I LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Using the readings from this week as well as outside reliable resources to:
- Identify and describe practice barriers for all four APNs roles in your state and discuss these barriers on a state and national level. The four roles include the nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist.
- Identify forms of competition on the state and national level that interfere with APN’s ability to practice independently.
- Identify the specific lawmakers by name at the state level (i.e., key members of the state’s legislative branch and executive branch of government)
- Discuss interest groups that exist at the state and national levels that influence APN policy.
- Discuss methods used to influence change in policy in forms of competition, state legislative and executive branches of government and interest groups.
- A scholarly resource must be used for EACH discussion question each week.
DISCUSSION CONTENT
Category
Points
%
Description
Practice Barriers
15
15%
Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry clearly stating how the evidence describes APN barriers to practice. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.
Competition
15
15%
Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry clearly stating the forms of competition to APN practice. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.
Key Law Makers
15
15%
Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry in identifying law makers at the state level. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.
Interest Groups
15
15%
Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry at identifying interest groups at the state and national level. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.
Methods to Influence Change
15
15%
Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry of methods used to influence a change to eliminate barriers.
Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.
75
75%
Total CONTENT Points= 75 pts
DISCUSSION FORMAT
Category
Points
%
Description
Interactive Dialogue
20
20%
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.
Grammar, Syntax, Spelling, & Punctuation
5
5%
Grammar, syntax, spelling, and punctuation are accurate.
25
25%
Total FORMAT Points= 25 pts
100
100%
DISCUSSION TOTAL=100 points
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor in South Carolina, I understand the importance of identifying and addressing practice barriers for advanced practice nurses (APNs). In this post, I will identify and describe practice barriers for each of the four APN roles in South Carolina, discuss forms of competition that interfere with APN practice, identify key lawmakers at the state level, highlight interest groups that influence APN policy, and discuss methods used to influence change in policy.
Practice Barriers:
One practice barrier for nurse midwives in South Carolina is limited scope of practice, as they are not allowed to practice independently and must have a collaborative agreement with a physician. Nurse anesthetists also face restricted practice authority and scope, as state regulations require them to operate under physician supervision. Nurse practitioners face limited prescribing authority, as South Carolina is one of the states that require physicians to sign off on nurse practitioners’ prescriptions for controlled substances. Clinical nurse specialists are not recognized as APRNs in South Carolina, which limits their practice scope and ability to function as independent practitioners.
Competition:
One form of competition that interferes with APN practice in South Carolina is physician opposition to independent practice. Many physicians in South Carolina have opposed independent practice for APNs, citing concerns about quality of care, patient safety, and the need for physician oversight. At the national level, hospitals and healthcare systems may also impede APN practice by denying them privileges, restricting their responsibilities, or excluding them from certain settings.
Key Law Makers:
At the state level, key lawmakers who are involved in APN policy include Senator Tom Davis, who sponsored the Medical Practice Act of 2020, which includes provisions to expand APN practice authority and scope. Additionally, Governor Henry McMaster recently signed a bill that allows nurse practitioners to practice independently after working under a doctor’s supervision for three years.
Interest Groups:
Several interest groups influence APN policy in South Carolina, including the South Carolina Nurses Association, the South Carolina Medical Association, and the South Carolina Hospital Association. These groups lobby lawmakers, educate the public, and advocate for their respective positions on APN practice.
Methods to Influence Change:
To influence change in policy, APNs can form coalitions with other healthcare providers, engage in grassroots advocacy, and use social media to educate and mobilize the public. Additionally, APNs can participate in advocacy training and leadership development programs, serve on state boards and advisory committees, and work with legislators to draft legislation that supports APN practice.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, APNs in South Carolina face several practice barriers, including limited scope of practice, restricted prescribing authority, and physician opposition to independent practice. However, recent legislative developments and the advocacy efforts of interest groups and APNs themselves have begun to address these barriers and expand APN practice authority and scope. As medical professionals, we must continue to educate ourselves and others on the importance and benefits of APN practice within our healthcare system.
