editor
  • Guide to Participating in the Regulatory Process
  • Guide to Getting Appointed to the BON
  • Guide Media Advocacy
• FAQs on Consensus Model
  • FAQ APRN Consensus Model LACE
  • FAQ APRN Consensus Model NACNS

3. Model Legislation and Regulations for Scope of Practice and Prescriptive Authority – Updated

• Oregon Regulation for CNS
  See grandfather language on page four
• Oregon Regulation for CNS Prescriptive Authority
• Indiana Nurse Practice Act – One example of regulations that has worked in state.
• Pennsylvania Legislation for CNS
  See Section 8.5, however, it is best to not include national certification as a requirement, since this does not exist for all CNSs at this time.
• Pennsylvania Regulations for CNS
  See Certification Requirements for language on certifying CNSs who are not eligible for national certification exam

4. Resources

• IOM Reports on Nursing-Updated
  • The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2011)
    • NACNS Response
  • Assessing Progress on the Institute of Medicine Report-The Future of Nursing (2016)
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Campaign for Action
    • Check your state’s efforts; example: https://campaignforaction.org/state/new-jersey/
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
  • Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education
    • FAQ
    • Video
    • APRN maps
      • CNS Independent Practice map
      • CNS Independent Prescribing map
  • APRN Model Act and Rules
    • Grandfathering guidelines
    • Examples of successful legislation (with links to law & regs)-Updated
      • Oregon
      • Indiana
      • Pennsylvania
      • Minnesota
      • Maryland
  • Reading list
• National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Position Statements
    • APRN Consensus Model Implementation (2012)
    • Prescriptive Privilege for the Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Legislative and Regulatory update
    • Ray MM & Mitttelstadt. Prescriptive Authority and Independent Practice Progress for the Clinical Nurse Specialist-Changes since 2010. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 2016; Sept/October: 302-303.