The Florida nurse practice act

Part 1

The Florida nurse practice act states that:

• when a physician is present and is providing direct supervision, the nurse only acts as the

“physician’s hands.”

• Registered nurses are all persons licensed to perform professional nursing in the state of

Florida.

• Licensed practical nurses are any persons in the state of Florida licensed to perform

practical nursing.

• Advanced Registered Nurses Practitioners (ARNPs) are any person who in addition of

being licensed to perform professional nursing have obtained post-basic educational

training and experience and is certified by the Board of Nursing to perform advanced-

level nursing. As a result, they may perform acts such as medical diagnosis and

treatment, prescription of medication, and operations.

Medical assistants in Florida do not require to be licensed; they have little to no formal

training. Even though unlicensed, it is perfectly legal for nurses to delegate tasks such as basic

first aid, assisting in patient examination, operating medical equipment, performing laboratory

procedures, among others to medical assistants. In Florida, even though the term “under the

direct supervision of a physician” is used in the statute, this does not mean that the nurse or

physician has to be in the room at all times. It refers to a nurse or physician being on the

premises in case the medical assistant requires any directions or assistance (Indest, Patrou &

Nursing Law Manual, 2008). In my understanding this type of delegation means that a physician

or a nurse does not have to follow a medical assistant around in everything they do, there are