Prescribing differences for PA and FNP NP

[bennyhanna]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm sure there are many PAs and/or RN-FNP, or NPs or other Master's level healthcare providers in this forum.

Can anyone tell me the prescribing differences between Physician Assistants and Nurse Practicioners?

Why, in some states like Colorado, can NPs open their own practice without a physician (physically present, but I assume they still have medical direction?), but PAs cannot?

And, I'm also confused about Nurse Anesthestisists... I recall reading something on the JAMA web-site about Anesthesiologists being angry about losing money, but yet there not being enough anesthesiologists. It said something along the lines of Congress approving NAs to bill on their own. Does this mean for NA's that they practice under their own supervision, with no medical director?

Are their other fields of medicine, including NA, RN/FNP, PA, where the master's level of education can practice independant medicine? (Not including Chiropractors of course).

I'm planning on going to PA or MD school, and my wife is going to FNP school. I have a brother-in-law who is a PA, and being an EMT for several years, I know the logistics of it all can be confusing from state to state.

PLEASE KEEP RESPONSES FACTUAL AND NON-HEATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hospPA]

Without getting "heated", FNP independence is a sort of "pseudo" independence in general. Most states require some sort of supervision, although the powerful nursing lobby likes it to be called collaboration.
Bottom line, you can practice medicine fairly autonomously being a PA or an FNP. There are differences in the training, but you didn't really ask about that. There are many threads, as well as many posts from me addressing this "heated" issue. I have my views about this, and you will see them in my previous posts.
I do not know of any other masters level programs that allow you to practice medicine independently.
The laws vary from state to state. You would have to check with the state you are considering. In CA and NC for instance, PA's are nearly independent. In states like OH and IL, they are quite restricted.
Pat

 

[deleted6669]

pat is entirely correct. some states love pa's and hate np's and some states love np's and hate pa's. the state laws reflect this. pa's have prescriptive authority in 48 states( everywhere except ohio and indiana and these will probably come around soon as well). states in which pa's have full sch 2-5 dea authority( same as md/do) tend to be the better practice environments.
Where Physician Assistants Are Authorized To Prescribe
Jurisdiction Rx
Status Restrictions Controlled Substances
Alabama Rx Formulary
Alaska Rx Sch. III-V
Arizona Rx Sch. II-III limited to 14-day supply with board prescribing certification
(72-hrs. without);

Sch.IV-V not more than 5 times in 6-month period per patient
Arkansas Rx Sch. III-V
California Rx PAs may write "drug orders" which, for the purposes of DEA registration, meet the federal definition of a prescription. Sch. II-V
Colorado Rx Sch. II-V
Connecticut Rx Sch. IV-V; Sch. II-III in hosp, LTC facilities, and some EDs
Delaware Rx Sch. II-V
District of Columbia Rx
Florida Rx Formulary of prohibited drugs
Georgia Rx Formulary Sch. III-V
Guam Rx Sch. III-V
Hawaii Rx Sch. III-V
Idaho Rx Sch. II-V
Illinois Rx Sch. III-V
Indiana
Iowa Rx Sch. III-V; Sch. II (except stimulants and depressants)
Kansas Rx Sch. II-V
Kentucky Rx
Louisiana Rx Sch. III-V
Maine Rx Sch. III-V (Board may approve Sch.II for individual PAs)
Maryland Rx Sch. II-V
Massachusetts Rx Sch. II-V
Michigan Rx Sch. III-V; Sch. II (7-day supply) as discharge meds
Minnesota Rx Formulary Sch. II-V
Mississippi Rx Sch. II-V
Missouri Rx
Montana Rx Sch. II-V (Sch. II limited to 34-day supply)
Nebraska Rx Sch. II-V (Sch. II limited to 72-hr supply)
Nevada Rx Sch. II-V
New Hampshire Rx Sch. II-V
New Jersey Rx
New Mexico Rx Formulary Sch. II-V
New York Rx Sch. III-V
North Carolina Rx Sch. II-V (Sch. II-III limited to 30-day supply)
North Dakota Rx Sch. III-V
Ohio
Oklahoma Rx Formulary Sch. III-V
Oregon Rx Sch. II-V
Pennsylvania Rx Formulary Sch. III-V. Limited to 30-day supply unless for chronic condition
Rhode Island Rx Sch. II-V
South Carolina Rx Formulary Sch. V
South Dakota Rx Sch. II-V (Sch. II limited to 48-hr supply)
Tennessee Rx Sch. II-V
Texas Rx In specified practice sites Sch. III-V (limited to 30-day supply)
Utah Rx Sch. II-V
Vermont Rx Formulary Sch. II-V
Virginia Rx Sch. III-V
Washington Rx Sch. II-V
West Virginia Rx Formulary Sch. III-V (Sch. III limited to 72-hr supply)
Wisconsin Rx Sch. II-V
Wyoming Rx Sch. II-V
10/18/04

DEA Registration
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has a registration category specifically for physician assistants and other so-called “midlevel practitioners” authorized by state law or regulation to prescribe controlled substances. For more information or to obtain a registration application, contact the DEA Registration Unit at 800/882-9539.