Recent legislation passed in Minnesota paved the way for the April 6 launch of the University of Minnesota Health Nurse Practitioners Clinic in Minneapolis, an entirely nurse-led primary care clinic.
The law granted nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists and nurse anesthetists practice authority to help alleviate the growing physician shortage. At the clinic, nurses will be able to provide basic primary care to Minneapolis' growing community, and refer complex cases to specialists at the U of M. The clinic will also serve as a training site for clinical pharmacists, undergraduate nursing students and other primary care providers.
"This is an all-hands-on-deck moment in health care. We are seeing growing numbers of nurses leading, delivering and coordinating care. They're on the frontlines treating chronic conditions, diagnosing common problems and educating patients," said Brooks Jackson, dean of the U of M Medical School, in a statement. "Our University of Minnesota Health Nurse Practitioners Clinic is the latest example of how we're evolving to this new care model."
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