Silver State Becomes the Latest to Remove Barriers for Advanced Practice Nurses
The Nevada Advanced Practice Nurses Association (NAPNA) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) voiced their appreciation this week after Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed into law Assembly Bill 170, which allows APRNs to practice independently and expands their prescriptive authority.
The Governor signed the measure into law during a late-night session on June 3.
"Enactment of Assembly Bill 170 streamlines and improves health care delivery, providing Nevada with the ability to adapt and respond to the state's growing healthcare needs. It will also help recruit and retain more nurse practitioners,” stated Angela Golden, AANP president. "Nevada now keeps pace with 17 other states and the District of Columbia, which offer patients full and direct access to nurse practitioner services and moves into alignment with national recommendations."
"Our members come into contact with patients every day who seek remedy for their health care concerns directly from these professionals," said Mathew Khan, President of NAPNA. "AB 170 will give patients options helping to decrease wait times for those needing relief. We are expecting a much higher number of patients once ACA comes into effect next year." Khan noted that lobbying efforts on the part of NAPNA’s 300-plus members played a key role in passage and adoption of the bill.
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act in January 2014 is expected to increase the number of patients on the healthcare rolls in Nevada. The passage of Assembly Bill 170 helps to remove barriers and improve access to care by allowing Nurse Practitioners to practice to the full extent of their training. Nurse practitioners have been providing high quality, patient-centered care for more than 30 years in Nevada.
Golden noted the latest legislative victory for NPs as part of growing trend, and called on other states to get on board. “We urge lawmakers in other states that are considering similar legislation to follow suit and take steps toward closing the gap between the care that nurse practitioners are educated to provide and the care that outdated regulations allow them to deliver,” she said.