Goal and Impact
State laws and federal policies are among factors that keep nurses from contributing all they can to America’s health needs and wellness. The Campaign for Action is pushing for changes that would allow nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Lifting restrictions means that more Americans will have better access to high-quality, affordable health care when and where they need it, including in rural and other underserved areas of the country. Prioritizing access for all is essential to achieving health equity.
Progress
Since the Campaign began, 14 states have increased consumers’ access to care by removing legal barriers that prevented nurse practitioners from providing care to the full extent of their education and training, and 15 states have made improvements. Now, 97 million people in 27 states and the District of Columbia have better access to care.
This graph is a part of the Campaign for Action Dashboard, a series of charts and graphs that show goals by which the Campaign evaluates its efforts to implement recommendations in the Institute of Medicine’s The Future of Nursing, Leading Change, Advancing Health.
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State practice environment for nurse practitioners
*Scroll to right if graphic is too large to view in full on your viewport.
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State practice environment for certified nurse-midwives
*Scroll to right if graphic is too large to view in full on your viewport. Note: The map below is current as of April 2022. Visit the American College of Nurse-Midwives website for the most recent version.
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NCSBN’s Consensus Model implementation status map
*Scroll to right if graphic is too large to view in full on your viewport.
Note: The map below is current as of August 2021
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Number of nurse-led clinics in the United States
*Scroll to right if graphic is too large to view in full on your viewport.National Nursing Centers Consortium
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Percentage of U.S. Nurse-Led Clinics in Medically Underserved Areas
*Scroll to right if graphic is too large to view in full on your viewport.National Nursing Centers Consortium; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
News:
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Kansas Joins States Offering Consumers Improved Access Care
Kansas’ approximately 3 million residents will soon have direct access to primary care from more
Issues: Improving Access to Care, Locations: Kansas,
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New York Increases People’s Access to Nurse-Provided Care
New York’s more than 20 million residents will now have direct access to primary health care from nurse practitioners. On April 9, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the state budget into law, and it included a provision that secured improved health care access for residents in the state. more
Issues: Improving Access to Care, Locations: New York,
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Update: More States Improved Patients’ Access to Nurses in 2021
Lifting restrictions on the care nurses can provide gives more Americans better access to more
Issues: Improving Access to Care,
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Giving Thanks
The weeks before and after Thanksgiving are usually filled with grace and gratefulness. And so more
Issues: Improving Access to Care,
Resources:
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State practice environment for nurse practitioners
Mar 03, 2023
Nurse practice laws and regulations are specific to each state. This interactive map from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) provides licensure and regulatory requirements, as well as practice environment details, for nurse practitioners in all 50 states and more
Issues: Improving Access to Care, Tools & Tips: Dashboard Indicators, Location: National,
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State Progress in Removing Barriers to Practice and Care
Mar 03, 2023
Since the Campaign began, 14 states (Utah–2023, Kansas–2022, New York–2022, Delaware–2021, Massachusetts–2020, South Dakota–2017, Maryland–2015, Nebraska–2015, Minnesota–2014, Connecticut–2014, Nevada–2013, Rhode Island–2013, North Dakota–2011, and more
Issues: Improving Access to Care, Location: National,