Global signature authority refers to state laws that authorize advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to sign or otherwise complete forms related to patient care within their scope of practice.
As part of routine practice, APRNs sign forms that document and facilitate patient care, including treatment orders, referrals, and the recognition of health status. In some states, statutes and regulations were written before APRNs were in practice and omit APRNs from signing forms for the care that they provide.
Global signature authority has been granted in several states over the past two decades. Essentially, these laws give signing authority to APRNs within their current training and scope of practice. These updated laws
- Promote transparency and accountability by allowing documentation to reflect the actual patient-provider relationship
- Provide efficacy for patients as care delivery and form completion can be addressed in the same visit
- Promote productive use of the healthcare workforce by eliminating the need for multiple healthcare providers to be involved in signing one patient’s care forms.
In Ohio, SB 196, Global Signature Authority, was introduced on the Ohio Senate Floor by Senator Roegner on February 28, 2024. The primary goal of SB 196 is to remove outdated policy that prevents APRNs in Ohio from completing and signing paperwork for their patients within the APRN’s scope of practice.
Understanding that improved healthcare options for all Ohioans are important to both the profession and the community, OAAPN seeks to strengthen the profession and provide resources to our members that they can’t get elsewhere. We encourage all members of OAAPN to get involved and of course, If you are not already a member of OAAPN, we invite you to join today.