Nurse Practitioners Pushing For Bill To Give Them More Responsibility

Some medical professionals are lobbying the legislature pushing for a law that would allow them to do more without a doctor's supervision.

Dozens of nurse practitioners came to the capitol to push for a bill that they already know won't pass this session. They went door to door talking with lawmakers, asking for changes to the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act to free them from doctor supervision. 

Right now, to treat patients and prescribe certain medications, nurse practitioners need a doctor's supervision. A bill to change that was not heard in the legislature this session.

Nurse practitioners say they're qualified to diagnose patients and prescribe meds; and fill a void in rural areas where there are few doctors.

Nurse practitioners say they're not giving up. They plan to push for the legislation again next session after some opposing lawmakers have been termed out.