National Nurse Practitioner Week November 8-14, 2015

FNPN wishes all our NP colleagues Happy Nurse Practitoner Week, Nov. 8-14, 2015

We are proud to recognize the talented, hardworking, caring and compassionate Nurse Practitioners here in the state of Florida. You are practicing in some of the most exciting and challenging times in health care in this country. We are facing a primary care crisis of epic proportions and Nurse Practitioners are well prepared to fill this vast need. You have the knowledge, skills and attitudes that allow you to work with individuals, families and communities to foster primary preventative and health promoting activities.

Unfortunately barriers exist that must be overcome so that we can help be the solution to America's healthcare crisis. We are working hard to bring down those barriers! We strongly feel this year will be a good one for NPs in Florida and are working hard to promote our Controlled Substance Prescribing bill currently in the legislator. 

One of the greatest challenges is public perception. Patients may not realize that the person treating them is an NP, or they may not understand the scope of practice and high level of medical care an NP can offer. Additionally, some states limit the NP scope of practice when it comes to prescribing controlled substances and may require that they work under some type of collaborative agreement with a physician.

"In many states, an NP's scope of practice is limited due to obsolete language in legislation and in some states there is pressure from the medical community to keep the scope limited," noted Jan Towers, Director of Health Policy, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. "We are working to get obsolete laws off the books so we can practice as we are prepared to practice."

It is so exciting to be an NP right now, as this may be the first time in history that everyone is looking at the profession. We need to stand up and accept this charge; showing the public and our professional colleagues what we can do when we are allowed to practice and to provide care to the fullest extent of our education and clinical training. So once again, celebrate the week by advocating for your profession and changing public perception. Let's show that we can be the solution to better health for Floridians and Americans.

For more information on nurse practitioners and National Nurse Practitioner Week, visit the AANP site.

Thank you for your support and advocacy of Nurse Practitioners.

The Florida Nurse Practitioner Network Board of Directors.