The IOM issued The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which called for the removal of laws, regulations and policies that prevent APRNs from providing the full scope of health care services they are educated and trained to provide. A growing body of research suggests that in states where APRNs enjoy full practice authority, the quality of care they deliver compares to the level of care provided in states that limit independent practice. Yet despite notable progress, much work remains.

Expressions of public and private sector support for barrier removal, a growing body of research, the passage of favorable laws, and recent changes in regulation all signal progress toward achieving full practice authority for APRNs, but challenges remain.

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