The Trump administration’s bid to revitalize rural health care includes expanded freedom for nurse practitioners… something the Palmetto State has thus far refused to embrace. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training and education and competency in clinical practice settings. “Rural health depends on people,” Dr. Oz stated. “States can recruit and retain professionals by letting pharmacists and nurse practitioners expand their roles.”In fact, states which refuse to grant nurse practitioners “full practice authority” – i.e. While complaining about barriers to “physician independence” – and lamenting “physician burnout” – the SCMA’s agenda is clearly disinclined to allow nurse practitioners the expanded role they seek.