Nurse practitioners in Arkansas are no longer limited by the “reduced practice” policy. They worked hard to have legislation passed that will bring greater accessibility and lower costs to those seeking medical care.
NPs now have the ability to evaluate and diagnose, order and interpret diagnostics, initiate and manage treatments, and prescribe medication.
NPs will still need to enter a collaborative agreement with a physician for 3 years or 6,240 hours of practice. Once completed, the NP can practice independently and renew their license every 3 years. It’s estimated that 2,500 NPs are eligible to apply for independent practice, which is great news for the state’s residents.
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners recommends the “full practice” policy for all states. It has been implemented in some states and is ideal as it gives NPs more professional responsibility and better utilizes their high level of training. It is expected that states that still use the reduced practice option for nurse practitioners will transition into the full practice with an increasing realization of the value that NPs present to the healthcare field and communities. Nurse practitioners should lend their support to advocacy exploits toward the implementation of full practice policy in all states in the US. Visit the AANP advocacy center here.