Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice

Nurse practitioner scope of practice laws govern the autonomy nurse practitioners are given within their practice to treat patients. In some states, these laws limit autonomy by requiring nurse practitioners to collaborate with, or work under, the supervision of another health care provider. In others, nurse practitioners are given full practice authority that enables them to practice without colllaboration or supervision. 

This map identifies the variation in scope of practice laws, including whether nurse practitioners are provided full or limited practice authority, whether there is a transition to practice requirement before they are given full practice authority and what clinical activities they may conduct autonomously. The lists of activities and supervising providers included are not exhaustive, but instead are the most common and important classifications identifiable in the law across jurisdictions.

Download the CDC factsheet summarizing this data.

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