CANP Issues Critical Response to Report Attacking the Role of Nurse Practitioners
The California Association for Nurse Practitioners has joined a growing chorus of NP organizations in criticizing a controversial report that attacked the role of nurse practitioners in meeting the growing demand for health care services.
The report, Primary Care for the 21st Century - Ensuring a Quality Physician-Led Team for Every Patient, suggests that having nurse practitioners play a greater role in patient care would create a "two-tier" health care system. CANP President Beth Haney disagrees with the conclusion, noting that with four million more Californians expected to enter the state's health care system because of the Affordable Care Act, nurse practitioners will need to play more critical roles in delivering patient care.
"It is disappointing that this report, that claims to focus on the future of health care in the 21st century, incorporates 19th century concepts of the role of nurse practitioners," said Haney in a press release issued by CANP. "The Affordable Care Act will make nurse practitioners more important -- not less -- in being part of a patient-center health care team that shares overlapping knowledge and skills. This attempt by the AAFP to limit the ability of nurse practitioners to practice to the full extent of their education and training will limit the ability of Californians to access the quality health care they deserve. California’s nurse practitioners stand ready to provide care to California’s newly insured.”
Haney noted that the study's findings are directly contrary to the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Studies published in the Journal of American Medicine show that the quality of care and health outcomes of patients cared for by physicians and nurse practitioners is equal.
Earlier, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners issued its own response to the report, stating that “As the United States implements historic changes to our health care system and as the shortage of physicians continues to grow, NPs must be full participants in the initiatives emerging from all corners of our industry in order to best protect and preserve the health of our population."