RALEIGH, N.C. — It’s National Nurses Week across the country, and in North Carolina some legislators and nurses in the state are keeping an eye on the SAVE Act. It’s not a new issue.

According to Rep. Donna McDowell White, “it's a bill that's been out there now for approximately 10 years.”

What You Need To Know

  • The SAVE Act would grant full practice authority to APRNs

  • Dozens of other states have expanded that right

  • Many physicians groups oppose the legislation

  • The bill is sponsored by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle

The SAVE Act would grant full practice authority to advanced practice registered nurses, and that’s a move that Sharon Pearce, a nurse anesthetist, said North Carolina would be far from groundbreaking if the state expands the authority.

“Over 40 states have full practice authority for nurse anesthetists in their state, and North Carolina is lagging behind in that,” Pearce said.

Under the current practice, there must be a supervising physician in practices.

McDowell White said in some cases the physician charges tens of thousands of dollars a year to be a part of the practice and only signs off on the practice twice a year.

“These physicians, who are allowing the nurses to practice, signature every year does not give that nurse any more credibility because the nurses got the education, they've got the practice setting, they practice every day,” she said.

The bill is one that advocates hope can make it across the line in the short session. It has broad bipartisan support, McDowell White said, with sponsors from both sides of the aisle.

Not everyone, however, is in support of the expanded rights.

The North Carolina Patient Safety Coalition’s website lists dozens of physician groups who oppose the legislation, including the N.C. Medical Society.

The coalition said the current law maximizes patient safety, and that eliminating the physicians from practices would “not increase access to health care.”

That’s one area where McDowell White and Juan Powe disagree with the coalition. Powe, a family nurse practitioner, said with last year’s Medicaid expansion this is the perfect time to pass the SAVE Act.

“In some rural areas, there are fewer providers. There are even fewer places for patients to go. By opening this up and passing the SAVE Act, it will allow more providers to be able to go into that space,” Powe said.

McDowell White said it’s not an issue she or other nurses are giving up on, and it’s one that the state needs.

“We don't need them going across the borders and working in other states, because they're just so disrespected in North Carolina,” she said.