Best Practices for Developing Specialty Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice

  • Deborah S. Finnell, DNS, APRN-BC, CARN-AP, FAAN
    Deborah S. Finnell, DNS, APRN-BC, CARN-AP, FAAN

    Dr. Finnell is Associate Professor and Director of the Master’s and the Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD. She was the lead writer for the second edition of the Addictions Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. She is a current member of the American Nurses Association Committee on Nursing Practice Standards and Guidelines.

  • Elizabeth L. Thomas, MEd RN, NCSN, FNASN
    Elizabeth L. Thomas, MEd RN, NCSN, FNASN

    Ms. Thomas is a school health consultant and developer and manager of the Delaware Comprehensive Induction Program for School Nurses. She was lead writer for School Nursing: Scope and Standards (2005 and 2011). She is a past member of the American Nurses Association Committee on Nursing Practice and Standards as well as a current member of the ANA Code of Ethics Revision Steering Committee and the chair of the ANA Nursing: Scope and Standards Revision Steering Committee.

  • Wendy M. Nehring, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAAIDD
    Wendy M. Nehring, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAAIDD

    Dr. Nehring is Dean and Professor at East Tennessee State University College of Nursing in Johnson City, TN. She was the lead writer for the second edition of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice.

  • Kris A. McLoughlin, DNP, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN
    Kris A. McLoughlin, DNP, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN

    Dr. McLaughlin is Assistant Dean, Innovative Clinical Education at University of California, Los Angeles. As of June 2015, she will be Associate Hospital Director, Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan, Denver, CO. She was the lead writer for the second edition of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice.

  • Carol J. Bickford, PhD, RN-BC, CPHIMS, FAAN
    Carol J. Bickford, PhD, RN-BC, CPHIMS, FAAN

    Dr. Bickford is Senior Policy Advisor in the Department of Nursing Practice and Work Environment at the American Nurses Association. In that role, she directs the specialty nursing recognition program and specialty scope and standards of practice development and review program. She provides various leadership and support services for the development and revision of specialty nursing scope and standards of practice documents.

Abstract

Nursing specialization involves focusing on nursing practice in an identified specific area within the entire field of professional nursing. A defined specialty scope of practice statement and standards of professional practice, with accompanying competencies, are unique to each nursing specialty. These documents help assure continued understanding and recognition of nursing’s diverse professional contributions. The purpose of this article is to demystify the process for specialty nurses who are creating or revising their specialty nursing scope and standards of practice. We provide best practices for the developmental process based on our recently published scope and standards of specialty nursing practice. The conclusion provides strategies to disseminate scope and standards documents to appropriate stakeholders.

Key words: scope and standards of nursing, specialty nursing, nurses, professional nursing, best practices, American Nurses Association, addictions nursing, school nursing, correctional nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing, intellectual and developmental disabilities nursing

Groundedintheprofessionofnursing,areasoffocusednursingpracticehaveemergedasnursingspecialties. TheAmericanNursesAssociation(ANA)document,Nursing:ScopeandStandardsofPractice(inpress),describeswhatnursingis,whatnursesdo,responsibilitiesforwhichnursesareaccountable,andtheoutcomesofthatpractice.Nursesareresponsibleforthedirectcaredeliveryandtheconsequentialoutcomes,specifiedinthatANAfoundationaldocument.Groundedintheprofessionofnursing,areasoffocusednursingpracticehaveemergedasnursingspecialties.

Associatednursingspecialtyorganizationsaredesignatedstewardsofspecialtynursingknowledgeandseekpublicationofthespecialtynursingscopeofpracticestatementandstandardstodelineateandguidethatuniquepractice.Registerednursesatthenationalandinternationallevel,aswellasotherstakeholdersengagedinlegal,regulatory,administrative,education,andresearchactivities,valuescopeandstandardsdocuments.Thesedocumentshelptoassurecontinuedunderstandingandrecognitionofthediverseprofessionalcontributionsofnurses.

