By Karen Loschiavo and Luige del Puerto | Arizona Capitol Times
After a contentious hearing that lasted more than five hours Monday, the Senate and House’s health committees approved a proposal to expand the scope of practice of advanced practice nurses and allow them to have, in specific instances, the same privileges as physicians.
The hearing was only the first leg of what’s expected to be a heated debate next year, when nurses will seek changes to the law that govern their profession.
Some advanced nurses, who have graduate degrees, already have the ability to diagnose patients and prescribe medication, but they argue that they should be allowed to fully practice their craft based on their education and training.
