Nurse Practitioner Practice: Full Scope, Better Outcomes
Posted over 9 years ago by Nicholas M Perrino
"There is a need to address the high costs and often poor quality of healthcare in the United States. Many studies show that nurse practitioners (NPs) provide safe and high-quality care when compared with other healthcare providers. Yet there are different levels of NP practice in this country as a result of the differences in state licensing laws. Some states have restrictive practices, whereas others allow full scope or independent practice for NPs.
In this study, the researchers analyzed data to determine the impact that level of practice (full, reduced, or restricted) of NPs in the United States has on the outcomes of Medicare and Medicaid patients, focusing on avoidable hospitalizations, readmission rates, nursing home resident hospitalizations, and health outcome rankings.
This study looks at how full scope of NP practice might improve health outcomes and health status. Comparing outcome data from states that have full scope of practice with those permitting only limited scope of practice, Oliver and colleagues found significantly fewer avoidable hospitalizations, readmissions after discharge from rehabilitation, and nursing home resident hospitalizations. States with full scope of practice also had higher health outcome rankings than states with limited scope of practice for NPs.
Are the barriers to full practice affecting access, cost, and outcomes of care? Although these data show an association or relationship, and not cause and effect, they merit some attention."