Identifying and Removing Barriers to Practice for Nebraska Nurse Practitioners

Abstract

More than 171,000 Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in the U.S. provide health care services. Despite a 40-year history of providing safe and effective care, 32 states limit NP scope of practice, including Nebraska. The Affordable Care Act will provide an additional 30 million Americans health care coverage in 2014. Demand for health care services will increase while supply of health care providers will decrease. NPs can increase access to care, especially in rural areas. Survey results describing Nebraska NP barriers will help inform stakeholders, including policy makers, health care leaders and providers to improve utilization of NPs in Nebraska’s workforce.