Nursing the Primary Care Shortage Back to
Health: How Expanding Nurse Practitioner Autonomy Can Safely and
Economically Meet the Growing Demand for Basic Health Care
This article first discusses the history and educational requirements of the Nurse Practitioner profession. It then discusses the policy reasons why Nurse Practitioners should, and do, play an important role in the country\u27s health care delivery system. The core of the article deals with the legal issues surrounding the NP\u27s scope of practice including the need for collaborative agreements with physicians, authority to prescribe drugs, and identification. Finally the article discusses how NPs fit into the health insurance scheme and their liability for malpractice
