Delaware's Pathway to Achieving APRN Consensus

Delaware became the first Mid-Atlantic State to implement the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Consensus Model, a framework that established standards for uniform APRN regulation. Delaware's success was a result of the efforts of the Advanced Practice Committee of the Delaware Board of Nursing, composed of 14 APRNs representing the four advanced practice roles, the executive director of the board of nursing, and the efforts of numerous Consensus Model stakeholders. This noteworthy achievement concluded 4 years of concentrated work between the Advanced Practice Committee and other key stakeholders and permits APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education and training. This article delineates the grassroots efforts, legislative activities, and strategic approaches instrumental in the process, and it provides recommendations for other states forging their pathways to achieving APRN Consensus Model implementation.