Registerednursesatthenationalandinternationallevel...valuescopeandstandardsdocuments. Developingthescopeandstandardsofspecialtynursingpracticecanbeadauntingtaskforthenurseexpertsleadingthework.Thepurposeofthisarticleistodemystifythatprocess,whethertocreateneworreviseexistingspecialtynursingscopeandstandardsofpractice.Wediscussbestpracticesincorporatedinthedevelopmentalprocessforseveralrecentlypublishedscopeandstandardsofspecialtynursingpractice.ThesebestpracticesareapplicabletonursingspecialtyorganizationspublishingwithANA,aswellasthosethatarenot.Thisarticleaddresseseachofthefollowingbestpracticesindetail:utilizingstructuresandprocessestoinitiatetheprocess;identifyingaleadwriterfortheprocess;conveningexpertswithspecificrolesandfunctions;ensuringincorporationoffoundationaldocuments;establishingarealistictimeline;addressingstrategiestoovercomebarriers;promotingfacilitatorsforsuccess;respondingtoreviewerfeedback,anddisseminatingtheScopeandStandards.

BestPracticesforScopeandStandardsDevelopment/Revision

UtilizingStructuresandProcessestoInitiatetheProcess

ANAhaspublishedaresourcethatoutlinesrecommendedstepsfordevelopmentofspecialtynursingscopeandstandardsdocuments,AcknowledgementofSpecialtyNursingStandardsofPracticeandAcknowledgmentofPracticeStandards(ANA,2010a).Thoughtleadersinspecialtynursingorganizationsareadvisedtobeginbyaddressingthefollowingsixkeyquestions:

  1. Who?Identifynumbersofnurses,professionalorganization/society,andeducationalpreparation.
  2. What?Explaintheuniquecontributionsofgeneralistandadvancedpracticeregisterednurses.
  3. When?Determinewhenthesespecialtynursesareneeded.
  4. Where?Describepracticeenvironmentsinsufficientdetailtounderstandspecialtypractice.
  5. Why?Determinewhatnicheorgapisfilled;thehistoricalperspectiveofthedevelopmentofthespecialty;currentissuesandfuturetrendsinhealthcarethatpointtotheneedforthespecialty.
  6. How?Identifytheprocesstobecomethistypeofnursespecialist,includingdevelopmentthroughformaleducation,continuingeducation,andpracticeexperiences.AddressuseofthenursingprocessandtheCodeofEthics(ANA,2015).

NursingspecialtyorganizationsmayelecttopartnerwiththeANAinthisprocess.Inthiscase,theorganizationscollaboratethroughouttheprocessofreviewandrevision,leadingtotheintendedoutcomeofafinalapprovalbytheANABoardofDirectors.

Associatednursingspecialtyorganizationsaredesignatedstewardsofspecialtynursingknowledge... Somespecialtyorganizationshaveastronghistoryinpublishingnursingstandards,predatingtheirrecognitionbytheANA.Forexample,LinaRogersStruthers,thefirstnurseassignedtoschoolsfromtheHenryStreetSettlement,publishedTheSchoolNursein1917,onlyfourteenyearsafterthebeginningofschoolnursinginNewYorkCity(Struthers,1917).In1983,thefirstANApublishedstandardsforschoolnursingpracticewerereleased,followedbyfiverevisions.In1998,theNationalAssociationofSchoolNurses(NASN)andANAbeganaco-publishingpartnershipforthestandardsofpractice.NASNaddedascopeofpracticestatementin2001(ANA/NASN,2011,p.6).

Significantchangesintheevolvinghealthcareandnursingpracticeenvironmentsrequirethatspecialtynursingstandardsbereviewed,revisedasnecessary,andresubmittedtoANAforacknowledgmentatleasteveryfiveyears,ormorefrequentlyifwarranted(ANA,2010a).Astheconvenerandstewardfortheongoingwork,theANApromptsnursingspecialtyorganizationsinadvanceofthefive-yearpublicationmark.

Aneffectivestrategyistosimultaneouslydevelopthescopeandstandardsandtheapplicationforspecialtyrecognition. Inselectinstances,nursingspecialtyorganizationsalsoneedtoseekANArecognitionofanewnursingspecialtywhensubmittingthespecialtyscopeandstandardsdocumenttotheANAreviewprocess.Aneffectivestrategyistosimultaneouslydevelopthescopeandstandardsandtheapplicationforspecialtyrecognition.

IdentifyingLeadWriterfortheProcess

Historically,leadersinnursingspecialtyorganizationshaveundertakentheactualwritingoftheirscopeandstandardsinvariousways.Forexample,theANAconvenedthecorrectionalnursingworkgroup,andtheANAstaffservedasthecustodianofthecorrectionalnursingscopeandstandardsdocument.TheANAcompiledsmallgroups’writingoutputs,andcreateddraftdocumentsforreviewbytheentireworkgroup.Theworkgroup’sdraftdocumentforpubliccommentwaspostedbytheANA.ThegroupthenfinalizedthedocumentforsubmissiontotheANAreviewprocess.

