States Benefit from Increased Autonomy for Nurses

States that allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to practice independently saw an improvement in health outcomes for patients and decreases in costs to Medicare and Medicaid, according to a study by researchers at the Missouri University Sinclair School of Nursing, Nurse.com reports.

The study, “Impact of Nurse Practitioners on Health Outcomes of Medicare and Medicaid Patients,” was published in the November-December issue of Nursing Outlook. Researchers analyzed previous studies with data on Medicare and Medicaid patients and found that states with full practice of nurse practitioners have lower hospitalization rates in all of the groups examined.

An INQRI-funded study, "Scope-Of-Practice Laws For Nurse Practitioners Limit Cost Savings That Can Be Achieved In Retail Clinics,” found similar cost savings at retail clinics in states where nurses had more independence. The study, co-led by Joanne Spetz and Stephen Parente, found that visits to nurse-managed retail clinics were associated with lower costs, and the costs were even lower when Nurse Practitioners (NPs) practiced independently. The researchers concluded that eliminating restrictions on NPs’ scope of practice could have a large impact on the cost savings that can be achieved by retail clinics.

New Report on Health Reform Highlights Role of Nurse Practitioners

A new report by the National Institute for Health Care Reform digs into a topic of increasingly heated debate in health care — the role of nurse practitioners in addressing an anticipated shortage of primary care physicians.

From a recent article in the Baltimore Business Journal: the institute’s report said that state laws themselves do not restrict what services nurse practitioners can provide but the laws can indirectly affect nurse practitioners’ ability to practice. Considering the big demand for primary care services analysts are predicting, states might want to adjust their regulations to more explicitly define nurse practitioners as primary care providers, the report concluded.

View the entire article.

Next WIHI on Jan. 10: Navigating New Care Teams with Nurse Practitioners

WIHI is kicking off the new year, on January 10 (2p-3pET), with a show on Navigating New Care Teams with Nurse Practitioners. Discussion will explore how nurse practitioners or advanced practice nurses are being deployed and woven into new, interdisciplinary, team-based delivery designs. The participating guides are four individuals who are engaged in both pioneering and common-sense solutions to patient needs in ways that match the right caregivers with the right patients and the right needs.

At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Susan Hassmiller has a bird’s eye view of where and how nurses across the US are contributing at the top of their education and training; Cathy Rick, at the VA, is overseeing the implementation of a new national strategic plan to better align nursing services with new systems of care for some six million veterans who use the VHA; Patricia Gerrity directs a nurse-managed community health center in North Philadelphia; and, in addressing the health needs of teenagers, physician Daryl Lynch has created deep and effective collaborations with nurse practitioners.

There are challenges to getting the care team right, and disagreements over roles and functions. But as you’ll learn from the guests on the January 10 WIHI, there’s also a new spirit of forging ahead given the growing emphasis on primary care in a rapidly reforming health care system.

Please click here to enroll.

New Jersey Nurses... APNs Sharing the Burden

Last week, we shared the first in a two part series on nursing in New Jersey published on New Jersey Spotlight.

The second part of the series was recently published and discusses the way that advanced practice nurses (APNs) can ease the burden on primary care physicians when they are given the ability to put all of their training into practice.  The article explains how APNs can assume many of the tasks typically done by doctors when given the freedom to act.

Click here to check out the story.

Advanced Practice Nurses Attempting to Make A Significant Impact in Michigan

Yesterday, Alexandra Wilson Pecci, of HealthLeaders Media, discussed the current push by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Michigan to allow APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education and training by supporting a State Senate bill that would define APRNs as, "individual practictioners". Ms. Pecci conducted interviews with MaryLee Pakieser MSN RN BC-FNP, president of the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners (MICNP) and Joanne Pohl, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, Proffessor Emeritus, The University of Michigan School of Nursing and MICNP member, both of whom testified before Michigan's Health Policy Committee to discuss the importance of passing this legislation.

To read the full interviews with MaryLee Pakieser and Joanne Pohl, click here.

Why Nurses Need More Authority

Earlier this week, John Rowe, professor of Health Policy and Management at the Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, wrote an Op-Ed in The Atlantic emphasizing the importance of allowing nurses to practice to the full extent of their training. Citing the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, Dr. Rowe discussed how advanced practice nurses (APRNs) can fill the primary shortage gap by providing services that is within their scope of practice. Dr. Rowe goes on to highlight the growing battle between physician and nurse organizations, which we have previously covered (here and here).

We encourage all of you to read this very poignant Op-Ed that supports a stronger role for nurses in the 21st century health care workforce.

Important Opportunities And Challenges Posed For Registered Nurses And APRNs In The Creation And Implementation Of ACOs

On March 27th, The Nursing Alliance for Quality Care and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners will be hosting a symposium on nursing leadership in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The symposium will be focused on opportunities and strategies for registered nurses and advanced practiced registered nurses working next to and within ACOs. The event, which will be held in Washington D.C., features Dr. Kavita Patel, Barbara Safriet, Joyce Dubow and Nancy O'Rourke as speakers.

Click here to find out more information about this upcoming symposium.

Also, don't forget to register for our upcoming national meeting in Washington D.C. on April 26-27. Registration is free and if you are interested, please contact Heather Kelley-Thompson at hkelley@nursing.upenn.edu

National Council of State Boards of Nursing Launches Interactive APRN 'Map'

Earlier this morning, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) launched a new feature on their website that contains information regarding states' laws and regulations that affect Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. The website, which is a graphical depiction of the United States, includes information about APRN's scope of practice, certification requirements and title used to represent APRNs in each respective state.

Click here to access the interactive map.

Click here to read more about the NCSBN's consensus model for APRN regulation.