As the shortage of primary care physicians grows, the demand for nurse practitioners (NPs) is rising.1 Nurse practitioners provide primary, acute, and specialty care to millions of patients, resulting in more than 1 billion healthcare visits each year.1 If you want to earn an NP degree to join this growing career field, it’s important to know how the nursing laws and regulations where you live will shape your practice.
Each state decides how independently NPs can practice. This is called practice authority. There are three categories of practice authority: nurse practitioner full practice authority, reduced authority, and restricted authority. Here is what you can expect in each of these practice environments:
Full Practice Authority
In states with nurse practitioner full practice authority, NPs work independently of physicians. They can assess, diagnose, and treat patients; order and interpret tests; and prescribe and manage medication. More than half of U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia, give nurse practitioners full practice authority.2
Reduced Practice Authority
There are some limits to an NP’s ability to practice autonomously in the 12 states with reduced practice authority.2 “State law requires a career-long regulated collaborative agreement with another health provider in order for the NP to provide patient care, or it limits the setting of one or more elements of NP practice,” the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) explains on its website.2
Restricted Practice Authority
“State practice and licensure laws restrict the ability of NPs to engage in at least one element of NP practice. State law requires career-long supervision, delegation, or team management by another health provider in order for the NP to provide patient care,” the AANP explains. Eleven states have restricted practice authority.2
You can visit the AANP’s interactive map to explore your state’s practice environment.
The Case for Nurse Practitioner Full Practice Authority
The AANP, the National Academy of Medicine, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and many other healthcare groups are advocates of the full practice authority model,2 and support efforts to make it the standard for NP practice.
“Across the nation, the requirements for NP education, program accreditation, and board certification are consistent with national standards,” the AANP says on its website. “… Despite these national standards within nursing, there is inconsistency in how state laws and legislative bodies authorize (license) NP practice in states.”3
The AANP cites these advantages of full practice authority:3
- Increased Access to Healthcare: Full practice authority can improve access to care, particularly in underserved rural and urban communities, the AANP says: “States with FPA are more likely to have NPs working in rural and underserved areas and NP practices than states with more restrictive licensing models.”3
- Efficient Healthcare Delivery: “FPA provides patients with full and direct access to NP’s services at the point of care,” the AANP says.3
- Improved Cost-Effectiveness: Full practice authority can eliminate service duplication and additional billing costs that may be incurred in reduced and restricted practice environments.3
“NPs can increase access to high-quality primary, acute, and mental health care for patients of all ages in every community,” AANP President Stephen Ferrara says.1
Earn a Nurse Practitioner Degree Online
Walden University, the No. 1 conferrer of Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees in the U.S., offers an online nursing program that lets you prepare to become a nurse practitioner.
You can tailor your studies to your career interests by choosing one of these nurse practitioner specializations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Primary Care, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).
Or, if your interests lie in specialty practice, you can choose one of these MSN options: Nursing Education, Nurse Executive, Nursing Informatics, or Public Health Nursing.
Walden’s Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)-accredited MSN program is offered online, making it a flexible choice for RNs who want to earn a degree while staying engaged in their professional and personal activities. With online coursework, you can log in and work on your studies wherever you have an internet connection.
An Enrollment Specialist can help you get started on your journey to become a nurse practitioner, and to a future where you can help meet the urgent healthcare needs in your community.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
1Source: www.aanp.org/news-feed/nurse-practitioner-profession-grows-to-385-000-strong
2Source: www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environment
3Source: www.aanp.org/advocacy/advocacy-resource/policy-briefs/issues-full-practice-brief
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Walden University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed to provide the academic degree required to apply for national certifications. Because no graduate program can guarantee that graduates will achieve national certification, we encourage students to consult the appropriate credentialing center for the specific requirements. It is an individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification, as requirements vary widely. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain national certification. For more information about certification programs, students should contact the American Nurses Credentialing Center at www.nursingworld.org/ancc, or other certification websites.
Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.