Improving Access
to Care

Nurses must be allowed to practice to the full extent of their education and training.

 

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.

SNAPSHOT: Top resources.

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.

  • State practice environment for nurse practitioners
  • State practice environment for certified nurse-midwives
  • NCSBN’s Consensus Model implementation status map
  • Number of nurse-led clinics in the United States
  • Percentage of U.S. Nurse-Led Clinics in Medically Underserved Areas

News:

  1. 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,  

  2. 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,  

  3. 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,  

  4. Giving Thanks

    The weeks before and after Thanksgiving are usually filled with grace and gratefulness. And so more

    Issues: Improving Access to Care,  


See More News Posts for
Improving Access to Care

Resources:

  1. 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,

  2. 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,

 

We’re building healthier communities through nursing. Stay up to date on news related to the Campaign for Action.