Local nurse practitioners among first granted full practice authority
Dr. Emma Murray, an assistant professor of advanced nursing at UTHSC, has been advocating for a new law to be passed in Tennessee that will allow nurse practitioners practice to their fullest extent without supervision. (Houston Cofield/Special To The Daily Memphian)
Arkansas is the first state in the Southeast to allow qualified nurse practitioners practice independently, increasing access to health care in rural areas and alleviating pressure on Memphis area hospitals and clinics, which take in overflow.
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UTHSC Dr. Emma Murray Dr. Julia Ponder independent practice nurse practitioner Arkansas provider shortageAisling Mäki
Aisling Mäki covers health care, banking and finance, technology and professions. After launching her career in news two decades ago, she worked in public relations for almost a decade before returning to journalism in 2022.
As a health care reporter, she’s collaborated with The Carter Center, earned awards from the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists and won a 2024 Tennessee Press Association first-place prize for her series on discrepancies in Shelby County life expectancy by ZIP code.
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