Academic Journal
Nurse Practitioner Opioid Prescribing Authority: A Comparative Policy Analysis of New Zealand, United States, and Australia.
| Τίτλος: | Nurse Practitioner Opioid Prescribing Authority: A Comparative Policy Analysis of New Zealand, United States, and Australia. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Kyei EF; Capstone College of Nursing, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA., Kyei GK; College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA., Forson MM; Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA., Ansong R; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. |
| Πηγή: | Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing [J Nurs Scholarsh] 2026 Jul; Vol. 58 (4), pp. e70109. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Comparative Study |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Wiley Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 100911591 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1547-5069 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15276546 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Nurs Scholarsh Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Hoboken, NJ : Wiley Original Publication: Indianapolis, IN : Sigma Theta Tau International, 2000- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Analgesics, Opioid*/therapeutic use , Nurse Practitioners* , Health Policy* , Practice Patterns, Nurses'* , Drug Prescriptions*, New Zealand ; United States ; Humans ; Australia ; Non-Medical Prescribing |
| Περίληψη: | Aim: To examine nurse practitioner opioid prescribing authority across three countries, analyzing safety outcomes, workforce distribution patterns, access equity, and service to vulnerable populations using integrated nursing policy and patient-centered access frameworks. Design: Comparative policy analysis employing Russell and Fawcett's nursing policy framework overlaid on Levesque's access framework. Methods: We analyzed regulatory documents, national prescribing databases, and published literature from New Zealand, United States, and Australia. Systematic searches identified 14 studies meeting inclusion criteria. We synthesized evidence across four policy analysis levels: efficacy, effectiveness, equity, and social justice. Data collection occurred January through December 2024. Results: Evidence demonstrated safety and quality outcomes comparable to physician prescribing, with population-level prescribing decreases and no increase in overdose mortality. Nurse practitioners concentrated in rural areas at 34% compared to the 23% national average, with growth occurring during physician workforce decline. Patient panels showed 44% Medicaid coverage compared to 31% for physicians, with 88% versus 71% new Medicaid patient acceptance despite lower reimbursement. However, racial prescribing disparities persisted across all provider types, indicating systemic rather than individual-level determinants. Conclusion: Expanded prescriptive authority advanced multiple policy objectives while revealing distinctive nursing contributions beyond physician substitution. Workforce distribution and patient panel patterns reflected professional values translating into measurable practice serving vulnerable populations. Impact: Evidence does not support restrictive policies based on safety concerns. Findings position the nursing workforce as an essential solution for health equity goals, requiring regulatory reform combined with institutional barrier removal and continuing attention to systemic inequities. (© 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Nursing Scholarship published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Sigma Theta Tau International.) |
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| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Analgesics, Opioid) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260623 Date Completed: 20260623 Latest Revision: 20260813 |
| Update Code: | 20260813 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13288300 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/jnu.70109 |
| PMID: | 42334022 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1547-5069 |
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| DOI: | 10.1111/jnu.70109 |