1. Issues related to
licensure and
credentials
Candice Clarkson, Laura Cummings, Madison Moorehead&
Courtney Musselwhite

2. Presentation Topic
Discuss issues related to licensure and
credentials. Give examples and discuss the role
of continuing education, certification, and what is
advanced practice?

3. The Nursing License:
What We All Desire
According to the Mississippi Nurse Practice Law
(2010), “a license means an authorization to practice
nursing as a registered nurse or a licensed practical
nurse designated herein” (p. 4).
Many medical-related professions, including nursing,
are regulated by state practice law, and these sets of
legislation establish standards of professional
practice and licensing.
The concept of licensing is so important to our
profession of nursing since the overall goal and
purpose of licensing is to protect the health,
wellbeing, and safety of the public.

4. The Nursing License:
What We All Desire
As we all know, the steps to reach the point where
one can apply and obtain a nursing license are
strenuous, difficult, and at times maddening.
Therefore, as future nurses with that desired RN
license, we want to do everything we can in order to
remain in good standing with the professional
standards of our state board of nursing and the Nurse
Practice Act.
Related to licensure, the Mississippi Board of Nursing
defines what certain requirements are needed to
obtain a license and also establishes various limits
and guidelines of the license.

5. The Nursing License:
Licensure Laws
There are two types of licensure laws: mandatory or
permissive.
Mandatory law “requires any person who practices the
profession or occupation to be licensed (Chitty & Black, 2011,
p. 80).
Permissive law “protects the use of the title granted in the law
but does not prohibit persons from practicing the profession or
occupation if they do not use the title” (Chitty & Black, 2011, p.
80).
Today, every state has a mandatory licensure law for the
profession of nursing in order to protect the general public
seeking nursing care.

6. Criteria for Nursing
Licensure
What are the applicant qualification for a nursing license in the
state of Mississippi?
In addition to criteria for nursing licensure, each state board of
nursing also has the power to establish criteria and guidelines
for nursing education programs.
Currently, in order to be granted a nursing license, only state
approval or accreditation of the nursing education program is
needed.
This is beginning to create an issue within the profession of
nursing since some states are seeking to require that nursing
programs have national accreditation as well in order for their
graduates to meet state approval for licensure.

7. Mobility of Nurses:
What does this mean for our licenses?
Licensure by Endorsement: Allows RNs to
practice and work in other states without
requiring nurses to take an additional
licensure exam
Nurse Licensure Compact: Established to
promote the mobility of nurses while also
protecting and promoting the wellbeing,
health, and safety of the general public

8. Professional Licensure vs.
Institutional Licensure
According to Marquis and Huston (2012),
“professional licensure is a privilege and not a right”
(p. 110).
Some professionals are now advocating the concept
of institutional licensure, which would allow the
healthcare institution or agency to determine the
professional competency of the nurse and grant
licensure.
Supporters of this form of licensure believe that it
would support better efficiency and usefulness of
nurses and greater flexibility.
However, most professional nursing organizations
completely reject this idea.

9. Alternative to Institutional
Licensure: Certification
Certification is a form of credentialing of nurses that “goes
beyond licensure by validating a high level of knowledge and
proficiency in a particular practice area” (Chitty & Black, 2011,
p. 162).
Completely voluntary
Promotes further professionalism and prestige of the nurse
A certifying organization or body awards a certificate to the
nurse who successfully passes the certification exam and
submits documentation of experience and letters of reference.
Today, there are 48 different professional certifying bodies that
offer certification in different areas of expertise.

10. Certification
Examples of Certifying Bodies: American Association
of Diabetes Education, Pediatric Nursing Certification
Board, National Association of Neonatal Nurses,
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
ANCC is the largest of the certification organizations
and offers 40 various certification programs for
associate degree or baccalaureate RNS and
advanced practice nurses.
Certification usually lasts for three to five years; then
the nurse must apply for recertification through
retesting or providing documentation of continuing
education credits and continued clinical practice.

11. Benefits of Certification
Greater salary
Larger scope of practice
Greater job and professional opportunities
Confirmation of knowledge, skills, and ability to
provide competent nursing care
Recognition and respect from healthcare
institution and coworkers

12. Challenges with
Certification
A lack of uniformity among the many established
certification bodies leads to confusion and
concern related to consistency, standardization,
testing, and practice prerequisites.
Many nurses believe that nursing certification
would benefit from a national certifying board
rather than continuing to use the multiple
standards of certification currently in place.

