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This is a lengthy piece but has some great perspectives regarding policy for APRN's. Speaks about restrictive physician supervision and scope of practice.

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.

Interdisciplinary Teamwork article

Interdisciplinary team work is a complex process in which different types of staff work together to share expertise, knowledge, and skills to impact on patient care. Despite increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary team work over the past decade, in particular the growth of interdisciplinary education [ 1], there is little evidence as to the most effective way of delivering interdisciplinary team work [ 2].

Interdisciplinary team work is a complex process in which different types of staff work together to share expertise, knowledge, and skills to impact on patient care. Despite increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary team work over the past decade, in particular the growth of interdisciplinary education [ 1], there is little evidence as to the most effective way of delivering interdisciplinary team work [ 2].

As NP we need to advocate for ourselves in everyday life as well as the political arena because politics is where our profession will achieve the most success. With supportive policy backing up our practice our future is limitless.

This article addresses the importance of Nurse Practitioners in the work force. Currently, there is an ever growing healthcare worker shortage, especially in light of health reform coverage expansions in 2014. This article goes on to address the disparities found in state licensing and the scope of practice of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

This article discusses the effects of states' scope of practice laws and payment policies on the role of NPs in the primary care setting.

J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2015 Jun;27(6):300-7. doi: 10.1002/2327-6924.12203. Epub 2014 Dec 29. As of July 2006, APRNs are allowed to write prescriptions in Georgia. Even though it took a long time to achieve this, 40% of Georgia APRNs do not write prescriptions. Georgia is one of the most restrictive states for APRNs so policy changes are recommended to enhance to scope of APRNs.

Georgia is one of the most restrictive states in terms of APRN scope of practice. This article identifies barriers that are common to APRNs nationwide and specific barriers to Georgia APRNs.

This article is about the scope of practice of midwives and childbirth outcomes. It discusses the relationship between autonomous practice and better birth outcomes. The article suggests there should be future policies to expand the access to midwifery services.

This article is an interesting read about the policy change in North Dakota that brought independent prescriptive privileges to advanced practice nurses. The nurse leaders behind this policy change have shared the experience with other states with the goal of providing an example of an effective model of change.

For fifty years, health care teams have been a misunderstood, undervalued, and neglected part of health care. Yet, as Drinka and Clark make clear, well functioning interdisciplinary health care teams (IHCTs) have the potential to help the health care system face its demons--financial constraints and comprehensive error-free care. Because of misunderstandings, administrators, funders, and policy makers keep the potential for interdisciplinary teams hidden. IHCTs have characteristics and problems that are unique to health care settings and the health providers who work in them. Drinka and Clark present a groundbreaking attempt to develop a comprehensive framework for IHCTs.

A great example from another state (Ohio). This is a large literature review research study they conducted in an effort to influence policy change and broaden APRN scope of practice in the state.

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.

The researchers in this article focused on analyzing what kind of economic impact that giving APRNs full scope of practice in North Carolina would have. They calculated the impact by first projecting the increase in APRN graduates choosing to work in the state after full scope would be awarded. Projections of the increase in demand for providers due to both the ACA and an aging population were also taken into consideration. The findings in this analysis were that giving APRNs full scope of practice in the state would benefit the economy with increased output, employment, and tax revenue all while decreasing provider shortages. The state could save upwards of $495 million in gross product annually.

Hopefully, results such as these will give other states with more restrictive policies incentive to change their practice guidelines.

This article highlights the changes in policy that are needed to enable nurse practitioners their full scope of practice in a way that benefits patients and families at end-of-life. Nurse practitioners need the ability to practice to their full scope of practice, including providing autonomous care, receiving adequate and equal reimbursement for services, and having the authority to prescribe controlled substances II through V. Nurses also need to endorse policies that require specialized education so they receive the knowledge and skills necessary to be leaders in end-of-life care.

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.

Links to information about legislation, policy, regulation, and licensure of APRNs in Georgia.

This is a great systematic review that delves into state by state regulations on scope of practice for APRNs and how restrictive practice ultimately reduces access to healthcare particularly in rural populations. The impact of the ACA and shortage of PCPs to meet this demand is also explored. Enjoy!

This article discusses the limitations in scope-of-practice caused by state regulation of health professions. It also stresses the importance of allowing APRNs to practice within their full-scope as supported by various research and defined by national regulating organizations in order to improve primary care.

This article describes the results of a survey conducted of nurse leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean about their perception and knowledge of advance practice nursing. The results show that the majority of nurse leaders recognize a need for APRNS in order to create better access to care, however, the nursing education and legislation in the majority of the countries does not support APRN practices. This is an interesting introduction of APRNs in Latin America and the Caribbean for anyone who has interest of working in these areas.