Our goal is to obtain full practice authority for Maryland nurse practitioners (CNPs) by successfully passing a bill during the 2015 General Assembly.

The terms full practice authority, independence and autonomous practice are often used interchangeably and can be confusing. APRNs understand that they are part of the healthcare team and work in partnership with others on this team: physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and nurses.

The use of the word, independent, can be used to imply that this team approach is disregarded. APRNs know that this argument has no validity, and also understand the public can identify with the meaning of independence more easily than the complex concepts of full practice authority and autonomous practice.

Full practice authority, autonomous practice and independent practice mean that APRNs practice to the full potential of their education and training (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2010).

They also mean that APRNs are only under the authority of the Board of Nursing; can practice without the supervision of another member of the healthcare team; and do not need an official procedure stating their intention to collaborate with this team.