Expanding Nurses' Scope-of-Practice in the News -

It is fitting that in the midst of National Nurses Week, we hear more discussions about expanding nurses' scope-of-practice, as recommended in the IOM report: The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.

In New York, there is a piece of legislation being debated which would eliminate the state requirement for nurse practitioners to be supervised by a physician.  If passed, New York will join 16 other states and the District of Columbia in making this change.

Seth Gordon, president of the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State is quoted in an article in the Times Union, explaining that this change could be very important for the state.

"We know there are 2 million people in this state that reside in medically underserved areas, both urban and rural," he said. "This provides patients access to care without costing money. There is no good reason not to do it."

One of the states that New York would join if the legislation passes is Oregon.  This article on OregonLive.com shares the story of Diane Solomon, a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Portland.  With so many options available to nurses in Oregon, Solomon was able to follow her passion into an evolving career which began in midwifery.

The article also explains the cost benefits of expanding nurses' scope-of-practice... while also detailing the issues surrounding an increasing interest in nurse practitioner programs in a capacity-challenged educational system.