NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion

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NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion Instructions

Purpose 

The purpose of this assignment is to identify the scope of practice in one’s state including level of independence of practice, prescribing authority, any limitations of practice, process for obtaining licensure in your state, certification and education requirements for licensure.  Next, students will discuss how the level of independence of practice in their state, i.e., reduced, restricted or full practice, affects patient’s access to care in their local community. Have a look at NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion.

Activity Learning Outcomes 

Through this discussion, the student will demonstrate the ability to: 

  1. Understand NP practice as defined by law (CO2) 
  2. Determine legislation as defined by legislation, statutes and regulations (CO2) 
  3. Identify barriers to ensuring patient’s rights (CO3) 

Requirements: 

  1. Discuss your state NP community in terms of scope of practice. Include Roanoke, Virginia’s scope of practice for NPs including:
    • Level of independence of practice
    • Prescribing authority 
    • Any limitations of practice 
    • Process for obtaining licensure in your state 
    • Certification and education requirements for licensure. 
  2. If you live in a restricted or reduced practice state, how has patient care been impacted in your local community from these barriers?  For instance, is the ED used for primary care?  Are the EDs overcrowded with long wait times?  Are there urgent care clinics readily available? Is there adequate access to primary care?  If you live in a full practice, how has independent practice of the APN resulted in improved patient access to healthcare?   
  3. How does access to NPs impacts any healthcare disparities?  
  4. A scholarly resource must be used for EACH discussion question each week of less than 5years

NR506 Week 6 Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility Discussion Example

Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility

Laws that regulate the scope of practice for nurse practitioners vary across states and play a significant role in influencing patient care accessibility, affordability, and convenience. According to the (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, AANP, 2022b), all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories have specific regulations that determine the practice environment for nurse practitioners. These laws are either full practice, reduced practice, or restricted practice.

In Virginia, nurse practitioners (NPs) face state practice and licensure laws restricting their ability to engage in at least one element of nursing practice. In essence, a restrictive law requires career-long supervision, delegation, or team management by another health provider for NP to provide care (AANP, 2022b). However, the career-long supervision and team management of other healthcare providers are essential aspects for facilitating care quality; restricting NPs’ scope of practice results in barriers to effective care and can lead to adverse ramifications for public health.

Level of Independence of Practice

Virginia is a restrictive state, meaning nurse practitioners can engage in at least one element of nursing practice under career-long supervision, delegation, or team management by an outside health discipline (Peterson, 2017). These restrictive laws limit the NPs’ level of Independence and the ability to operate consistently with their academic qualifications, skills, and expertise.

Prescribing Authority

Nurse practitioners (NPs) in Virginia can prescribe medication if they meet various requirements, including completing 30 contact hours of education in pharmacology or pharmacotherapeutics. Also, the state’s law requires NPs to have separate licensure for prescriptive authority for drug schedules II-VI (American Medical Association, 2017). Finally, nurse practitioners in Virginia can exercise prescribing authority only as part of a patient care team, meaning they must be under the supervision of physicians.

Limitations of Practice

The major practice limitation facing nurse practitioners in Virginia is the regulatory requirement for career-long supervision, delegation, or team management by other healthcare providers, especially physicians. Ortiz et al. (2018) argue that qualified and high-performing nursing practitioners and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can significantly contribute to improving primary care access and healthcare service utilization. As a result, restricting their scope of practice is a profound barrier to effective care provision.

Process for Obtaining Licensure in Virginia

The process of obtaining licensure for nursing practitioners in Virginia involves two key components: licensure by education and licensure by endorsement. According to the Virginia Board of Nursing (2022), initial license applicants must submit evidence of a graduate degree in nursing or an appropriate nurse practitioner specialty from an approved educational program. Additionally, they submit the required application and pay the application fees as specified in 18VAC90-30-50. When applying for licensure by endorsement, an applicant should verify licensure as an NP or advanced practice nurse in another U.S. jurisdiction, along with a license of good standing and eligibility for reinstatement. Additionally, it is essential to provide evidence of professional certification that is consistent with the specialty area of the applicant’s education and preparation. Finally, applicants must pay the application fee as stated in 18VAC90-30-50.

Certification and Education Requirements for Licensure

A nurse practitioner (NP) must hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing, have a license as a registered nurse (RN), and pass a national NP board certification exam (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2022a). Also, they should have graduated from a nationally accredited graduate program that fulfills the national standards for advanced didactic and clinical education.

Effects of Practice Barriers to Patient Care

As a restrictive state, subsequent practice barriers can have multiple effects on patient care. Firstly, restrictions on the scope of practice can affect how nurse practitioners and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) provide emergency and primary care. According to Peterson (2017), enacting full practice authority for nursing practitioners leads to more efficient office-based primary care visits, fewer check-ups, and fewer emergency visits. Despite the benefits of relaxing restrictions on NPs’ scope of practice, states like Virginia still maintain laws and regulations that limit the independence of NPs and APRNs. Consequently, these factors translate to overcrowded emergency departments, shortages in primary care providers, and care delays.

How Access to NPs Impacts Healthcare Disparities

Access to nurse practitioners can address various sources of health inequalities, including geographical aspects. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP, 2022a), the availability of nurse practitioners is consistent with the determination to remove practice restrictions by implementing full practice authority (FPA). In essence, relaxing scope of practice restrictions could enable advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to meet the increased demand for primary care services, especially in rural areas (Ortiz et al., 2018). Ultimately, access to nurse practitioners can lead to increased patient satisfaction, improved access to quality and timely care, reduced care costs by avoiding duplication of services, and lower costs associated with outdated physician oversight of NP practice, thereby protecting patient choices.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, states’ laws and regulations for nurse practitioners’ scope of practice determine the trajectories of care delivery. For example, states with restrictive laws require nurse practitioners to work under the supervision of physicians throughout their careers and form interdisciplinary teams. Although these regulations can promote team performance, they can lead to massive shortages of nurse practitioners in primary and emergency care, exacerbate health disparities among people living in remote settings, and result in overcrowded emergency departments. As a result, relaxing restrictions by implementing the full practice authority can improve care efficiency, reduce care costs, protect patients’ choices, and enhancing to timely and effective care.

References

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2022a, April). Issues at a glance: Full practice authority. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/advocacy-resource/policy-briefs/issues-full-practice-brief#

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2022b, April 15). State practice environment. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environment

American Medical Association. (2017). State law chart: Nurse practitioner prescriptive authority (pp. 1–15). https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/corp/media-browser/specialty%20group/arc/ama-chart-np-prescriptive-authority.pdf

Ortiz, J., Hofler, R., Bushy, A., Lin, Y., Khanijahani, A., & Bitney, A. (2018). Impact of nurse practitioner practice regulations on rural population health outcomes. Healthcare, 6(2), 65. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare6020065

Peterson, M. E. (2017). Barriers to practice and the impact on health care: A nurse practitioner focus. Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology, 8(1), 74–81. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5995533/

Virginia Board of Nursing. (2022). Regulations Governing the Licensure of Nurse Practitioners (pp. 1–16). https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/media/dhpweb/docs/nursing/leg/NursePract.pdf