On August 29, State Representative Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green, OH) introduced legislation, House Bill (HB) 726, to allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice independently in Ohio. APRNs can diagnose and treat diseases and can prescribe medications. APRNs must enter mandatory collaboration agreements with physicians under current Ohio law.
HB 726 has not yet been assigned to a committee for consideration. The title of Rep. Gavarone’s bill is the “Better Access, Better Care Act.”
Rep. Gavarone, an attorney, is vice chair of the Ohio House Health Committee – a committee that has rejected previously-introduced APRN independent practice legislation.
If APN’s want autonomy then let the become physicians and truly experience what autonomy means–liability!!!,responsibility for those practicing or functioning under their supervision,call,availability,additional regulations, and everything else physicians must endure. While ancillary providers–PA’s,APN’s,NP’s have a place and function very well and capably they are not Physicians! Let them become “PHYSICIANS” letting them endure the extra education,training and expense and I’ll bet anyone that these are reasons they don’t become “PHYSICIAN’S. While we’re at it let”s endorse witchery!
Bravo my friend better accessibility to care doesnt mean substandard care . I agree with you 110%
The trouble is many physicians do not want to practice in rural, in the sticks, areas. This is where APRNs come into play with independent practice. Additionally, if there were enough physicians to cover all the areas needing coverage we would never have this discussion. I work independently in IL and if I wasn’t at my clinic providing the services I do, there would not be anyone.
Thank you, Connie. I can see by the first MD response, he has very little understanding of the scope, education, and certification requirements of NPs. We have been practicing safely, effectively, and tirelessly along side MDs for many years. Good days ahead, though. Physicians all over the nation are progressing and shedding the ignorance and mistrust of NPs.
You seem tired and overwhelmed, my friend. You should hire a few NPs to assist you; Bippity Boppity Boo!
I just can’ t understand why any physician wants the responsibility of “supervising” a healthcare professional that is practicing a science they know very little about. As nurses we create our own knowledge that we use to lead our patients to improved health outcomes. There is a REASON we don’t want to become doctors, and a lot of it is because we have worked with way too many guys like you. It’s as though you believe physicians, with all their schooling, never make bad practitioners. Ha! There is plenty of history to prove otherwise. Every Medical Board across this country spends the majority of its time disciplining physicians.
In Washington, I practiced independently, with full-autonomy for 5 years. Of course I assumed full-liability for my patient care! I was “on-call” 24/7/365; I maintained insurance and kept an attorney on retainer. So, please Doctor, tell me why you want to keep nurses practicing “under” you.
As a nurse practitioner dull certified in both family and psychiatric practice as well as within near completion of my doctorate, I have lots of education 10 plus years actually in the nursing field so in reference to prior comments, less education than physicians is not the case for may nurse practitioners. Second, if we take a look at other states who have already implemented full practice authority for np’s with out need for collaboration, statistics shows patient satisfaction scores are higher for np’s in comparison to physicians as a whole and safe practice and outcomes have shown not to be any less. Lastly, the Ohio law states a physician must review 1 progress note per year; that’s usually all the contact we have with our collaborators because it’s not needed. It’s a formality really, and a needless profit to physicians at the expense of nurse practitioners. I rely more often on collaboration among my fellow np colleagues than my collaborator. With this said, there isn’t any evidence that suggests np’s should not be independent.