Group items tagged

This observational study utilizes census data and geographic distribution of providers to illustrate current trends in distribution of providers, relative to uninsured patients and areas of limited access. Further, they discuss the policy changes aimed at bolstering access to primary care providers, specifically NP's, as a short term solution to a deficit in primary care providers. Additionally, the researchers explore distribution of APRNs, relative to scope of practice restrictiveness.

In this article, author Lugo discusses the findings of her study relating limits on full practice authority for APRNs to issues of gender equality. She investigated the link between state support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and laws in these states allowing APRNs full scope of practice and prescribing rights. Her study showed that states that have historically and currently supported the ERA in fact allow greater APRN scope of practice, and thus she draws conclusions about attitudes towards women's equality and the regulation of advanced practice nursing, which remains to be a woman-dominated profession.

In this May 2016 article published in the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, Dr. Nancy Rudner Lugo argues that advanced practicing nursing viewed through a gendered perspective due to nursing's history as a predominantly female profession; because of this, APRNS in states that are less accepting of women's equality have a more narrow scope of practice. There is not currently a national-level evidence based method used to determine APRN scope, and is instead decided at the state level. The author seeks to explain the cause of the discrepancy between differing APRN scopes of practice in different states by comparing the APRN scope of practice between states that did and did not vote to pass the Equal Right Amendment, positing that states with cultural attitudes that are more equitable between genders reflect this at the legislative level, thus explaining the wider or full practice authority given to APRNs in these states. In conclusion, Lugo advocates for increasing the number of women in legislative positions, forming relationships between women's equality organizations and groups working towards expanded health care access, and emphasizing the skills and competency of APRNs in achieving positive patient health outcomes.

This 2015 article, written in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care, discusses the critical importance of intervening and advocating for APRNs to have full practice authority as opposed to the current varying state-by-state practice laws. The author explains the primary reasons for states retaining restrictions on APRN practice are outdated and include lack of awareness of the current scope of practice of APRNs and organized medicine's persistent opposition to expanding the authority of other providers to practice and receive the full amount for their rendered services. The author supports her argument by including the IOM Committee's view; removing APRN practice restrictions would assist in addressing health care access, high-quality care, and an overall healthier population.

This is a toolkit from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners that APRNs can use to stay connected to legislative efforts that impact their profession. "Policy" can be a very overwhelming idea, particularly to someone who does not have experience with that realm of healthcare, so the AANP breaks it down for you. There are issue briefs on things like Full Practice Authority and Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. These briefs give you the bullet points on why the policy is good or bad for our patients and evidence supporting that position. There's other resources as well that can help you find your legislators, find out about federal and state legislation, and get connected to legislative advocacy initiatives in your state. Participating in the legislative process is a really important way that APRNs can advocate for our patients, and this resource will support you in engaging with it.

This 2016 article provides a brief overview of progress made in expanding APRN scope of practice to utilize a practitioner's education to the fullest extent. Although the removal of barriers to scope of practice is progressing, there is still much work ahead. This article recommends that to meet our goals, we must encourage other HCPs, policy makers, etc. that investing in our profession, i.e. becoming stakeholders, is a necessity to optimize health care practice.

This article discusses the Pros and Cons of using APRNs in both outpatient and inpatient settings. One of the positives is that there are more jobs for the APRN and now APRN's can specialize much like physicians. The downside to that is that there are not as many NPs doing primary care, which is leaving a gap.

This article discusses the impact of differing scope of practice legislations on healthcare delivery and utilization. Overall, the study found that states with expanded practice fro NPs experienced increased healthcare utilization by patients and improved healthcare delivery.

This article discusses the barriers to NP practice with the current healthcare reform by addressing the shortage of primary care providers and the limitations of APRN practice. Barriers that were emphasized include state practice and licensure, physician related issues, education, and role perception. This article stresses that an APRN should be able to practice to the fullest extent of their training.

This is an excellent overview of common barriers to APRN practice that effect the Triple Aim for healthcare: better care (individuals), better health (populations), and lower cost.

This article first provides a brief history on APRNs. It also discusses barriers to the APRN scope of practice.

A very interesting article going in detail on the expansion of the role of advanced nurse practitioners and the potential rewards and risks associated with it. There is a shortage of primary care providers. Pondering upon the topic of role expansion brings about the important consideration of liability but also has a positive side that includes being able to provide primary care to more people. This article brings up great discussion points.