Nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses around the country — represented by more than 200 national, state and local nursing organizations — are making sure Congress hears their collective voices loud and clear. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners submitted a letter of support inked with 235 signatures to Congress on June 6 in support of H.R. 2713 — the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act.
It's time "outdated barriers to practice" be removed so patients will no longer have "delayed access to healthcare," April Kapu, DNP, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, said in a June 6 AANP news release.
"Healthcare policies should be responsive to patient needs and inclusive of the healthcare providers delivering care in our communities," she said. "The ICAN Act will move healthcare delivery forward for patients, providers and our nation."
Federal and state regulations in many states limit the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses and require physician oversight. ICAN seeks to reduce these barriers to care and allow these nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and clinical training.
The American Medical Association strongly opposes the ICAN Act and has been fighting to stop what it calls "inappropriate scope expansions" by formally opposing more than 20 state bills across the country it says "would put patients at risk by expanding the scope of practice of nonphysicians," according to a May 4 AMA news release.
The organization also launched the Truth in Advertising campaign to make sure patients are made aware of who is providing their care, which aims to ensure patients clearly know the license and training of those providing their health care, and empowering them to make informed decisions about their care.
"Patients are confused about the qualifications of different healthcare professionals. Many non-physicians earn advanced degrees, and many of those degree programs now confer the title 'doctor,'" the AMA said. "As a result, patients often mistakenly believe they are meeting with physicians (medical doctors or doctors of osteopathic medicine) when they are not."
Many nursing organizations strongly disagree.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists "play an important role in maintaining critical access in communities across the country" and are often one of the only sources of healthcare in rural communities, Angela Mund, DNP, CRNA, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, said in an April 24 news release distributed by Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio, one of several legislators who reintroduced the ICAN bill.
"Yet, unnecessary regulations serve as barriers to expanding care, especially at a time when those same communities face a shortage of providers. This critical legislation is an answer to workforce shortages in healthcare, as it will reduce barriers to help ensure that everyone who needs access to high-quality care," Dr. Mund said in the new release.
Heather Clarke, DNP, president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, added that "it is critical that health policy, laws and regulations facilitate the most efficient relationships between healthcare professionals and create systems in which midwives and other APRNs can communicate openly, practice collaboratively and provide quality care."
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2031, there will be a 46 percent growth rate in the nurse practitioner profession, making it the fastest-growing occupation in the country.
In a September 2022 article, Nurse Journal said employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is expected to grow "much faster than the average for all occupations," noting "an average of 30,200 openings for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners are projected to open each year over the decade."