NP Scope of Practice

Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who are prepared, through advanced education and clinical training, to provide a wide range of preventive and acute health care services to individuals of all ages. Today, NPs complete graduate-level education preparation that leads to a master’s degree. NPs take health histories and provide complete physical examinations; diagnose and treat many common acute and chronic problems; interpret laboratory results and X-rays; prescribe and manage medications and other therapies; provide health teaching and supportive counseling with an emphasis on prevention of illness and health maintenance; and refer patients to other health professionals as needed.

NPs are authorized to practice across the nation and have prescriptive privileges, of varying degrees, in 49 states. Nurse practitioners perform services as authorized by a state's nurse practice act.  These nurse practice acts vary state-to-state, with some states having independent practice for NPs (not requiring any physician involvement), some with collaborative agreement required with a physician.

Overview of NP Practice in the United States. Click on the title for the complete document.
1. Overview of Nurse Practitioner Scopes of Practice in the U.S. - Discussion, by The Center for Health Professions, UCSF

 

2. Chart Overview of Nurse Practitioner Scopes of Practice in the U.S., by The Center for Health Professions, UCSF

3. The Pearson Report - 2009 from The American Journal for Nurse Practitioners, Vol. 13 No. 2

4. Ranking State NP Regulation: Practice Environment and Consumer Healthcare Choice from The American Journal for Nurse Practitioners, Vol. 11 No. 4

5. Twentieth Annual Legislative Update from The Nurse Practitioner, Vol. 33 No. 1

6. Changes in Healthcare Professions' Scope of Practice: Legislative Considerations

 

 

State Boards of Nursing
Boards of Nursing are state governmental agencies that are responsible for the regulation of nursing practice in each respective state. Boards of Nursing are authorized to enforce the Nurse Practice Act, develop administrative rules/regulations and other responsibilities per the Nurse Practice Act. Membership to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) Web site is available only to a state board of nursing empowered to license and regulate nursing practice in any state, territory or political subdivision of the United States of America. Any state board of nursing that agrees to use one or more NCSBN Licensing Examinations under the terms and conditions specified by NCSBN and pays the required fees may be a member of NCSBN ("Member Board"). A state board of nursing shall become a member of NCSBN and be known as a Member Board upon approval by the Delegate Assembly, as described in Article VII, payment of the required fees and execution of a contract for using the NCLEX® examination


 

 
American College of Nurse Practitioners
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Tel: 703.740.2529
Fax: 703.740.2533
Email: ACNP@acnpweb.org