Nurses and physicians disagree on whether to support an Ohio bill that would allow advanced practice registered nurses to practice independently of physicians, according to The Center Square.
Ohio currently requires that APRNs collaborate with doctors to practice medicine in their field of specialization. Supporters of the bill, backed by the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses, say lifting the restriction will cut healthcare costs and solve nursing shortages, especially in rural areas.
"Eight of the top 10 states for healthcare allow NPs to practice autonomously," Joscelyn Greaves, CRNP, president of the OAAPN, told The Center Square. She said research has shown nurses can safely practice medicine on their own.
In contrast, the bill's critics argue deregulation could put patients at risk and say the bill would be ineffective at solving the problems it seeks to remedy.
"Without question, APRNs play a vital role as part of a healthcare team in the delivery of medical services," Reginald Fields, a spokesperson for the Ohio State Medical Association, told The Center Square. "But that team-based approach must continue to be led by a physician who has an unmatched level of medical education, training and experience."