Somenursingspecialtyorganizationsintentionallymaintaintheleadwriterwhodirectedthedevelopmentofearliereditions(e.g.,IntellectualandDevelopmentalDisabilitiesNursing:ScopeandStandardsofPractice,ANA/AmericanAssociationonIntellectualandDevelopmentalDisabilities,2013),providingcontinuityovertime.Stillotherorganizationsutilizethepreviouseditortomentoranewvolunteer(e.g.,AddictionsNursing),providingaprocessforsuccessionplanning.LeadwritersmayalsobedesignatedbyanursingspecialtyorganizationBoardofDirectors,suchaswiththePsychiatricMentalHealthNursing:ScopeandStandardsofPractice,SecondEdition(ANA,AmericanPsychiatricNursesAssociation[APNA],&InternationalSocietyofPsychiatricMentalHealthNurses[ISPN],2014).Inthisexample,twospecialtyorganizations,theAPNAandISPNcollaboratedonthesingledocument.

Leadwritersassumetheirroleswiththeunderstandingthattheirscopeandstandardsdocumentservesasareferencesource... Leadwritersassumetheirroleswiththeunderstandingthattheirscopeandstandardsdocumentservesasareferencesourcefornursesseekingspecialtycertification,nurse-specialists,legislators,regulators,legalcounsel,thejudiciarysystem,varioushealthcareagencies/organizations,nurseadministrators,othernursesnotworkinginthisspecialty,otherinterprofessionalcolleagues,andhealthcareconsumers(ANA,2010a).Thespecialtyscopeandstandarddocumentarticulatestheroleandresponsibilitiesofregisterednursesandadvancedpracticeregisterednurseswhoworkinarespectivenursingspecialty.Thus,indevelopingthescopeandstandarddocument,nursingspecialtyorganizationsrelyonadditionalexpertvolunteerstocontributetothedevelopmentofahighqualityproduct.

ConveningExpertswithSpecificRolesandFunctions

Contributorstotheprocessofcreatingaspecialtyscopeandstandardsdocumentaresoughtinvariousways.ThebroadestapproachisviaanANAcallformemberparticipation,includingmessagestostatenursesassociationsandorganizationalaffiliates.Thisstrategycangeneratealargenumberofnursesinthespecialty,yetrequiresaselectionprocesstoidentifythemostqualifiedvolunteers.Thespecialtyorganization’sboardofdirectorsmayalsosolicitvolunteers,anapproachrecentlyusedbyAPNAandISPN,witheachorganizationselectingfiveparticipantsthatrepresentedthevariouseducationallevelsandfociforpsychiatricmentalhealthnursing.

...contributorshaveusuallyincludednationallyand/orinternationallyrecognizednurseexpertsinthespecialty. Nursingspecialtyorganizations(e.g.,schoolnursing)havesometimestakenadditionalstepstoensuregeographicrepresentation,inadditiontoexpertiseinacademeanddirectandindirectrolesinpublic,private,andstatefacilities/agencies.Otherstrategieshaveincludedtargetedselectionofspecialtynursesknownfortheirexpertise,publishedscholarlywork,andothersignificantcontributionstothespecialty(e.g.,AddictionsNursing,andIntellectualandDevelopmentalDisabilitiesNursing).Overall,contributorshaveusuallyincludednationallyand/orinternationallyrecognizednurseexpertsinthespecialty.AnotherexpectationofcontributingwritersisasolidunderstandingoftheANA’sfoundationaldocumentsthatgroundthescopeandstandardsofpractice.

EnsuringIncorporationofFoundationalDocuments

SpecialtynursingorganizationsundertakingarevisionhavetraditionallyincorporatedconceptsandcontentfromthefoundationaldocumentsoftheANAintheirscopeandstandards.ThesefoundationaldocumentsmayincludetheCodeofEthics(ANA,2015),Nursing’sSocialPolicyStatement:TheEssenceoftheProfession(ANA,2010b),andNursing:ScopeandStandardsofPractice,ThirdEdition(ANA, inpress).Whetheraninitialundertakingorrevision,successfulintegrationofthecontentoftheseresourcesinthescopeandstandardsentailsreading,reviewing,andrepeatedlyreturningtotheseprimaryfoundationalsourcedocumentsforguidance.

