Professional Advocacy

We understand how difficult it is to keep track of the legislative and policy changes in Arizona and Washington D.C. So let us do the work for you!

The Arizona Nurses Association is the leading voice at the Arizona legislature for nursing professionals and patients. We work hard every day to ensure that elected officials at all levels of government understand how their decisions may impact the nursing profession.

AzNA Advocacy on Behalf of NPs and other APRNs

Downloadable PDF HERE

For 45 years the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) has successfully lobbied for changes in statutes and rules which have enlarged the scope of practice for nurse practitioners and other APRNs and enhanced their standing in the healthcare community. In addition to pursuing advocacy activities related to the AzNA’s Legislative Agenda (which includes nursing education, public health and access to the care) lobbying on behalf of APRN-related legislation normally represents 20-75% of the lobbying program depending on the year. Outlined below is a listing of legislation AzNA successfully pursued in Arizona.


1974	· Statute defined Nurse Practitioner in an extended role. Audrey Rath, RN, MSN, NP, practice consultant for the AZ State Board of Nursing was instrumental in developing the language for APRN rules. The Audrey Rath scholarship is awarded annually by AZNPC, an AzNA Chapter.
1982	· Defined and protected the title “Registered Nurse Practitioner”
	· Removed language that limited prescribing and dispensing drugs
1990	· Updated 3rd party reimbursement law to include certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified nurse anesthetists.
1992	· Removal of physician board approval of nursing practice and NP prescribing rules
1993	· Authorization of nurse practitioners as primary care providers in the AHCCCS system
	· Authorization for the Board of Nursing to certify Clinical Nurse Specialists
1995	· Authorization for Board of Nursing (not the medical profession) to determine additional acts of professional nursing and the meaning of collaboration requirements
2001	· Extension to 4 years, loan repayment program for underserved areas including Nurse Practitioners
2002	· Changed definition of NP to conform to national standards
	· Allowed issuance of temporary NP certificate
	· Removed NP requirement for consultation by MD or DO
	· Added Clinical Nurse Specialists to nurse practice act
2003	· Creation of protection against retaliatory action by a health care institution when a health care professional reports violations of professional standards or threats to patients
2004	· Amendment of Vital Records statutes to authorize properly educated Nurse Practitioners to sign death certificates
2005	· Added enhanced criteria for testifying experts in malpractice cases
2006	· Prevented expansion of scope for non-nurse midwives
2007	· Nurse Practitioner (80-page) Omnibus Bill-Amendment of 45 statutes to extend the statutory duties limited to physicians to nurse practitioners. These changes extended over 12 subjects of the Arizona Revised Statutes and included: authority to complete pre-adoption certificates, performing physical and immunization requirements for students and completing certifications for insurance purposes, jury duty and handicapped plates.
2008	· Added APRN with experience as an infection control practitioner to Infection Prevention Control Advisory Committee
2009	· Included prescribing APRN to Immunizations and Vaccines Advisory Committee to recommend protocols and education requirements for pharmacists administering immunizations
2010	· Expanded the statutory role of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners in court-ordered treatment and evaluation
2011	· Included NPs as a provider authorized to enter into protocol-based drug therapy agreements with pharmacists
2012	· Expansion of scope of CRNA to include issuance of medication orders, ordering and evaluating diagnostic tests and preparing anesthesia plans
2013	· Expansion of Medicaid to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
2014	· Added NP to state-wide Vaccine Study Committee
2015	· Included NP authorization to provide opiate antagonist order for EMT’s
	· Increased potential loan repayment amounts for Medically Underserved Area providers, including NPs
2016	· Amended statutes to authorize NPs to prescribe and dispense opioid antagonists to at risk individuals
2017	· Created separate statutory titles for NPs and Nurse Midwives; removed “collaboration” from practice statutes
	· Enlarged CRNA prescribing authority to assure DEA numbers
2018	· Added NPs with advanced pain certification as medical directors at pain clinics
	· Added NPs to list of prescribers who may issue epinephrine standing orders for schools
2019	· Expansion of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)scope - granted prescriptive authority
	· Added NPs to list of providers allowed to contract with patients for services outside of insurance coverage
	· Included NPs in exemption for certain dispensaries or first aid stations in a business when supervised by physician or NP (Related to Pain Management Clinics)
	· Added CNM to Advisory Committee on Maternal Fatalities and Morbidity

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Professional Advocacy