Limitations of practice are barriers set up to limit nurse practitioners (NPs) in using their full potential to provide primary health care services to the public. These barriers are becoming outdated and are becoming abolished in many states of the US. However, in some states like Tennessee, NPs are limited to practice under the supervision of a physician called “Restricted Practice” policy.
Nurse practitioners should be afforded the independence of practicing without supervision. They have gone through rigorous training and thorough education, awarded with deserving certificates and licenses as proof of their ability to deliver quality healthcare services. Therefore, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, a full practice policy where NPs are allowed to practice without a physician supervisor should be adopted in all states of the country.
Advantages to the full practice policy include greater access to healthcare and more cost-effective delivery than their physician counterparts. In light of this, it’s important that nurse practitioners lend their voices to the cause of implementing the full practice policy in all states that are yet to adopt the policy. Put heads together with organizations for this cause and begin to make changes, however small.