Asthedocumentevolves,smallgroupsmaybedesignatedtocarefullyreviewdraftsforspecificcontenttoensurethatthenursingspecialtyorganization’sscopeandstandardsdoesactuallybuilduponthesesourcedocuments.AnexemplarofsuchworkistheCorrectionalNursing:ScopeandStandards,SecondEdition(ANA/CorrectionsNursing,2013)whicharticulatesspecialtyexemplarsforthenineprovisionsoftheCodeofEthics.TheCommitteeonNursingPracticeStandards(CNPS),whichreviewedthisdocument,utilizeditasanexemplarforsubsequentnursingspecialtyorganizationdevelopingorrevisingtheirscopeandstandards.Forexample,inprovidingfeedbacktotheAddictionsNursingandPsychiatricMentalHealthNursinggroups,theCNPSencouragedbothtodevelopasimilarnarrativeforthenineprovisions.Thisultimatelyextendedthetimelineforfinalizingtheirwork;however,eachgroupelectedtoreviseaccordingly,andfeltthatthisextracontentsubstantivelyenrichedthefinaldocuments.

EstablishingaRealisticTimeline

Inplanningthetimeline,leadwritersneedtokeepinmindthatwritersarevolunteers,withothercompetingresponsibilitiesandpriorities. Ataminimum,writinggroupsshouldplana12to18monthperiodfromtheonsetoftheprojecttoacceptanceofthescopeandstandardsbytheCNPS.However,theprocesscantakeaslongas24to36months.Largergroupsmayevenrequireadditionaltimetoreachtoconsensus.Workthatentailscollaborationamongdifferentnursingspecialtiesmayalsoextendthetimelinewhenapprovalisrequiredbythevariousboardsofdirectors.Inplanningthetimeline,leadwritersneedtokeepinmindthatwritersarevolunteers,withothercompetingresponsibilitiesandpriorities.

AddressingStrategiestoOvercomeBarriers

Evenwiththebestplan,thereareoftenbarriersthatcanimpedeatimelyoutcomefortheprojectofacollaborativegroup.Previouscontributorstoworkgroupsidentifiedthefollowingbarriersandpotentialstrategiesrelatedtotimeconstraints,thewritingprocess,andlogistics.

Gettingandgivingcleardirectionsfromtheonsetisinvaluabletoassureforwardprogress. Timeconstraints.Nearlyallcontributingauthorsidentifiedthechallengeofadheringtothetimelinewhileworkingwithbusyprofessionalswhosetimeconstraintsweresignificantandmany.Severaleffectivestrategieshelpedtoovercomethisbarrier.Onestrategyincludedestablishingthebesttimeofdayformeetings.Inmultipleinstances,thatmeanteveningconferencecallmeetings.Somefounditusefultomeetfrequently,yetlimitthedurationofmeetings,whileothersmetforlongerperiodsoftimeatlessfrequentintervals.

Thewritingprocess.Toavoidorminimizetime-consumingrevisions,onerecommendationistocontactANAstaffpriortostartingthewritingprocess.Gettingandgivingcleardirectionsfromtheonsetisinvaluabletoassureforwardprogress.Thechallengesofvolunteersaside,somewritersdidnotproduceasexpected.Thus,itishelpfultoanticipatepotentialreassignmentofwork.Someleadersidentifiedthevariabilityofwritingskillsacrosscontributors.Thus,theleadwriterneedstoassumetheownershipofwritingthedocumenttoensureitiscohesiveandina“singlevoice.” 

 Astheworkisnearingcompletion...selectasubgroupwhowilltakeresponsibilityfortherevisionsleadingtothefinaldocument. Logistics.Handlingmultipleversionsofthedocumentoftenpresentsachallenge.Onestrategyofferedistoutilizefreeorlowcostonlinestorageprograms,suchasDropBox(www.dropbox.com)orGoogleDocs(www.google.com)accessibletoall.Thisprocesscanbeaneffectivewaytocommunicatechangesamongtheteammembersandmanagemultipleandongoingrevisions.Astheworkisnearingcompletion,anotherstrategyistoselectasubgroupwhowilltakeresponsibilityfortherevisionsleadingtothefinaldocument.

