word response. Support thoughts through the use of course textbooks, peer-reviewed articles, Cite sources and provide appropriate references for the citations in APA format.
The registered nurse (RN) and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) roles include many differences in relation to acute/chronic conditions, treatment initiation, and medication prescription. While the RN scope of practice encompasses patient education, care coordination, and the ability to carry out physician orders, the APRN scope of practice includes higher-level clinical decision-making than that of the RN i.e., assessing/diagnosing, managing acute/chronic conditions, determining, prescribing treatment plans, etc. through completion of advanced education (Master’s/Doctorate) and specialty certification.
State laws define and regulate APRN scope of practice through a legal lens. For example, in Texas, APRNs practice under a restricted model where they must enter into a collaborative/supervisory agreement with a physician before being able to prescribe medication or perform certain functions. Conversely, many states permit independent APRN practice. The ethical principles remain constant between the RN and APRN populations (beneficence/nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice); but the levels of accountability differ for APRNs due to prescriptive authority and being responsible for diagnosing.
The Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are pivotal in addressing public health challenges such as mental health disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and health care disparities from a public health perspective. In addition to providing care directly to patients and their families, APRNs also play an important role by providing health care in communities that lack adequate access to health services or provide only limited access to them, thereby increasing access to health care and decreasing health care disparities.
As part of their ethical obligations, APRNs are required to be strong patient advocates for at-risk populations. To meet these obligations and to provide the best quality care, APRNs must be able to deliver culturally competent and evidence-based health care services. Legally, APRNs must comply with both federal and state regulations regarding appropriate prescribing as they relate to managing the opioid abuse crisis, are required to comply with laws related to protecting patient privacy, including but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In summary, APRNs possess an expanded ethical and legal scope of practice compared to RNs, including the legal ability to diagnose and treat patients, and the ability to advocate for patients and populations at both the individual and community levels in order to address complex public health issues.
References
Boehning, A. P., & Punsalan, L. D. (2023). Advanced practice registered nurse roles. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Haddad LM, Geiger RA. Nursing ethical considerations. [Updated 2023 Aug 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from:
McCollum J. (2025). Ethical considerations for the advanced practice aesthetic nurse. Plastic and Aesthetic Nursing, 45(3), 157162.
Texas Board of Nursing. (n.d.-a). Practice APRN scope of practice. Retrieved January 8, 2026, from
Texas Board of Nursing. (n.d.-b). Rules & regulations relating to nurse education, licensure, and practice. Retrieved January 8, 2026, from
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