Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility

Preparing the Discussion

DISCUSS YOUR STATE NP COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF SCOPE OF PRACTICE. INCLUDE YOUR STATE’S SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR NPS, INCLUDING: 

Level of independence of practice **In California, NPs are required to practice under Standardized Procedure Guidelines. If CA is your intended practice state, please provide details on how Standardized Procedures Guidelines are developed in California and an example of a California SPG.

1. Prescribing authority 

Any limitations of practice 

• Process for obtaining licensure in your state 

Certification and education requirements for licensure. 

• If you live in a restricted or reduced practice state, how has patient care been impacted in your local community by these barriers? For instance, is the ED used for primary care?  Are the EDs overcrowded with long wait times?  Are there urgent care clinics readily available? Is there adequate access to primary care?  If you live in a full practice, how has an independent practice of the APN resulted in improved patient access to healthcare?   
• How does access to NPs impact any healthcare disparities?  
• A scholarly resource must be used for EACH discussion question each week.
• CategoryPoints%DescriptionDISCUSSION CONTENT

1. Scope of practice and NP requirements
2. 3030% 
3. Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry of their state’s NP scope of practice. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.

Practice barriers and access to healthcare

3030% 

Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry of whether their state is a reduced, restricted or full practice state and the impact on the local community with respect to healthcare access. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.

Healthcare disparities

1515% 

Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry of how access to NPs impacts healthcare disparities. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.

7575% 

Total CONTENT Points= 75 pts 

DISCUSSION FORMATInteractive Dialogue2020% 

4 Required Elements: 

Responds a minimum of two other posts to peers and/or faculty in the threaded discussion; 

Responses to peer/faculty are substantive (adds importance, depth, and meaningfulness to the discussion) 

Responds to all direct questions from faculty (if no question asked directly, student responded to questions posed to the entire class) 

Summarizes what was learned from the lesson, readings, and other student posts for the week. The summary could be included in one of the three minimum posts.