ANA Refutes Recommendations that APRN Roles Should be Licensed and Regulated by State Medical Boards

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SILVER SPRING, MD - The American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) recently passed a policy amendment that recommends advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) roles “be licensed and regulated jointly by the state medical and nursing boards.” This week, during the American Nurses Association's (ANA) Membership Assembly in Washington, D.C., ANA President Jennifer Mensik-Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, commented on this recommendation: 

“At the end of the day, the licensing and regulation of APRNs do not and have never required the oversight of state medical boards. U.S. nursing regulatory bodies have the authority and oversight because they understand the practice and principles of nursing to ensure that competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses.

Joint licensing would place unnecessary administrative burdens on APRNs, and create additional barriers to practice.  The downstream effect of this action only hurts the patients who rely on the safe, quality and evidence-based care provided by APRNs. This is especially true for those in underserved communities and rural areas who are often faced with a shortage of providers and access to timely care.

Our modern and complex health care delivery system requires flexibility. This is why ANA continues to stand firmly in our support of the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act (H.R. 2713), which will remove administrative, practice and other barriers currently faced by APRNs and their patients under federal law.

This week, during ANA’s annual Hill Day, nearly 400 members of ANA members urged Congressional leaders to cosponsor the ICAN Act. This bipartisan legislation continues to receive support and momentum, with more than 235 organizations that have endorsed the bill.

The health of our patients and communities must come first. Antiquated barriers to practice and actions that perpetuate misinformation about APRN care are a dated way of thinking and a disservice to patients.”

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About the American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's more than 4 million registered nurses. ANA advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org