Bills in Missouri Legislature Would Aid Advanced Nurses

Last week, Blythe Bernhard, of stltoday.com, reported that two new bills have been introduced in the Missouri legislature aimed at giving advanced practice nurses more independence and the ability to practice to the full extent of their training. Similar to legislation recently passed in Ohio (and discussed on our blog here last week), the proposed law would give APNs the ability to prescribe controlled substances without a doctor's oversight in addition to allowing doctors to enter into 'supervisory' agreements with more than three APNs (the current limit). The effort to expand nurses scope of practice in Missouri is currently at an all time high with four difference pieces of legislation being debated to allow nurses to practice to the full extent of their training. These proposals align with reccomendations made in the IOM's Initiative on the Future of Nursing committee's report: "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health."

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Click here to read other blogposts relating to the IOM's Future of Nursing report.