In May, Ohio legislators introduced House Bill 2016, which enables practice registered nurses to work independently from physicians, according to The Chronicle-Telegram.
Here are five key notes:
1. Nurses with the necessary certification have the ability to work with any health professional, allowing advanced nurses to fill jobs in rural areas in Ohio.
2. Practice registered nurses can prescribe medication, order tests and perform certain procedures. These nurses may serve as a possible solution to the looming physician shortage, with the Association of American Medical Colleges projecting the United States will have 90,000 fewer physicians than the population demands in 10 years.
3. In the United States, 40 percent of states and the District of Columbia allow advanced nurses to practice as well as prescribe medication without regulated supervision agreements.
4. Opponents of the bill believe advanced nurses are crucial in patient care, but claim they do not have nearly the same education and training as physicians and should not practice without supervision.
5. Those in favor of the bill are holding events throughout Ohio to gain support for the legislation.
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