13. It’s all about the license....
• Board of Nursing: Their purpose is to carry out the laws
outlined in the Nurse Practice act of their state, and provide
safety for the general public. The board is put together by the
governor of the state, having 13 members from various areas
of nursing practice and various locations over the state.
• Requirements for licensure: Submit an official transcript from
an accredited nursing school, complete a criminal background
check and finger printings, submit a notarized application and
pay fee, as well as register for the NCLEX and pay the testing
fee. (Complete within one years time, any falsification of
information will result in withholding ones license and up to a
$5000 fee)

15. Nursing Applicant Rejects - #1

16. Nursing Applicant Rejects - #2

17. Nursing Applicant Rejects - #3

18. Board of Nursing: Disciplinary
Action
Denial, Revocation, & suspension of license: “The
board shall have power to deny, revoke, suspend, or
refuse to renew any license or permit to practice nursing
issued by the board or applied for in accordance with
the provision of this act, including the power to fine said
individual, upon proof that such person has violated the
provisions of Miss. Code Ann. Chapter 15 as more
specifically defined in Section 73-15-29.”
*All unprofessional conduct is defined within the
Mississippi Nurse Practice Act, we will specifically
address 10 examples.

19. HOW
TO
LOSE
YOUR
IN 10
LICENSE
WAYS

20. #1.
Practicing
under the
influence of
alcohol.

22. #3. False
Representation
of licensure

23. #4. Inappropriate Delegation
The Nurse…..
Oh yeahhh,
I’m getting
paid for this
I have no
idea what
I’m
doing!!!
….The UAP doing the nurses’
job.

24. Laura was the BEST PATIENT EVER!!

25. #6.
Violating
Professional
Boundaries

26. #7.
Willfully
altering
medications

27. HELP!! I’ve
fallen and I
can’t get
up!!!!

28. #9.
Conviction
of a felony
in the past 5
years.

30. Defined as “non-degree seeking ways in which nurses
maintain expertise during their professional careers”
(Chitty & Black, 2011, p. 163)
Promotes continuous and life-long learning
The ANCC is in charge of setting standards for CE,
accrediting programs that provide CE, and transferring CE
credits form state-to-state.
In 33 states, CE is required and must be documented in
order to renew one’s license.
With mandatory continuing education in the field of
nursing, the government guarantees that nurses are
staying current and educated about what is going on the
profession of nursing.

31. 1. Nurse Practitioner
2. Certified Nurse Midwife
3. Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetist
4. Clinical Nurse Specialist

32. Requirements:
Completed a BSN program
Complete a NP master’s/doctorate
program
Pass the national NP exam to
become certified
From here, the majority of NP
choose a specialty area (such as:
Family practice, adult or pediatric
health care)
Scope of practice:
NP can perform physical
examinations, take medical
histories, diagnose and treat
illnesses and injuries, order lab
tests, and prescribe medications
with some physician supervision.
Some NPs are independent and
can be directly reimbursed by

33. Requirements:
Registered Nurse
Complete a formal
midwife course over,
which expands over a
minimum of 9 months.
Scope of Practice:
CNMs provide woman
care and aid in childbirth
in a variety of healthcare
settings.
Births aided by nurse-
midwives are among the
safest.
CNMs have the widest
prescriptive rights of all
advanced practice
nurses.

34. Requirements:
Completion of a BSN program
& have RN license
Must complete 2 to 3 years of
specialized education in a
master’s program
must also meet national
certification and recertification
requirements
Scope of Practice:
CRNAsadminister anesthetics
while collaborating with
physician anesthetists or
working independently
They practice in a variety of
healthcare settings
The safety of care delivered by
CRNAs is well established and
considered safe.

35. Requirements:
Completed a BSN program
Complete a advanced nursing
degree – master’s or doctoral
Scope of practice:
Qualified to handle a variety of
medical and mental health
problems
Considered experts in a
particular field
Qualified to perform health
assessments, develop and
make diagnoses, and deliver
treatment.

36. Breaking News:
ISSUES R/T LICENSURE
MOOREHEAD & MUSSELWHITE
ANCHORWOME

38. References:
Chitty, K.K., & Black B.P. (2011). Professional nursing: concepts &
challenges. (6th ed.) St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
Healthcare integrity and protection data bank (HIPDB) and national
practitioner data bank (NPDB). (2013). Retrieved from
https://www.ncsbn.org/418.htm
Healthcare quality improvement act law and legal definition. (2013).
Retrieved from http://definitions.uslegal.com/h/healthcare-quality-
improvement-act/
Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C.J. (2012). Leadership roles and
management functions in nursing. (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA:
WoltersKluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Mississippi Nursing Practice Law. (2010). Retrieved from
http://www.msbn.state.ms.us/
Sorrel, A. L. (2010, March 4). National practitioner database
expanded. Retrieved from http://www.ama-