Post #1

Within the nursing profession, regulation is critical to ensure competent and safe practice. The delivery of health care, health outcomes, and patient safety is greatly influenced by nursing practice, therefore regulation is necessary. Nursing practice is regulated by the state through civil procedures and administrative laws. One example of regulation would include the requirement of licensure, since this validates competence and knowledge. In addition, nurses need to be cognizant of policies and procedures within their organizations, as well as be in compliance with them (National Commission on Correctional Health Care, 2021). The difference between accreditation and regulation is that accreditation involves the review process of healthcare organizations to evaluate whether they are meeting standards and regulatory requirements as identified by an accredited organization. Accreditation shows whether a healthcare organization is committed and dedicated to meeting standards with patient care and performance at a higher level (Accreditation Commission for Health Care, 2021). Within my facility, regulation standards include having an active license or certificate to practice as a healthcare worker, having a set of policy and procedures that are in alignment with state guidelines, appropriately reporting adverse events, etc. For accreditation standards, state surveyors will come from time to time to observe and check to see whether we are following state guidelines, such as taking necessary precautions for covid 19 prevention, checking to ensure that the facility is a safe and clean environment, checking whether in services for continued education are provided and whether employees are attending, checking to see whether nurses are competent with patient care and medication administration, and so on.

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Post # 2

Top of FormRegulation and Accreditation are similar in the nursing world but also have district differences. Both of these things can increase overall safety during practice and can lead to better outcomes for patients. According to an article by the AHRQ, the term regulation can be defined as a set number of laws and guidelines that everyone must follow while caring for patients (AHRQ, 2009). Accreditation is a different term. In order for someone to receive accreditation, they must prove to a certain organization that they are educated and able to perform certain vital competencies and minimum levels of quality. A person, hospital, clinic, or any other health care facility can lose its accreditation after already receiving it. If they show the governing body that they are unable to meet goals, rules, standards, and quality in practice, they can lose their privilege to provide patient care. However, they can work to earn it back. The most important accreditation for student nurse is their Registered Nursing license. Once a student nurse completes all school and clinical from an accredited nursing school and passed their NCLEX, they are accredited to be a nurse and practice by receiving their nursing license. All nurses follow the code of ethics as rules to follow in practice. I use the code of ethics every day in practice and use my accreditation with my nursing license.