Chapter 464 outlines the statutory limits of practice for each class of nursing license: 1) Licensed Practical Nurse, 2) Registered Nurse (RN), 3) Certified Nursing Assistant, 4) Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, 5) Retired volunteer nurse certificate.
1) Licensed practical nurse means any person licensed in this state or holding an active multistate license under s. 464.0095 to practice practical nursing.
“Practice of practical nursing” means the performance of selected acts, including the administration of treatments and medications, in the care of the ill, injured, or infirm; the promotion of wellness, maintenance of health, and prevention of illness of others under the direction of a registered nurse, a licensed physician, a licensed osteopathic physician, a licensed podiatric physician, or a licensed dentist; and the teaching of general principles of health and wellness to the public and to students other than nursing students. A practical nurse is responsible and accountable for making decisions that are based upon the individual’s educational preparation and experience in nursing" - s.464.003(18).
2) “Registered nurse” means any person licensed in this state or holding an active multistate license under s. 464.0095 to practice professional nursing - - s.464.003(21).
"Practice of professional nursing means the performance of those acts requiring substantial specialized knowledge, judgment, and nursing skill based upon applied principles of psychological, biological, physical, and social sciences which shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) The observation, assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation of care; health teaching and counseling of the ill, injured, or infirm; and the promotion of wellness, maintenance of health, and prevention of illness of others.
(b) The administration of medications and treatments as prescribed or authorized by a duly licensed practitioner authorized by the laws of this state to prescribe such medications and treatments.
(c) The supervision and teaching of other personnel in the theory and performance of any of the acts described in this subsection.
A professional nurse is responsible and accountable for making decisions that are based upon the individual’s educational preparation and experience in nursing" - s.464.003(19) .
3) Certified nursing assistant means a person who meets the qualifications specified in this part and who is certified by the board as a certified nursing assistant.
Practice of a certified nursing assistant means providing care and assisting persons with tasks relating to the activities of daily living. Such tasks are those associated with personal care, maintaining mobility, nutrition and hydration, toileting and elimination, assistive devices, safety and cleanliness, data gathering, reporting abnormal signs and symptoms, postmortem care, patient socialization and reality orientation, end-of-life care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency care, residents’ or patients’ rights, documentation of nursing-assistant services, and other tasks that a certified nurse assistant may perform after training beyond that required for initial certification and upon validation of competence in that skill by a registered nurse. This subsection does not restrict the ability of any person who is otherwise trained and educated from performing such tasks.
4) Advanced practice registered nurse means any person licensed in this state to practice professional nursing and who is licensed in an advanced nursing practice, including certified nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and psychiatric nurses.
Autonomous practice means advanced nursing practice by an advanced practice registered nurse who is registered under s. 464.0123 and who is not subject to supervision by a physician or a supervisory protocol.
5) Retired volunteer nurse certificate (464.0205), any retired practical or registered nurse desiring to serve indigent, underserved, or critical need populations in this state may apply to the department for a retired volunteer nurse certificate.
A retired volunteer nurse receiving certification from the board shall:
(a) Work under the direct supervision of the director of a county health department, a physician working under a limited license issued pursuant to s. 458.317 or s. 459.0075, a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under s. 464.012, or a registered nurse licensed under s. 464.008 or s. 464.009.
(b) Comply with the minimum standards of practice for nurses and be subject to disciplinary action for violations of s. 464.018, except that the scope of practice for certified volunteers shall be limited to primary and preventive health care, or as further defined by board rule.
(c) Work only in a setting for which there are provisions for professional liability coverage for acts or omissions of the retired volunteer nurse.
(d) Provide services under the certificate only in settings whose sponsors have been approved by the board.
A retired volunteer nurse receiving certification from the board shall not:
(a) Administer controlled substances.
(b) Supervise other nurses.
(c) Receive monetary compensation.
A retired volunteer nurse certified under this section may practice only in board-approved settings in public agencies or institutions or in nonprofit agencies or institutions meeting the requirements of s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which agencies or institutions are located in areas of critical nursing need as determined by the board.
A retired volunteer nurse certificate shall be valid for 2 years, and a certificateholder may reapply for a certificate so long as the certificateholder continues to meet the eligibility requirements of this section. Any legislatively mandated continuing education on specific topics must be completed by the certificateholder prior to renewal.
Disclaimer: Laws and rules change; always refer to the current statute and rules for specific guidance.