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I agree with you mm_mary73. In the state of Tennessee, a nurse practitioner CAN and DOES prescribe meds, order tests, etc.
As far as the title "Doctors think they rule the world"..... uh, nevermind.
Actually NO, THEY CANT,
Not without a Physician supervision
Tennessee:
Quote:
General authority to prescribe is evidenced by inclusion on the prescription of the prescriber's title, and as documented by state-issued APN certificate, including certificate of fitness to prescribe and identification number on file with state
All prescriptions must show collaborating physician's name
Authority to prescribe controlled substances includes Schedule II-V as outlined in the collaborating physician's supervisory rules and the prescriber's prescriptive formulary
I have NEVER encountered the types of situations with any of my physicians - EVER - and, I'm an "old" guy.
My doctors will recommend certain treatments or tests to be sure. But, ultimately, the decision to go through with them is entirely up to me.
No physician has ever "Forced" me into any procedure.
Also, if one of my Doctors recommends a test, say an MRI or treadmill stress test, and I agree, I've never had to wait more than a day or two (at the most) to get the test. Referrals to a specialist likewise - a day or two wait (same day recently).
I don't think I would go to that extreme OP
the majority of people will need them, regardless , sooner or later
but I understand how one may want to vent...
I didn't say anything about physician supervision. If you want to make it a tit for tat that is fine but the subject wasn't at hand. Supervision also wasn't in the previous comments I responded to. In our state though we do employ more NP's than PA's due to reimbursement, not ability.
Seems as though doctors are trying to provide education to sometimes unwilling , noon-compliant patients.
I don't know if my former (only because we moved out-of-state) doctor was unusual, but during one office visit, after previously mentioning several times she'd like me to quit smoking (and me thinking "yeah, yeah", she told me, I want you to quit smoking, and I want you to do it now. I'm going to enroll you in a smoking cessation program. Then she picked up the phone and enrolled me an eight week program sponsored by the American Lung Association and held at a nearby hospital.
Was this being overly aggressive on her part?
I don't know.
All I know is that thanks to her, fourteen years ago I became a non-smoker. I'll be forever grateful. All along I knew I should quit, and she had suggested that I do so before, but this time, her being pro-active and forceful--and supportive--got me to take action.
Maybe with some hard heads, like the way I used to be, a doctor needs to be stronger and not suggest, but take action as she did...
In other words, instead of saying "Would you like some literature...?' say instead "I want you to..." and then help commit the patient to positive action.
Doctors rule the world? If only that were the case! I see a fundamental misunderstanding of how health care really works in some of these posts. Today, doctors and other practitioners are held hostage to insurance companies, which makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for them to provide proper care to their patients.
I didn't say anything about physician supervision. If you want to make it a tit for tat that is fine but the subject wasn't at hand. Supervision also wasn't in the previous comments I responded to. In our state though we do employ more NP's than PA's due to reimbursement, not ability.
Have a good day.
I was just clarifying that NR can't practice (in Tennessee) without a doctors supervision. Meaning a NR can only prescribe or do orders with the authority of a doctor.
NR can prescribe med in all states, but each state limits this power differently, some of them have more power and others less.
So going to the other post that said to visit a NR, would not make since in most states (40 states), because they can't help you unless they work for a doctor.
In only 10 states a NR nurse can open an office and work as a sole Nurse Practitioner.
40% of Americans are now dying from heart and heart-related diseases. Many of these early deaths can be prevented by what we put in our mouths and how we exercise.
Medical folks really need to educate and emphasize healthy lifestyle changes...
Writing prescriptions isn't working at all...more and more of us are developing chronic, deadly diseases...
Trust me, Family doctors do advise these things. However, people do not listen. Also this advice is the reason why the OP doesn't like doctors. They tell you things you don't want to hear like; you are fat, you smoke too much, you need to exercise.
I was just clarifying that NR can't practice (in Tennessee) without a doctors supervision. Meaning a NR can only prescribe or do orders with the authority of a doctor.
NR can prescribe med in all states, but each state limits this power differently, some of them have more power and others less.
So going to the other post that said to visit a NR, would not make since in most states (40 states), because they can't help you unless they work for a doctor.
In only 10 states a NR nurse can open an office and work as a sole Nurse Practitioner.
Would people want to go to a less trained provider if given the choice? I rather have the best trained person when it comes to my health.
Would people want to go to a less trained provider if given the choice? I rather have the best trained person when it comes to my health.
I guess if it was cheaper yes.
But the program started in the 60's when small towns didn't have doctors, so this 10 states passed a law giving them more power if they worked in undeserved areas, that way people would get some sort of medical care.
And with they took undeserved area out of the picture and made it state wide.
The 10 states where a NP can prescribe without doctor supervision are:
Alaska (After 5 years under a doctor)
Arizona
Idaho
Iowa (Can't prescribe medication, but can open their own practice and prescribe physical therapy, lab work, etc)
Maine (The first 2 years they have to work with supervision)
Montana (A % of the nurse chart has to be reviewed by a Doctor)
New Hampshire
New Mexico
Oregon
Washington
In all other states, they can't prescribe without supervision and can't open a private office, but that doesn't stop some from prescribing illegally.
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