PromotingFacilitatorsforSuccess

Establishinggroundruleswasimportant,includingrespectfordiverseideasandopinions. Acommonthemeacrossallleadersofthescopeandstandardsworkgroupsrepresentedhereinwastheimportanceofformingthegroupandquicklydevelopingcohesion.Establishinggroundruleswasimportant,includingrespectfordiverseideasandopinions.Anothercommonthemewasthatthecontributorswereenthusiasticandcommittedtoprovidingaqualityproduct.Despiteanall-volunteergroup,individualsworkedtirelesslyto“getitright.”Thus,developinganeffectiveworkingteamwhoare focusedonacommongoalwascriticaltotheprocess.

Atrackrecordofstrong,effectiveorganizationalskillsoftheleadauthorwasinvaluablefacilitatorforsuccess.Effectivestrategiesincludeddevelopingaprojectplanwithtargetedactivities,identifyingresponsiblepersons,andsettingrealistictargetdatesforcompletion.Leadwritersweremindfulofmatchingwritingassignmentstothespecificexpertiseandstrengthsofgroupmembers.Forexample,historianswereimportantfortellingthestoryofthedevelopmentofthenursingspecialty.

...historianswereimportantfortellingthestoryofthedevelopmentofthenursingspecialty. Leadwriterswerealsomindfuloftheneedtobothdelegateandattendtodeadlines.Strategiesformanagementincludedregularlyscheduledmeetingsandindividualfollow-upwithparticulargroupmembers.Formost,theinitialgroupmeetingstendedtobelonger(e.g.,two-hourconferencecall)andfrequent(e.g.,monthly).Asworkprogressed,shorterandlessfrequentmeetingswererequired.

Asgroupmemberscontributedtheirrespectivewritingassignments,leadauthorsassumedtheroleofmeldingtheworksintoacohesiveworkingdocument.Thisroledrewontheleadauthors’editorialskillstoensurethatthefinalproductwas,asonesaid,“in‘onevoice,’yettheworkofseveralcontributors.”Atvariousstagesofthedevelopmentprocess,leadauthorskeptANAstaffapprisedofthedevelopmentofthedocumentandsoughtguidanceasneeded.Additionally,ANAstaffprovidedpreliminaryreviewsofthedocumentpriortosubmissiontothefirstlevelofANAreview,theCommitteeonNursingPracticeStandards.

RespondingtoReviewerFeedback

...otherleadwritersidentifiedthevalueofreviewingscopeandstandardsdocumentspublishedbyothernursingspecialtyorganizationsasexemplars. Withoutexception,alloftheleadersofthescopeandstandardsworkgroupsrepresentedhereinreportedthatmakingrevisionsinresponsetotherecommendationsfromtheANACommitteeonNursingPracticeStandards(CNPS)strengthenedtheirrespectivedocuments.Leadwriterswhoweremembersofthiscommittee(Bickford,Finnell,andThomas)identifiedtheaddedvalueofthisrole.Whilerecusedwhentheirrespectivedraftspecialtyscopeandstandardsdocumentwasreviewed,theyidentifiedthemeritsofexperienceinengaginginthereviewofothernursingspecialtyorganizationdocuments.Similarly,otherleadwritersidentifiedthevalueofreviewingscopeandstandardsdocumentspublishedbyothernursingspecialtyorganizationsasexemplars.

TherewereinstanceswhenCNPSrecommendationswerenotacceptedbythewritinggroup.Theseareasofdifferenceprovidedtheopportunityforthewritinggrouptomakerevisionsinthedocumenttofurtherclarifymemberpositionand/orprovidefeedbacktoCNPSmembersexplainingtherationalefornotacceptingtherecommendation.Thus,itisimportanttoengageindialoguewiththereviewerstoensurethatthefinaldocumentinfactrepresentsthescopeandstandardsofthenursingspecialty.

Conclusion:DisseminatingtheScopeandStandards

Clearstatementsofthescopeofspecialtynursingpracticeandstandardsofspecialtypracticeandprofessionalperformancehelpassurecontinuedunderstandingandrecognitionofnurses’diverseprofessionalcontributions.Thus,itiscriticaltoinformvariousstakeholdersofthesepublications.Potentialstrategiesfordisseminationinclude:

