Allow Nurse Practitioners Independence, Editorial Urges
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that lawmakers should pass a bill (SB 491) that would give nurse practitioners authority to practice independently without having to seek a physician's signature for "simple, straightforward" medical decisions. The authors write, "[Physicians] worry that allowing nurse practitioners to operate independently would cause competition with primary care doctors and increase fragmentation of care. This is overwrought." The Senate may vote on the bill as early as Friday.
- "Editorial: Make Better use of Nurse Practitioners" (Sacramento Bee, 5/24).