A giant leap in the development of nurse practitioners in Taiwan: From statute to regulation

Background and purpose: The purpose of the article is to clarify and describe nurse practitioner (NP) scope-of-practice regulations, including the process of establishing the regulations, and the concepts of supervision, collaboration, and protocol as well as to illustrate the positive impact of NPs in Taiwan. Methods: A literature review was conducted to understand physician involvement, NP scope of practice, and written practice protocol. A simultaneous review of authoritative regulations, related to local statutes and regulations in the United States, was conducted. Conclusions: After the Legislative Yuan approved an amendment of NP scope of practice on August 5, 2014, NPs can practice legally, with statute protection. These scope-of-practice regulations, developed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the concept of physician supervision and written practice protocol represent a significant advance for NPs in Taiwan. Implications for practice: We believe that establishing NP scope-of-practice regulations can result in the optimal development of this new role and improve quality of care. By sharing our milestones, from statute to regulations of the NP scope of practice, other countries that are in the process of developing the NP role can draw on our experience to establish their local regulations.