What is Full Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners?
Full Practice Authority (FPA) is the authorization of nurse practitioners (NPs) to evaluate patients, diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests and initiate and manage treatments — including prescribing medications — under the exclusive licensure authority of the state board of nursing.
What are the benefits of Full Practice Authority (FPA) for practice and patients?
- FPA Makes Care More Accessible: FPA creates greater access to care, especially in underprivileged urban and rural communities. By eliminating unnecessary legislation that limits the autonomy of NPs, more providers are available to see patients.
- FPA Makes Care Delivery More Efficient: FPA provides patients with full and direct access to NPs’ services at the point of care which removes delays in care that are created when regulations require a nurse practitioner to be a part of a mandated contract with a physician as a condition of practicing their profession.
- FPA lowers health care costs: FPA reduces unnecessary repetition of orders, office visits and care services.
- FPA results in more choices in the health care market: FPA allows patients to see the health care provider of their choice and removes anti-competitive licensing restrictions that interfere with patient-centered health care.
Does North Carolina allow Full Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners right now?
As of the date of this post (May 2022), the answer is ‘no’. North Carolina does not currently allow Full Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners. Nurse practitioners in North Carolina must have a supervising physician along with a collaborative practice agreement in order to practice in North Carolina. For more information on a potential change to this, check out the most recent SAVE Act blog by Rep. Gale Adcock.
Nothing in this blog post is legal advice or establishes the attorney-client relationship. This is for informational purposes only. If you’d like to learn more about professional licensing issues in North Carolina check out our site at www.northstatelawfirm.com or our YouTube site here. 919-521-8810 is the direct line to North State Law.
Written by BréLeigh Stragand, Marketing Assistant