Purpose
Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) play an important role in diagnosing and treating patients in the primary care setting. Nurse Practitioner laws and regulations as they relate to prescriptive authority are specific to each state. Understanding the regulations for Nurse Practitioner prescribing is essential. The purpose of the activity is to discuss the role of the Nurse Practitioner as a prescriber across the United States.
Activity Learning Outcomes
Through this discussion, the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Identify & discuss NP prescribing laws in select US states (CO 6)
Requirements:
Respond to the following:
- Describe the importance of knowing the specific laws in your state pertaining to NP prescribing and support your statement with at least 1 scholarly reference*
- Discuss NP practice in your current home state, being sure to address:
- Level of NP prescribing autonomy
- Specific laws related to NP prescribing
- Process of obtaining prescriptive authority and requirements for renewal
- Include a reference for your research^
- Compare and contrast the same criteria as identified in #2 with one other state (besides your own) of your choice.
ANSWER:
A nurse practitioner (NP) should understand the laws on prescribing implemented in their state to determine the type of medication they can (or cannot) administer. NP prescription laws outline the drugs and under what circumstances an NP can administer them. Understanding the laws will also help an NP determine the dosage, considering some states restrict NP to prescribing medication for not more than seven days (Park et al., 2018). Besides, an NP will know when to exercise the prescription authority and the limits therein (Park et al., 2018). That way, an NP will act contrary to the existing laws and policies by the Board of Nursing (BON).
NP practice is subject to guidelines by continue reading …