This is part four (4) of a five (5) part series titled the “5 biggest prescription errors that nurse practitioners can make”. Today we are discussing prescribing drugs and/or devices that are not included in the collaborative practice agreement. Only under certain circumstances, as discussed below, may a nurse practitioner prescribe a drug or device that is not in the collaborative practice agreement.
The circumstances for which a nurse practitioner may prescribe a drug or device that is not included in the collaborative practice agreement (CPA) are as follows. The drug or device prescription can be issued only when a primary or back-up supervising physician gives a specific written or verbal order to prescribe a drug or device that is outside of the scope of the CPA. That written or verbal order must be before the prescription or order is issued by the nurse practitioner. The written or verbal order has to be entered into the patient record along with a notation. The notation must be on the specific order of a primary or secondary supervising physician and signed by the nurse practitioner and the physician.
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