Physicians and nurse practitioners are in the middle of a decisive "turf war" as a state task force attempts to define the scope of advanced practice registered nurses, The Tennessean reports.
Here's what you should know.
1. Tennessee is attempting to revise its "restrictive" scope of its practice law.
2. Nurses argue they can deliver care equivalent to that of a primary care provider, and that they could help lessen the impact felt by a regional physician shortage.
3. Physicians question if NPs could provide that level of care, and would prefer it stays in their scope.
4. The task force "has devolved into a fight between doctors and nurse practitioners."
5. Primary care doctor John Hale, MD, said, "Reluctantly I say no (we haven't made progress.) We've met twice and we're closer to the beginning than the end."
6. There is a projected shortage of 20,400 primary care providers by 2020.
7. NPs in Tennessee need a supervising physician to practice. That physician is expected to sign at least 20 percent of all patient charts in a month. They are considered primary care physicians, however they don't have full prescriptive authority.
8. Physician groups are concerned that NPs won't provide the same quality of care.
NPs referenced several studies which showed their care was comparable, and at times, their patient interaction was higher.
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