title: Gaining independent prescriptive practice: one state's experience in adoption of the APRN Consensus Model.
abstract: Nurses are increasingly encouraged to be active participants in health policy. This article provides an exemplar of how nurse practitioners (NPs) in one state, North Dakota, used strategic policy actions to obtain independent prescriptive privileges. Consistent and clear communication among NPs and with key stakeholders, including legislators, contributed to a positive policy outcome. North Dakota nurse leaders in this initiative have shared their experiences with a variety of audiences including other state boards of nursing and NP organizations in states such as New York, South Dakota, and Louisiana. In addition, a webinar sponsored by the Center to Champion Nursing in America at AARP featured several of the North Dakota NP leaders, who shared their reflections of this experience and the strategies they used. Regulatory environments and public policies will continue to significantly influence the future of all nurses. This case study of one state can be useful to NPs and other nurses seeking meaningful policy change through laws or regulations with regard to scope of practice or other health policy issues.
authors.affiliation: North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Association, Bismarck, ND, USA bmadler@umary.edu.
authors.forename: Billie Jo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Madler
authors.affiliation: ND Board of Nursing, Bismarck, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Constance B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Kalanek
authors.affiliation: North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Association, Bismarck, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rising
mesh_terms: D032921:Consensus; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009658:North Dakota; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011050:Policy Making; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012956:Societies, Nursing
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: advanced nursing practice; political action; prescriptive privileges; professional nursing organizations; regulation of nursing practice; state legislation