State responses to COVID-19: Potential benefits of continuing full practice authority for primary care nurse practitioners. Journal Article

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Authors: Poghosyan, L; Pulcini, J; Chan, GK; Dunphy, L; Martsolf, GR; Greco, K; Todd, BA; Brown, SC; Fitzgerald, M; McMenamin, AL; Solari-Twadell, PA
Article Title: State responses to COVID-19: Potential benefits of continuing full practice authority for primary care nurse practitioners.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal and state governments removed the scope of practice restrictions on nurse practitioners (NPs), allowing them to deliver care to patients without restrictions. PURPOSE: To support policy makers' efforts to grant full practice authority to NPs beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, this manuscript summarizes the existing evidence on the benefits of permanently removing state-level scope of practice barriers and outline recommendations for policy, practice, and research. METHODS: We have conducted a thorough review of the existing literature. FINDINGS: NP full scope of practice improves access and quality of care and leads to better patient outcomes. It also has the potential to reduce health care cost. DISCUSSION: The changes to support full practice authority enacted to address COVID-19 are temporary. NP full practice authority could be part of a longer-term plan to address healthcare inequities and deficiencies rather than merely a crisis measure.
Journal Title: Nursing outlook
Publisher: Unknown  
Date Published: 2021