Healthcare Policy Aprns Reducing Cost Peer Reviewed Journal

ABC/123 Version X

Institutional Policy Analysis

Policy Type

Summary of the Policy (in your own words)

Explain if the policy is effective and provide a rationale

Describe the financial outcomes of the policy

Provide examples of policy violations

National

APRNs' ability to practice is determined on a state-by-state basis, there is no specific policy in regards to practice scope (Kleinpell et al. 2014).

Given that nurses are credentialed on a state versus a federal basis and the healthcare system is largely regulated by the states versus federal policy, this seems inevitable in terms of how healthcare laws in the U.S. are structured.

Healthcare costs increase due to a failure to take full advantage of APRN's expanded yet lower-cost care alternatives.

N/A

National

APRN's roles in institutional leadership are not defined or restricted according to federal policy (Hain & Fleck 2014)

States are allowed to set regulations regarding the scope of practices, as articulated by licensing boards (Bakanas 2013).

Nurses often struggle to attain positions of leadership which can limit their earnings and institutional power.

N/A

State

State policies regarding the practice scope of APRNs vary, with some of the 50 states allowing full and autonomous operation while others prohibiting it (Kleinpell et al. 2014)

There is a lack of an evidence-based rationale for prohibiting APRNs for operating at the full scope of their practice competencies.

APRNs can offer more cost-effective care than physicians for many diseases according to current research (Kleinpell et al. 2014).

N/A

State

Given that states limit scope of practice of APRNs, APRNs often cannot assume positions of leadership on teams with physicians (Bakanas 2013).

This is extremely counter-productive given that limiting nurse leadership results in a lack of representation of a viable healthcare perspective.

This limits the voice of APRNs to offer alternative points-of-view to the medical paradigm and may drive up healthcare costs.

N/A

Institutional

Within some institutions if the state allows, APRNs are subsuming more and more patient care and taking the place of physicians (Kleinpell et al. 2014).

Empirical studies support the contention that APRNs provide comparable care to physicians (Kleinpell et al. 2014)

Using APRNs could save institutions financially as well as provide high-quality care, given the lack of evidence that only physicians can provide primary care such as diagnoses and prescriptions for common ailments (Kleinpell et al. 2014).

N/A

Institutional

APRNs are allowed to attain leadership positions even in teams where physicians are present if they are allowed to practice autonomously in the state (Bakanas 2013).

Empirical studies support the contention that APRNs provide comparable care to physicians (Kleinpell et al. 2014). This should be reflected in the leadership of the organization.

Even in states where APRNs can practice independently, many physicians oppose this on an institutional level; this can limit…