Conference

Midwest Nursing Research Society

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Date

3-29-2019

Abstract

Background. Full practice authority for NPs is optimal for high-quality, cost-effective healthcare. However, a complete picture of utilization after states have adopted full practice authority needs to be determined. Objective. To review the evidence regarding practice-level utilization (PLU) of Nurse Practitioners (NP) PLU in comparison to state-level regulations (SLR). Data Sources. Studies published in English and based on US populations were identified through PubMed, CINAHL, and SCOPUS (January 1, 1989 - December 31, 2018), and bibliographies of retrieved articles. Of the 419 articles identified with these limits, 19 (5%) met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Conclusions. Four categories of PLU were identified; billing practices, level of supervision, privileges, and prescriptive authority. Significant differences were seen between urban versus rural NPs and primary care versus specialty NPs. Thirteen of the 19 studies did not specifically address the state-level regulation of the included sample. Implications. No studies described the type of NP certification, practice specialty, utilization, and compared all to the SLR. There is a need for more evidence concerning PLU of NPs across the tiers of SLR. Only then can health care organizations, political leaders and other stakeholders, have the information needed to proceed with beneficial practice-model changes. Key Words. Nurse practitioner, full scope of practice, utilization, restriction, role

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