It is the position of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) that primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) can play a significant role in making retail-based clinics (also known as convenient care clinics) a viable health care option to patients who might not otherwise receive needed care in a timely manner. To do this, a number of standards must be met to assist the NP in maintaining the high quality of care that NPs provide. Multiple studies have demonstrated that NPs provide health care that is equal to, or superior to, that of physicians providing the same care for the same problems. Likewise, patient satisfaction ratings for NPs are found to be very high.i The combination of high-quality nursing and medical care provided by NPs is an effective model for care in retail-based clinics.
Recognizing that primary care NPs are advanced practice, licensed independent practitioners, the following standards should be maintained in retail-based clinics utilizing NPs as their primary providers of care:
The implementation of these standards will facilitate the provision of high-quality primary care services to patients seen by NPs in the retail-based setting.
Retail-based clinics are a potentially viable resource for the provision of necessary primary care services in many communities throughout the United States. In order to facilitate their functioning at the highest quality level, NPs must be involved in all aspects of forming and running these clinics.
i American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2013), Documentation of Quality of Nurse Practitioner Practice. Austin, Texas: American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
ii American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2013), Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners. Austin, Texas: American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
iii American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2013), Standards of Practice for Nurse Practitioners. Austin, Texas: American Association of Nurse Practitioners.