Overcoming the Barriers to Developing Independent Nursing Practice Models

The lack of patient access to care is currently a significant problem in our health care system and is expected to markedly increase over the next twenty years.  This is likely due to physician shortages and a population explosion of newly insured patients with progressive and chronic illness. Nurse Practitioner led practices and programs may be a potential solution to access if NP students can be prepared to overcome the barriers to the development and implementation of such practices. The attendees of this symposium will be able to provide curricular content and experiential learning activities to prepare DNP/NP students to overcome the barriers to the development and implementation of these independent practice models of health care.  Specific emphasis will be on addressing legal, personal, and structural barriers.  Data will be provided from the presenter’s nationwide survey of over 700 practicing nurse practitioners related to the establishment of Nurse Practitioner Led Clinics. Curricular content incorporating these data will focus on barriers related to provider characteristics, policy initiatives, financial constraints, business planning, structural issues, and interprofessional collaboration.  This will enhance the ability of the NP to practice to the highest level of their preparation as identified in the IOM Report (2011) in order to provide access to patients.  Examples of experiential activities for identifying and overcoming potential barriers will be provided.