Lynne M. Buchanan, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing in UNMC’s College of Nursing, recently was appointed to serve on the Board of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses for a four-year term. The State Board of Health, Nebraska Health and Human Services System appointed her.
“I was motivated to be a part of this advisory board because I think we are in a critical state in healthcare, particularly in relation to advanced practice nursing,” said Dr. Buchanan, who also is a certified adult nurse practitioner. “We really need advanced practice nurses in the community and this board establishes standards for practice and ensures they are followed.”
The practice of advanced practice nurses includes health promotion, health supervision, illness prevention and diagnosis, treatment and management of common health problems and chronic conditions. They prescribe therapeutic measures and medications and establish collaborative, consultative, and referral networks as appropriate with other health care professionals.
The board’s role
The board establishes standards for integrated practice agreements between advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and collaborating physicians, monitors scope of practice by APRNs and advises the board of nursing in matters pertaining to the scope of practice. It also approves rules and regulations with the Board of Nursing to implement the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Act for adoption and promulgation.
The board consists of five licensed advanced practice registered nurses, five Nebraska physicians, three consumers, and one pharmacist.
“My biggest motivation for wanting to serve on the advisory board was for patient safety and welfare,” she said. “I have been in the nursing profession for over 20 years and a lot of that time has been spent in advanced practice. I feel I have a breadth and depth of clinical knowledge. I really love nursing and taking care of patients.”
Her background
Dr. Buchanan earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing from the UNMC College of Nursing in 1979 and 1983 respectively. In 1989, she earned a doctorate in clinical therapeutics at the University of Washington School of Nursing and in 2000 earned a post-masters certificate from the College of Nursing Adult Health and Illness Nurse Practitioner Program.
Dr. Buchanan currently is a board member of the Nebraska Nurse Practitioners, and serves as treasurer. She also works with a coalition that is evaluating current model nurse practice acts for advanced practice nurses.
Her research and practice is focused on tobacco dependency.