An Incremental Regulatory Approach to Implementing the APRN Consensus Model

In 2011, the North Dakota Board of Nursing (BON) became one of the first to implement the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) Model Rules to become fully aligned with the APRN Consensus Model. The process was successful due to the collaborative efforts of the BON and the North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Association (NDNPA).This achievement consummated more than 2 decades of work by the BON and other stakeholders to allow APRNs to work to their full scope of practice. This article describes the legislative approach used by the BON and the NDNPA and provides recommendations for states considering similar action.