Nurse practitioners and employers are often uncertain how to evaluate whether an NP has the proper credentials for a given job, according to Carolyn Buppert, MSN, JD, writing for Medscape.
Not all specialties offer NPs board certifications. Unlike physicians, NPs are not required to attend medical school or participate in residency programs. Still, Ms. Buppert says NPs can be evaluated in a manner akin to that of physicians by matching a job's requirements with an NP's history of education, certification and training.
Employers must assess whether an NP meets the requirements for various regulatory agencies and laws, writes Ms. Buppert. For example, NPs' credentials must meet CMS qualifications and state and federal authorization standards, conform to hospital bylaws and hold the licenses required by payers.
NPs must make sure they are comfortable performing the tasks listed in a job description. Ms. Buppert advises NPs to look at factors such as organizational support and resources for NPs and seek out further education and training if necessary.
Both NPs and employers can use the National Council of State Boards of Nursing algorithm, which helps determine whether a given activity falls within an NP's area of competence.