Advocacy - Lab Advocate
AACC has raised serious questions about a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposal that would expand the scope of practice for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to include supervising VA clinical laboratories and performing laboratory testing. In a May 25 proposed rule, the VA proposed that certified nurse practitioners (CNPs), within their network, would have the authority to provide a number of services, including: “order, perform, supervise, and interpret laboratory” tests. CNPs can already order and interpret tests, but this proposal would extend that authority to actual clinical operations.
Although AACC agrees that nurse practitioners are invaluable members of the healthcare team, their education and training covers a breadth of medical disciplines and therefore does not delve into the depths of scientific concepts underlying clinical laboratory testing. Permitting CNPs to serve in a supervisory capacity or as testing personnel, without first assuring they have the requisite experience, training and skills, could lead to unnecessary medical errors that may jeopardize patient care. AACC recommends that nurses not be granted these additional responsibilities unless they meet the current CLIA personnel requirements.