What is the general scope of practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Florida?

• A. APRNs have restricted practice limited to observation only.
• B. APRNs may prescribe medications without any physician collaboration or protocols.
• C. APRNs have expanded practice authority under protocols or collaborative arrangements with physicians, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, and often prescriptive authority.
• D. APRNs cannot engage in prescriptive authority.

Answer: (C)

In Florida, APRNs operate with expanded practice authority that is defined through protocols or collaborative arrangements with physicians. This means they can perform comprehensive assessments, make diagnoses, develop and manage treatment plans, and order or interpret diagnostic tests. Prescriptive authority is typically included under those protocols, provided the APRN meets all required credentials and follows the physician-approved plan.

This framework ensures patient safety by tying advanced practice to a written agreement that outlines which conditions and patient populations the APRN may manage and how prescriptive decisions are made. It’s not limited to observation, and it does not allow practice without some form of physician collaboration or protocol. Nor does it prohibit prescriptive authority; the ability to prescribe is part of the expanded scope when supported by the protocol and applicable regulations.