Nurse practitioners have a big role in health care

last updated: September 03, 2008 05:43:20 PM

Your Aug. 22 editorial "Solving the problem of overused ERs" adequately detailed the problem with our current healthcare system. Interim strategies need to be employed in order to quell the high attendance at emergency rooms, which is more expensive and results in more waiting time for the patient.

Health care should be accessible and affordable, however the simple solutions are overlooked. One example is defining a "scope of practice" for nurse practitioners. Simply put, this would allow nurse practitioners to offer the quality, preventive care they are trained to provide, increasing access to healthcare for thousands of patients.

California is the only state that has not defined a "scope of practice" for nurse practitioners. That means state law does not explicitly authorize us to diagnose patients, order tests or refer patients to specialists despite the fact that our advanced education and training prepares us for those specific duties. Affordable access to health care is a critical issue, and relieving nurse practitioners from needless bureaucracy will enhance our ability to continue to meet the needs of the patients we already serve and allow us to meet the needs of so many more.

JILL OLMSTEAD, NP

President, California Association for Nurse Practitioners

Sacramento

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