Discussion 1 reply

Instructions: 

You should respond to peers by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts. 

Please respond to student below:

• Advanced practice nursing was initially created in the mid-1960s to address health services gaps. Since then, it has played a significant role in improving healthcare outcomes and meeting the healthcare needs of diverse populations. Three barriers that have slowed down the progress of advanced practice nursing include regulatory restrictions, lack of interprofessional collaboration, and reimbursement challenges.

      Regulatory restrictions are one of the barriers that have impacted the progress of advanced nursing. Regulations regarding the scope of practice and licensure differ across the states and regions in the U.S. It is necessary to establish uniform standards for education and regulations (Lowe et al., 2012). Furthermore, approximately one-third of the country has fully authorized NPs to practice law and be licensed, whereas the other states have limited or restricted licensure and practice options (Hein & Fleck, 2014). The disparities in state regulations could impede access to healthcare. One strategy that can help combat this particular barrier is advocating for state legislative reforms and policies that allow advanced nurses to practice fully. Advanced practice nurses and associated organizations can also advocate for standardized licensure and practice regulations across all states.

      The second barrier that has reduced the progress of advanced practice nursing is the need for interprofessional collaboration. While enhancing patient outcomes is a shared aim between physicians and NPs, there are obstacles to their successful cooperation (Hein & Fleck, 2014). Successful collaboration is hampered by a need for more understanding of NPs’ scope of practice (Hein & Fleck, 2014). Lack of collaboration among the interdisciplinary team, which often includes both advanced practice nurses and physicians, frequently harms a patient’s health outcome. Strategies such as developing educational programs and campaigns to raise healthcare professionals’ understanding of their mutual roles and responsibilities can help overcome the lack of collaboration among advanced practice nurses and physicians. Establishing and initiating collaborative care models that clearly outline each healthcare professional’s duties and obligations is another strategy that can aid in combating this barrier.

      The third barrier mentioned that has slowed down the progress of advanced practice nursing is reimbursement challenges. NPs are frequently not recognized as primary care providers by commercial health plan payment regulations, which might vary (Hein & Fleck, 2014). Additionally, these payers may be reluctant to pay NPs for their services directly or to credential them (Hein & Fleck, 2014). For advanced practice nurses, reimbursement is crucial because it impacts their capacity to work autonomously. Financial impediments to practice may result from reimbursement systems that favor services rendered by physicians over those rendered by advanced practice nurses. Strategies that can help overcome reimbursement challenges include creating or participating in collaborative campaigns that advocate for changes in reimbursement regulations to guarantee fair compensation for the services rendered by advanced practice nurses.

      Although advanced practice nursing has evolved, many barriers continue to exist. Barriers such as regulatory restrictions, lack of interprofessional collaboration, and reimbursement challenges have slowed the progress of advanced practice nursing. Strategies to help overcome such barriers include advocating for state legislative reforms and policies, establishing and initiating collaborative care models with clear roles, and creating or participating in collaborative campaigns that advocate for changes in reimbursement regulations.