Nurse practitioners will still need to collaborate with physicians to practice in Nebraska, after the governor vetoed a bill that would have changed state regulations.
Gov. Dave Heineman on Tuesday vetoed the bill, which removed the requirement that nurses have an integrated practice agreement with a collaborating physician in order to practice in Nebraska. In the final vote, legislators had approved the measure unanimously.
Heineman says in the future there will be a shift toward additional independence for nurse practitioners, but the option provided by the bill went too far, too quickly.
Heineman and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Acierno expressed concern about patient safety in the governor's veto letter.
Lawmakers adjourned last week, so they cannot try to override the governor's veto.
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