ANSWER
Three Obstacles to Advanced Practice Nursing Development and Approaches to Get Over Them
Advanced Skill Development Dealing with problems of healthcare access and quality depends much on registered nurses (APRNs). Still, various obstacles keep them from practicing as much as their training allows, therefore restricting their development. Based on Saunders (2014), three main obstacles are listed below together with ways to get above them.
First barrier: laws pertaining to the limited scope of practice (SOP).
Many states’ restrictive SOP rules limit APRNs from practicing autonomously, thereby necessitating physician supervision for diagnosis, treatment, and prescription writing. Particularly in rural and underprivileged areas, these rules restrict access to care.
Plans of Action to Overcome
APRNs and professional groups like the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) can promote Full Practice Authority (FPA) both at the state and federal levels.
Data proving better patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness in states with FPA should highlight lobbying efforts.
public education:
By teaching the public and legislators the value of APRNs, we may help to dispel false ideas regarding their credentials and competency.
Team Models:
Encouragement of team-based care models can help to show the complementing roles played by APRNs and doctors, hence lowering resistance to SOP adjustments.
Second barrier: physician resistance
Concerned about quality of care and competition, some doctors object to the growth of APRN responsibilities. Often, this opposition results in lobbying campaigns upholding tight rules and supporting professional hierarchies.
Techniques for Overcoming:
Encouragement of multidisciplinary training and cooperative healthcare projects helps doctors and APRNs to respect and understand one another.
Data Transparency: To allay fears, present evidence-based research demonstrating APRNs deliver treatment of quality and safety equivalent to those of doctors.
Emphasising APRNs’ part in increasing access to care, working with patient advocacy groups can help to generate public support for them.
Third barrier: inadequate reimbursement policies
For the same services, several insurance companies pay APRNs less than doctors. Furthermore restricting their financial viability in independent practice are obstacles to invoicing independently for services, which APRNs must overcome.
Methods of Overcoming:
Advocating parity in reimbursement rules guarantees that APRNs get equal remuneration for equal labour, therefore motivating more APRNs to practice independently.
Value-Based Models Adoption:
Turning to value-based payment systems emphasises results over provider type, which fits the strengths of APRN-led treatment.
Working with insurance companies to show the affordability of APRN-led treatment can help to produce more positive reimbursement policies.
At last
Significant obstacles to the evolution of advanced practice nursing are restrictive SOP rules, physician opposition, and poor reimbursement systems. Legislative change, strategic advocacy, multidisciplinary cooperation, and public education all help to break through these obstacles. Through addressing these problems, APRNs may fully apply their knowledge to improve outcomes, quality, and access to healthcare.
Notes of reference
Saunders, S. (2014). Advanced practice nursing: stressing the approach of the health continuum. Other than elsevier.
United States Association of Nurse Practitioners. 2021. State Practice Environment taken from https://www.anp.org.
The National Academy of Medicine. (20211) Nursing 2020-2030: Plotting a course to reach health equity. Press, National Academies Press. 10.17226/25982 @ doi.org
QUESTION Describe three barriers that have slowed down the progress of advanced practice nursing and strategies to help overcome these barriers. (Saunders, 2014)