Kansas Nurse Practitioners Granted Full Practice Authority
Following close on New York’s heels, Kansas has adopted full practice authority for nurse practitioners, making it the 26th US state to give patients full and direct access to NP-delivered health care. Full practice authority (FPA) authorizes NPs to evaluate, diagnose and order diagnostic tests, and prescribe medications, acting as independent healthcare providers without physician supervision.
“This is a major milestone in health care for Kansas and for our nation,” said April N. Kapu, DNP, APRN, ACNP- BC, FAANP, FCCM, FAAN, president of AANP. “We celebrate as Kansas becomes the 26th state to grant patients full and direct access to nurse practitioners’ care. The majority of states have now adopted this legislative model, known as Full Practice Authority. We thank Gov. Kelly and the legislature for prioritizing patients and taking action to improve health care in the Sunflower State.”
Benefits of Full Practice Authority
There are many benefits for a state to have full practice authority for nurse practitioners. Reduced healthcare costs for patients is one example, with the cost of a visit being decreased by as much as one-third. FPA provides greater access to healthcare, particularly in rural or underserved areas, and also makes care more streamlined and efficient, without having to go through physicians for approval and allowing NPs to utilize the knowledge, skills, and judgement to practice to the full extent of their training.
Training for Your Future
CoreMedSource offers a growing catalog of subspecialty training programs for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physicians, and other healthcare providers looking to boost their clinical skills and forward their career path. Our upcoming Practice Management program is a perfect example of fostering the path of FPA and solving the growing need for healthcare by educating providers of the fundamentals needed to run a practice. This course is in development and will be available in late 2022. We also offer Professional and Business Coaching to accelerate your career pathway. We’d love to answer any questions you have – drop us a line!
