The quality of services rendered by nurse practitioners can be influenced by the practice environment, including the government policy structures and systems. The latter are referred to as limitations of practice for nurse practitioners.
Missouri operates under the “Restricted Practice” regulatory structure, which requires nurse practitioners to be under career-long physician supervision. This policy interferes with nurse practitioners’ abilities to utilize the extensive training received as advanced practice nurses.
The National Academy of Medicine sees the “Full Practice” structure as the way forward for APRNs. The responsibility and autonomy that come with this structure are immensely beneficial for the healthcare system of any state. Nursing professionals are encouraged to advocate for the implementation of the Full Practice structure to be implemented in all states.