Important information: BON clarifies clinical instructional hours for Autonomous practice

As per Joe Baker, Executive Director for the Florida Board of Nursing, the attorneys have reviewed and confirmed that as found in Section 464.0123, Florida Statutes, all APRNs must have 3000 clinical hours under a protocol with an M.D. or D.O.in the 5 years preceding registration for Autonomous APRN practice, which may include clinical instructional hours. Clinical instructional hours means education provided as faculty in a clinical setting in a graduate program leading to a master’s or doctoral degree in a clinical nursing specialty area. New APRN graduates are not eligible for autonomous practice until they have met the 3000 clinical practice hours requirement under a protocol with an M.D. or a D.O.

If a new APRN graduate has applied for and received an autonomous practice registration, then this means the affirmation was checked on the application and the individual verified they met the requirements above. If a new APRN graduate did this and does not meet the requirements, they should email the Board of Nursing (MQA.Nursing@FlHealth.gov) and ask to have their Autonomous APRN registration voluntarily relinquished or they may face disciplinary action for having obtained the registration by misrepresentation.