ANA Position Statement - Approved 12/11/09
ANA supports the delivery of primary care and other health care
services by nurse practitioners (NPs) in retail-based health clinics.
Peer-reviewed studies continue to add evidence confirming that NPs offer
high quality care in the primary care setting. In addition to their
education and expertise in diagnosis and treatment, NPs’ proficiency in
providing health education and prevention services makes them skilled
managers and service providers in retail-based clinics. Retail-based
clinics provide an additional innovative entry point for patients to
access affordable, high-quality health care, thus helping to address
some of the system’s more pressing problems.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports the American Academy of
Nurse Practitioners’ (AANP) position statement, “Standards for Nurse
Practitioner Practice in Retail-based Clinics”. The AANP position
statement offers guiding principles and standards for Nurse
Practitioners practicing in retail-based clinic settings.
ANA also applauds the fundamental values and safeguards articulated in
the American College of Nurse Practitioners’ (ACNP) white paper entitled
“Convenience Care Clinics: The Future of Accessible Health Care”. The
ACNP white paper documents the benefits ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO CARE 2 of
convenience care clinics staffed by NPs, such as the high quality and
lower cost associated with nurse practitioner care, and the increased
access to care by community members.