  1. Usesocialmediatoinformmembersofthespecialtyorganization,thelargernursingcommunity,thespecialtyfield,andotherstakeholdersaboutthescopeandstandardsdocument.Thismayincludepressreleases,socialmediaannouncements,emailblasts,andpostingsonwebsites.Mobileandweb-basedapplicationsareanothermechanismtodisseminateinformationandprovideeasyandtimelyaccesstotheseessentialdocuments. 
  2. Presentthescopeandstandardsdocumentatlocal,national,andinternationalconferences.Furtherwaystodisseminatethisinformationincludetheuseofwebinars.Attendancecanbeincreasedbyprovidingcontinuingeducationcredits.
  3. Capitalizeontheuseofthenursingspecialtyorganization’sjournal.Thismightincludeanannouncementaboutthescopeandstandardsdocumentandhowtoobtainit.Journaleditorscansolicitmanuscriptsthatillustratehowspecialtynursingscopeandstandardsareessentialforlegal,regulatory,administrative,education,andresearchactivities.
  4. Submitarticlesaboutthescopeandstandardsdocumenttootherspecialtyjournalsspecifictothefieldandnursing.Forexample,giventheprevalenceofindividualswithcomorbidpsychiatric/mentalhealthdisordersandsubstanceusedisorders,nursesineachspecialty(PMHMHandaddictions)shouldbecognizantoftheirrespectivescopeandstandards.
  5. Recommendthe scopeandstandardsdocument asrequiredreadingfornursesenteringthespecialty.Forexample,theDelawareSchoolNurseComprehensiveInductionProgram(DelawareDepartmentofEducation,n.d.)provideseachnewschoolnurseacopyoftheSchoolNursing:ScopeandStandardofPractice(ANA/NASN,2011).Thenewschoolnurse’sself-assessment,basedonthecompetencies,isusedtoplanhis/hermentoringexperience.Thesepublicationscanalsoberequiredascoursereadingsbynurseeducatorsinhighereducation.Inadditiontothefoundationaldocument,Nursing:ScopeandStandardsPractice(ANA,2010b),thespecialtydocumentsarevaluabletopre-licensurestudentsseekingtolearnaboutthevariousnursingspecialties;registerednursesenteringorengagedinthespecialtypractice;andtograduatenursingstudentsastheyseekadditionaleducationalpreparationinaspecialtynursingpractice.
  6. Establishstrongpartnershipsformarketingstrategieswithorganizationsthatcanpromotesalesofthescopeandstandardsdocument.TheANApublicationsdivisionwillhaveakeyroleinthis,yetnursingspecialtyorganizationsshouldalsopromotesaleoftheirscopeandstandardsdocumentsatconferencesandmeetings,aswellasthroughtheirwebsite.

Nursingspecialtyscopeandstandardsdocumentscontributetocontinuedunderstandingandrecognitionofnursing’sdiverseprofessionalcontributions. Nursingspecialtyscopeandstandardsdocumentscontributetocontinuedunderstandingandrecognitionofnursing’sdiverseprofessionalcontributions.Thegoalofthisarticlewastodemystifytheprocessleadingtothepublicationofthenursingspecialtyorganization’sscopeandstandards.Weprovidedguidancetothoseconsideringbecomingvolunteerexpertsbyreflectingonourcollectiveexperiencesasleadwritersofinitialandrevisedspecialtyscopeandpracticedocuments.Thesedocumentsareimportantpracticeresourcesandtheinvaluabletothediscipline,colleaguesinotherdisciplines,andnumerousconsumergroups.

Authors

DeborahS.Finnell,DNS,APRN-BC,CARN-AP,FAAN
Email:dfinnel1@jhu.edu

Dr.FinnellisAssociateProfessorandDirectoroftheMaster’sandtheDoctorofNursingPracticeProgramsatJohnsHopkinsUniversitySchoolofNursinginBaltimore,MD.ShewastheleadwriterforthesecondeditionoftheAddictionsNursing:ScopeandStandardsofPractice.SheisacurrentmemberoftheAmericanNursesAssociationCommitteeonNursingPracticeStandardsandGuidelines.

ElizabethL.Thomas,MEdRN,NCSN,FNASN
Email:libbythomas@msn.com

Ms.ThomasisaschoolhealthconsultantanddeveloperandmanageroftheDelawareComprehensiveInductionProgramforSchoolNurses.ShewasleadwriterforSchoolNursing:ScopeandStandards(2005and2011).SheisapastmemberoftheAmericanNursesAssociationCommitteeonNursingPracticeandStandardsaswellasacurrentmemberoftheANACodeofEthicsRevisionSteeringCommitteeandthechairoftheANANursing:ScopeandStandardsRevisionSteeringCommittee.

