Historically, APRNs have struggled to gain total support from state legislators in the quest for full practice authority, including prescriptive privileges. Our professional organizations, with support from the IOM, the National Governors Association, and the Federal Trade Commission, must be ready to provide accurate data on safety and outcomes to state and federal legislators. This evidence would support efforts to modernize NP scope of practice acts, including prescribing regulations, that are currently outdated and prevent APRNs from providing optimal care.5
This year (2015) marks the 50th anniversary of the NP role. Thus, it is the proper time for state legislatures to recognize and support the role of the NP in the delivery of comprehensive, cost-effective health care in the United States. With millions of previously uninsured Americans seeking primary care and the increasing shortage of primary care physicians, NPs are part of the answer to the problem of access to acute and chronic care in both urban and rural communities. With NPs available to close this gap, it is imperative that both state and federal legislatures support initiatives that will eliminate barriers to care and promote legislation that offers full scope of practice to NPs.
We welcome your feedback on this topic. Please send your comments to NPEditor@frontline medcom.com.
REFERENCES
1. Drug Enforcement Administration. Schedules of controlled substances: rescheduling of hydrocodone combination products from schedule III to schedule II (document no: 2014-19922). Federal Register. https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-19922. Accessed February 13, 2015.
2. Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Diversion. Mid-level practitioners authorization by state. www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugreg/practioners. Accessed February 13, 2015.
3. Institute of Medicine. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2011.
4. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The Consensus Model for APRN Regulation, Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education (2008). www.ncsbn.org/Consen sus_Model_for_APRN_Regulation_July_2008.pdf. Accessed February 13, 2015.
5. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Changes In Healthcare Professions’ Scope of Practice: Legislative Considerations (2009). www.ncsbn.org/ScopeofPractice_09.pdf. Accessed February 13, 2015.