Advanced Practice Nursing Scope of Practice Essay

Advanced Practice Nursing Scope of Practice - Essay Example The present malady also arises from the licensing system and odious licensure laws, which leaves a large gap between the Registered Medical Practitioners and other HCP, in terms of medical autonomy and work ethos. The profession of RMP has evolved in such a way that there is no difficulty in reconciling their clinical abilities with their legal authority. Therefore, there are no legal barriers for doctors to venture into medical areas that lie outside their medical domain, or field of study and training. There are no legal implications, only their self control and self knowledge may be the restraining factors. But this is not so in the case of other HCP, especially in the nursing profession. Since, on their own, they do not have legal authority to do certain actions relating to the welfare of the patients. They may not interpret patient clinical data or act independently on such data; (Practice Alerts & Guidelines. 2006). Till the recent past, even routine practices could only be per formed with the consent of, and under the supervision of attending doctors. The crux of the issue lies in the fact that they are not in a position to take medical decisions which are outside their legal scope and could only act in patients care and executing medical regimens prescribed by a licensed physician, (Practice Alerts & Guidelines. 2006). It may be argued that just as Doctors referred serious cases to specialists, nurses could be entrusted with the care and treatment of minor ailments, and serious ailments could be referred to registered doctors for treatment. Doctors feel that their medical school education and professional training could not be undertaken by other HCP, and only, they are best suited to treat patients, irrespective of the severity of the disease the patient is suffering from. The Licensing regime has, by far, been the strongest impediment in the way of reforms in the medical field, since a license alone could justify grant legal authority