Expanding Nurses’ Scope of Practice Could Mitigate Impending Primary Care Physician Shortage
The effects of a looming shortage of primary care physicians could be mitigated by expanding registered nurses' roles in outpatient settings to help manage patients with chronic diseases, according to a new analysis published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers found that when compared with patients under typical care, those under RN-managed care for their chronic conditions had better blood sugar management, slightly lower blood pressure levels and larger decreases in their LDL and total cholesterol levels.
- "Nurses Could Manage Chronic Care on Doctors' Orders" (Lehman, Reuters, 7/15).