According to the Florida Board of Nursing, an initial applicant for autonomous APRN practice must complete the following:
- at least 3,000 clinical practice hours under the supervision of an allopathic or osteopathic physician within the past 5 years. These hours may include clinical instructional hours. [See Section 464.0123(1)(c) F.S. for complete requirements];
- three graduate-level semester hours, or the equivalent, in differential diagnosis and 3 graduate-level semester hours, or the equivalent (link on equivalency), in pharmacology completed within the past 5 years (documentation required); and
- not been subject to disciplinary action as specified in Section 456.072 F.S. or Section 464.018 F.S., or any similar disciplinary action in any state or jurisdiction within the past 5 years.
If you have not been enrolled in graduate-level semester hours within the past 5 years, you can complete equivalent continuing education (CE) credits for both the pharmacology and differential diagnosis components.
Here is how the Florida Board of Nursing addresses the CE credit equivalency:
Three graduate-level semester hours are equivalent to forty-five (45) Continuing Education credits offered by the entities set forth in Section 464.013(3)(b), F.S. and Rule 64B9-4.002(2), F.A.C.
The pharmacology course content must address the therapeutic uses and biological effects of drugs.
The differential diagnosis course content must address advanced health assessment, differential diagnosis, critical thinking, or diagnostic reasoning.
Courses may be completed at any time within the 5 years before applying for Autonomous APRN Registration.
Renew Now CE has pharmacology courses that meet the equivalency and automatically report documentation to CE Broker for Pharmacology Initial Application of Autonomous Practice.
We offer course and package options for pharmacology and autonomous practice CE directly on CE Broker. Click to link to our offerings on CE Broker.
Courses in the Pharmacology 25 Hour package:
- Pharmacology 10 hours – Common Primary Care and Med-Surg Medications – ANCC approved. Course Expiration Date: 7/31/2025
Learning outcomes:
1. Acknowledge and identify causes of medication errors.
2. Correctly select generic name for a brand medication.
3. Identify common drug-to-drug interactions.
4. Identify common food-to-drug interactions.
Recent reviews of Pharmacology 10 hours: “Had a great time reviewing medications.” – Victoria, August 2023“Great review Very informative” – Troy, March 2023“Awesome session, very informative.” – Rolly, March 2023 - Abused Meds 6 Hours. Course Expiration Date: 8/1/2025
Learning outcomes:
1. Identify commonly abused medications.
2. Describe regulation of controlled substances.
3. Identify schedules of controlled substances.
4. Identify reversal agents of opioids and benzodiazepines.
5. Identify resources for the proper disposal of controlled substances. - Cannabis 3 Hours. Course Expiration Date: 12/31/2024
Learning Outcomes:
1. Differentiate between cannabis and cannabinoids.
2. Identify two commonly recognized strains of cannabis.
3. Acknowledge the wide variety of species of cannabis and the best way to evaluate them.
4. Describe differences between the two cannabinoids of greatest therapeutic interest.
5. Identify cannabinoid receptors, locations in the body, and symptoms associated with each receptor.
6. Identify interactions between cannabinoids and prescription medications.
7. Describe medical conditions for which cannabinoids have proven efficacy. Evaluate research evidence concerning efficacy of cannabis use.Review of Cannabis Course: “The information regarding CYP effect of CBD is especially helpful. CBD is very prevalent currently. Thank you” – Amber, RN (May 2022) - Opioids – The Uncontrolled Epidemic. Course Expiration Date: 7/18/2025
Course Objectives:- Identify heroin as an opioid
- Define the scope of America’s opioid problem
- Identify classes of scheduled opioids
- Identify reversal agent
- Identify strategies to help individuals with addiction