Even with the vast amount of advances in the healthcare field, we continue to see restrictions limiting availability to patient care. With the growing population, there is a shortage of primary physicians especially in rural areas. Advanced practice registered nurses collaborating with physicians to provide care has had a positive effect on the health care system, yet there are barriers that still exist. This paper lists issues with collaborative agreements, restrictions to APRNs scope-of-practice, and benefits of allowing APRNs to practice at their full scope-of-practice.
Issues with Collaborative Agreements
The nursing profession has grown exponentially since the 1970’s, when nurse practitioner education advanced from …show more content…
Strategies listed include, but are not limited to: implementing nurse residency programs; preparing and enabling nurses to lead change in the health care field; and removing APRNs scope-of-practice barriers to allow them to practice to their full extent of training and education (“Top Nurse Leaders,” 2011). Susan Reinhard, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., senior vice president of the AARP Public Policy Institute believes implementing these recommendations will improve health care in rural areas. Health issues for people living in rural areas are more serious than people who live in towns or cities for various reasons. One major reason is the distance individuals have to travel to get to the closest hospital or doctor’s office. Many residents of rural areas may not have the financial funds or means of transportation to get to doctor’s offices for their routine checkups and screenings. This postpones diagnoses and treatment for patients, rendering higher rates of poor outcomes and decreased quality of life for patients with chronic diseases and …show more content…
Overall, physicians and APRNs have differing practice and demographic profiles that should not be limited or restricted when providing patient care. APRNs have an increase tendency to practice more in urban or rural areas, treat more vulnerable populations, and make less money than physicians. Conover and Richards (2015) report APRNs and physicians have advantages in reaching different patient populations, supporting the increased utilization of the health system in general. The demand of primary provider services have and will continue to intensify with the aging baby-boomers population and more citizens become insured with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). NPs and other types of APRNs are highly qualified and educated to help ease the provider shortage. By allowing APRNs to practice at their full scope-of-practice, healthcare will be more readily available to consumers and decrease health care
Issues with Collaborative Agreements
The nursing profession has grown exponentially since the 1970’s, when nurse practitioner education advanced from …show more content…
Strategies listed include, but are not limited to: implementing nurse residency programs; preparing and enabling nurses to lead change in the health care field; and removing APRNs scope-of-practice barriers to allow them to practice to their full extent of training and education (“Top Nurse Leaders,” 2011). Susan Reinhard, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., senior vice president of the AARP Public Policy Institute believes implementing these recommendations will improve health care in rural areas. Health issues for people living in rural areas are more serious than people who live in towns or cities for various reasons. One major reason is the distance individuals have to travel to get to the closest hospital or doctor’s office. Many residents of rural areas may not have the financial funds or means of transportation to get to doctor’s offices for their routine checkups and screenings. This postpones diagnoses and treatment for patients, rendering higher rates of poor outcomes and decreased quality of life for patients with chronic diseases and …show more content…
Overall, physicians and APRNs have differing practice and demographic profiles that should not be limited or restricted when providing patient care. APRNs have an increase tendency to practice more in urban or rural areas, treat more vulnerable populations, and make less money than physicians. Conover and Richards (2015) report APRNs and physicians have advantages in reaching different patient populations, supporting the increased utilization of the health system in general. The demand of primary provider services have and will continue to intensify with the aging baby-boomers population and more citizens become insured with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). NPs and other types of APRNs are highly qualified and educated to help ease the provider shortage. By allowing APRNs to practice at their full scope-of-practice, healthcare will be more readily available to consumers and decrease health care