Nursing Scope of Practice Issues in Public Health Emergencies

Over the past decade, preparedness efforts have increased in response to real and potential threats. One prominent issue is health professional's scope of practice-both as a potential limiting factor (state licensure limitations) and as a possible solution to health professional shortages during a public health emergency.This article provides an overview of nursing regulation during public health emergencies. Many nurses are quick to volunteer during an emergency; being prepared in advance will help the overall response effort.