Slide 1: Title Slide
  • Title: Nebraska Nurse Practitioner (NP) Scope of Practice
  • Presented by: [Your Name]
  • Institution: Chamberlain University College of Nursing
  • Course: NR506NP: Healthcare Policy and Leadership
  • Instructor: Dr. Michelle Keating-Sibel
  • Date: March 29, 2020

Slide 2: Introduction

  • Overview:
    • This presentation will discuss the scope of practice for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in Nebraska (NE).
    • Focus on levels of independence, prescribing authority, limitations, and certification/education requirements.
    • Impact of Full Practice Authority (FPA) on patient access to care in rural areas.

Slide 3: Full Practice Authority in Nebraska

  • Key Legislation:
    • Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB 107 into law on March 5, 2015.
    • This legislation granted Full Practice Authority (FPA) to Nurse Practitioners in Nebraska (Sundermeier, 2015).
  • Definition:
    • According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), FPA allows NPs to evaluate patients, diagnose conditions, interpret diagnostic tests, initiate treatment plans, and prescribe medications independently (Dillon & Gary, 2017).

Slide 4: Level of Independence

  • Autonomy in Practice:
    • Nebraska NPs have full independence in their scope of practice under FPA.
    • They can provide care without physician oversight, particularly critical in rural and underserved areas.
  • Impact:
    • The independence of NPs has significantly improved patient access to care in rural regions of Nebraska.

Slide 5: Prescribing Authority

  • Full Prescriptive Authority:
    • NPs in Nebraska can prescribe both legend drugs and controlled substances as part of their licensure (American Medical Association, 2017).
  • Responsibility:
    • NPs must adhere to prescriptive rules and regulations and commit to ongoing pharmacotherapeutic education (Blair, 2018).

Slide 6: Limitations of Practice

  • Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Restrictions:
    • Unlike other states, Nebraska Medicaid does not authorize NPs to prescribe Durable Medical Equipment (DME) despite CMS guidelines (Nebraska Nurse Practitioners, n.d.).
  • Impact:
    • This restriction presents a barrier to accessing necessary home care equipment, particularly for underserved populations.

Slide 7: Certification and Education Requirements

  • Graduate-Level Education:
    • NPs must complete an approved graduate-level nursing or NP program, including 30 hours of pharmacotherapeutics education specific to Nebraska (DHHS, 2020).
  • National Certification:
    • After completing their education, NPs must pass a national certifying exam and maintain active board certification (DHHS, 2020).
  • Approved Certifying Bodies:
    • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
    • American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
    • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
    • National Certification Corporation (NCC)
    • Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)