Nurse practitioners (NPs) in Mississippi are required to operate career-long collaborative practice agreements with a collaborating physician. Although the mandate for monitored practice has been lifted, this can be limiting for nurse practitioners as they are not able to practice in the state in the absence of such an arrangement. This is because Mississippi operates under the “reduced practice” regulatory structure.
In states where the “full practice” structure is operated, nurse practitioners can practice to the full extent of their training and are positioned for more impact in the healthcare system. The increased autonomy and responsibility allow NPs to be proactive and take productive steps particularly at the primary level of healthcare.
The National Academy of Medicine supports the adoption of the full practice structure in all states in the US. NPs and other nursing professionals must join in on advocacy for the implementation of this liberating regulatory structure in all states.