WendyM.Nehring,RN,PhD,FAAN,FAAIDD
Email:nehringw@etsu.edu

Dr.NehringisDeanandProfessoratEastTennesseeStateUniversityCollegeofNursinginJohnsonCity,TN.ShewastheleadwriterforthesecondeditionoftheIntellectualandDevelopmentalDisabilitiesNursing:ScopeandStandardsofPractice.

KrisA.McLoughlin,DNP,PMHCNS-BC,FAAN
Email:Kmcloughlin@sonnet.ucla.edu

Dr.McLaughlinisAssistantDean,InnovativeClinicalEducationatUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles.AsofJune2015,shewillbeAssociateHospitalDirector,ColoradoMentalHealthInstituteatFortLogan,Denver,CO.ShewastheleadwriterforthesecondeditionofthePsychiatric-MentalHealthNursing:ScopeandStandardsofPractice.

CarolJ.Bickford,PhD,RN-BC,CPHIMS,FAAN
Email:carol.bickford@ana.org

Dr.BickfordisSeniorPolicyAdvisorintheDepartmentofNursingPracticeandWorkEnvironmentattheAmericanNursesAssociation.Inthatrole,shedirectsthespecialtynursingrecognitionprogramandspecialtyscopeandstandardsofpracticedevelopmentandreviewprogram.Sheprovidesvariousleadershipandsupportservicesforthedevelopmentandrevisionofspecialtynursingscopeandstandardsofpracticedocuments.

AmericanNursesAssociation(ANA).(inpress).Scopeandstandardsofpractice(3rded).SilverSpring,MD:Nursesbooks.org.

AmericanNursesAssociation(ANA).(2015).Codeofethicsfornurseswithinterpretivestatements.SilverSpring,MD:Nursesbooks.org.

AmericanNursesAssociation(ANA).(2010a).Recognitionofanursingspecialty,Approvalofaspecialtynursingscopeofpracticestatement,andAcknowledgmentofspecialtynursingstandardsofpractice.Retrievedfromwww.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Tools/3-S-Booklet.pdf.(underrevision)

AmericanNursesAssociation(ANA).(2010b).Nursing’ssocialpolicystatement:Theessenceoftheprofession.SilverSpring,MD:Nursesbooks.org.

AmericanNursesAssociation/AmericanAssociationonIntellectualandDevelopmentalDisabilities.(ANA).(2013).Intellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilitiesnursing:Scopeandstandardsofpractice.SilverSpring,MD:Nursesbooks.org.

AmericanNursesAssociation/InternationalNursesSocietyonAddictions.(2013).Addictionsnursing:Scopeandstandardsofnursingpractice.SilverSpring,MD:Nursesbooks.org.

AmericanNursesAssociation/AmericanPsychiatricNursesAssociation/InternationalSocietyofPsychiatricMentalHealthNurses.(2014).Psychiatricmentalhealthnursing:ScopeandStandards.SilverSpring,MD:Nursesbooks.org.

AmericanNursesAssociation/CorrectionalNursing.(2014).Correctionalnursing:Scopeandstandardsofpractice.SilverSpring,MD:Nursesbooks.org.

AmericanNursesAssociation/NationalAssociationofSchoolNurses.(2011).Schoolnursing:Scopeandstandardsofpractice.SilverSpring,MD:Nursesbooks.org.

DelawareDepartmentofEducation.(n.d.).Comprehensiveinductionprogramforschoolnurses.Retrievedfromwww.doe.k12.de.us/Page/494

Suthers,L.R.(1917).Theschoolnurse.NewYork,NY:G.P.Putnam’sSons.Availablehere:https://books.google.com/books?id=I98HOfRxGDoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+school+nurse&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CtU-VaiBC47HsQScqIHYDA&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=the%20school%20nurse&f=false


©2015OJIN:TheOnlineJournalofIssuesinNursing
ArticlepublishedMay31,2015

References

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Delaware Department of Education. (n.d.). Comprehensive induction program for school nurses. Retrieved from www.doe.k12.de.us/Page/494

Suthers, L.R. (1917). The school nurse. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. Available here: https://books.google.com/books?id=I98HOfRxGDoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+school+nurse&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CtU-VaiBC47HsQScqIHYDA&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=the%20school%20nurse&f=false

Citation: Finnell, D., Thomas, E., Nehring, W., McLoughlin, K., Bickford, C., (May 31, 2015) "Best Practices for Developing Specialty Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 20, No. 2, Manuscript 1.