Prescriptive authority for advanced nurse practitioners: a blue-print for action.

The pursuit of prescriptive authority is a priority on the legislative agenda of nurse practitioners nationwide. This article describes the legal avenues that have been used by nurse practitioners in 35 states to obtain prescriptive authority. Because prescriptive authority is state regulated, the legislative process for obtaining prescriptive authority differs from state to state. A step by step outline is provided to guide the nurse practitioner through the legislative process from the initial planning stages to the time when a bill is introduced to the state legislature and the follow through until it becomes law.