Update on APN Scope of Practice

There are continued efforts by the Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence to advocate for APRN's to practice to the full extent of their license.  Why is this important?

• There is a projected 130,000 shortage of primary care physicians in the year 2025
• In New Mexico this past year there was a shortage of 2306 RN's and 284 APRN's
• In 2012 there were 154,000 APRN's in the U.S and 65,000 are providing primary care

Access to care for rural and inner city populations is at stake.

To date, 19 states in the U.S. have fully independent APRN practice, 19 have reduced practice and 12 have restricted practice requiring supervision by a physician.  100 bills related to scope of practice have been introduced in 22 states between 2011 and 2013.  25% of the bills have passed. 

In October 2014, recommendations were brought forward to amend the Colorado requirements to

6 months of full time or 1000 practice hours with a physician or experienced APRN to gain full prescriptive authority.  

The resulting access to care for Coloradans would have positive impact for vulnerable populations in the state.  This comes at a time when APRN's are growing in number and practicing more independently:

• The ACA of 2010 supports training for APRN's, team based models of care and retail health clinics
• The VA recommended permitting APRN's to practice independently because of physician shortages
• CVS pharmacies currently have 1000 clinics employing 2500 APRN's in the U.S.  They plan for 1500 clinics by 2017
• Target has opened 150 clinics with plans to expand

What can you do?  Join your state nursing association in order to successfully lobby for APRN's to practice to the full scope of their practice in your state!  

A good link to learn more:

http://www.nihcm.org/images/pdf/Meeting-the-demand-for-primary-care-nurse-practitioners-answer-the-call-John-Iglehart-Expert-Voices-10-2014.pdf