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For Immediate Release
March 25, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. –This morning, Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, Sen. Gale Adcock, D-Wake, and Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, along with Rep. Donna White, R-Johnston, Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, Rep. Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba, and Rep. Carla Cunningham, D-Mecklenburg, filed a familiar bill at the North Carolina General Assembly to define the practice of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs): S537/H514 APRN Definitions. This marks the sixth consecutive session that legislators have championed efforts to grant APRNs full practice authority.* Previous iterations of this same legislation have been known as the SAVE Act.
The primary goal of full practice authority is to remove outdated barriers that prevent APRNs from practicing to the full extent of their training and education. The bill would cut 1980s-era red tape and bring North Carolina in line with national standards recommended by the National Academy of Medicine1, 2, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing3, and numerous other bodies.
“Healthcare is one of the most important issues facing our state, and APRN full practice authority represents one of the easiest ways to quickly and efficiently improve access and cost while maintaining the quality of care that patients deserve,” said Tina C. Gordon, CEO of the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA). “Patients need North Carolina to maximize its APRNs. We’ve been dragging our feet on this for far too long. It’s past time.”
Research shows S537/H514 would save more than $650 million annually in healthcare spending, with the high end of estimates topping $6 billion per year.4 Importantly, these savings are primarily because of the increased access to high quality care; when their scopes of practice overlap, APRNs are consistently shown to provide care that is equal to or better than that of their physician colleagues.5
“I cannot think of many other bills that could save North Carolina this kind of money while actually improving the healthcare system. More than 25 other states have already passed APRN full practice authority – and it’s been at least 20 years in some of those states – so I’m tired of hearing all these disingenuous arguments suggesting we need to study the issue a little longer,” said Sen. Hise. “The medical lobby’s stalling tactics are only designed to run out the clock every legislative session, at the expense of patients who desperately need better access to quality care.”
Previous introductions of this same bill have garnered widespread bipartisan support, with hundreds of co-sponsors signing on during the past five legislative sessions. Additionally, full practice authority has been endorsed by a diverse group of organizations outside the nursing profession that includes patient advocacy groups, conservative think tanks, left-leaning justice groups, insurers, a large hospital system, and others.
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After a decade of debate, the only known opponent of APRN full practice authority is the physicians’ lobby.
During both the COVID pandemic and immediately after Helene devastated parts of western North Carolina, APRNs were granted emergency waivers to practice under rules similar to S537/H514. The North Carolina Board of Nursing reported no increase in complaints with the relaxed standards in either case, giving North Carolina two successful “test runs” of the proposed legislation. In 2023, Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), one of the four APRN groups, had some physician supervision requirements permanently removed as part of SB 206.
NCNA strongly encourages all legislators who are interested in improving access to quality care for their constituents to co-sponsor S537/H514.
* Note: previous versions of the bill were entitled the Modernize Nursing Practice Act (2015, 2017) and the SAVE Act (2019, 2021, 2023)
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209880/
2 https://nam.edu/publications/the-future-of-nursing-2020-2030/
3 https://www.ncsbn.org/nursing-regulation/practice/aprn.page
4 https://www.ncnurses.org/advocacy/legislative/save-act/savings-estimate-for-full-practice-authority/
5 https://x.com/NCNA/status/851789544831823873
6 https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2023/Bills/Senate/PDF/S20v5.pdf
MEDIA CONTACT
Chris Cowperthwaite, CAE, APR
Director of Communications & Outreach
(919) 821-4250 or chriscowperthwaite@ncnurses.org
ABOUT NCNA
As the leading professional organization for North Carolina’s registered nurses, we equip nurses at all stages to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare environment. NCNA helps keep North Carolina nurses on the cutting edge of nursing practice, policy, education, and more. Join us as we work to advance nursing and ensure high-quality healthcare for everyone.
Established in 1902, NCNA provides continuing education, networking and legislative advocacy for registered nurses throughout North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.ncnurses.org.
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