NUR 512 Module 1 Discussion Barriers for Advanced Practice Nursing

Sample Answer

According to the American Nurses Association (2023), advanced practice nurses (APNs) ought to have access to a platform to fully apply the knowledge and abilities they have acquired via education and training. However, the current obstacles prevent nurse practitioners from fully utilizing their expertise in practice. At the state and federal levels, APNs face several practice barriers.

Advanced practice nurses have a limited role due to collaborating with physicians for hospital admissions and prescription power. It is important to note that some medical practitioners can ruin their cooperative relationship with APRNs by being confrontational or refusing to assist them, such as by opting against signing off reports (Kleinpell et al., 2021). Furthermore, some doctors believe APRNs are encroaching on their domain and cutting into their expertise (Kleinpell et al., 2021). The traditional healthcare model has consistently positioned doctors as the experts; as a result, doctors who are used to this approach exhibit opposition.

According to Kleinpell et al. (2022), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) defines three practice contexts decreased authority, restricted practice, and full practice. Nurse practitioners (NPs) have full practice authority, which allows them to diagnose patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, write prescriptions, and manage patient care (Kleinpell et al., 2022). However, NPs’ participation in at least one aspect of NP practice in settings with less authority is limited by licensure requirements and practice.

Lastly, the two-level pricing structure is still a barrier even though the Primary Care Health Practitioner Incentives Act permits NPs to be compensated for their services (Torrens et al., 2020). Since independent practice is outside the purview of nurse practitioners, despite their entitlement to full reimbursement for incident-to-services, it presents an additional barrier to the growth of autonomous practices and patient accessibility to advancements. In some cases, reimbursement can get even more complicated when APRNs are required by a collaborative agreement to bill services under a doctor’s name.

Interprofessional education promotes a collaborative environment between APRNs and doctors to enhance patient outcomes. The training will raise understanding and appreciation of the skills and abilities of APRNs (Kleinpell et al., 2021). Handling concerns regarding the scope of practice will help doctors and APRNs understand their respective roles and duties (Kleinpell et al., 2021). Through interprofessional education, doctors can better appreciate the contributions advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) make to healthcare and realize that the goal of the modern health model is to enhance patient care.

States are currently putting Full Practice Authority (FPA) into effect after making some of the short-term adjustments made during the COVID-19 pandemic permanent (Giovenco, 2021). In the future, perhaps, more states should pass laws that remove restrictions on advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs’) practice and allow them to practice to the fullest extent permitted by their education and certification (Giovenco, 2021). This is because patient care and outcomes will increase in FPA states, encouraging restrictive governments to loosen their limitations.

Nursing leaders and organizations should advocate for equitable APRN reimbursement by scrutinizing and enhancing existing regulations. As more states enact laws that support and acknowledge advanced nursing practitioners, advancements in resolving payment concerns will be made gradually; advancements can also be made by persistent and ongoing lobbying.

References

• American Nurses Association. (2023). Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). ANA. https //www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/aprn/
  Links to an external site.
• Giovenco, M. (2021). Lessons the Long-Term Care Industry Can Learn from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Stetson L. Rev., 51, 123.
• Kleinpell, R., Myers, C. R., Schorn, M. N., & Likes, W. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on APRN practice Results from a national survey. Nursing outlook, 69(5), 783-792.
• Kleinpell, R., Myers, C. R., Likes, W., & Schorn, M. N. (2022). Breaking down institutional barriers to advanced practice registered nurse practice. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 46(2), 137-143.
• Torrens, C., Campbell, P., Hoskins, G., Strachan, H., Wells, M., Cunningham, M., … & Maxwell, M. (2020). Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the advanced nurse practitioner role in primary care settings a scoping review. International journal of nursing studies, 104, 103443.