The South Carolina Medical Association is vehemently opposing a state bill that would grant advance-practice registered nurses full practice authority without physician oversight, according to Greenville Online.
Here are five things to know.
1. The proposed legislation would no longer require APRNs to work within 45 miles of a physician and allow them to write prescriptions, order tests and certify students as unable to attend school, among other gains of autonomy.
2. While nurses argue the bill would increase care access in the state, which suffers from a provider shortage, the SCMA argues the bill could put patients at risk. Last week, the organization urged its members to call legislators and voice their concerns regarding the bill.
"At SCMA we strongly feel that patient safety comes first and the curriculum of an APRN is not at the level of experience to practice independently," said Marshall Meadors, MD, former president of the SCMA, according to Greenville Online.
3. The South Carolina Nurses Association argues the bill would simply allow APRNs to practice at the level of their education.
"It's nothing mysterious," said Judith Thompson, CEO of the South Carolina Nurses Association, according to Greenville Online. "For an advance-practice degree, the minimum in South Carolina is a master's degree, and we're having more and more people at the doctoral level."
4. Currently, 22 other states have similar legislation already on the books, according to Greenville Online. Ms. Thompson told the publication her organization has been lobbying to change the practice for years.
"It makes no sense in a state like South Carolina, where you do not have adequate numbers of any kind of healthcare providers ... to deny persons with education, licensure and certification to be able to deliver certain kinds of health benefits to populations in need of care," said Ms. Thompson.
5. While Dr. Meadors told Greenville Online his group would support parts of the bill like the 45-mile limit, he described physician supervision as the "line in the sand" on which his group would not budge.
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