The prescribing autonomy of nurse practitioners (NPs) remains a contentious issue in modern healthcare. Due to differences in standards for the subject matter in different states, compliance with prescriptive autonomy standards may appear to be complicated (Jiao, Murimi, Stafford, Mojtabai, & Alexander, 2018). While the current standards for prescriptive authority in Illinois might seem rather rigid, other states such as New York have even tighter regulations, which are defined by the specifics of the local communities needs. Therefore, complying with these standards and encouraging them is essential for the consistent quality of care.
The current legal standards for NP prescriptive authority in Illinois are managed by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. According to the latter, under a “written collaborative agreement,” a health practitioner can delegate the authority of prescribing medications to an advanced practice nurse (APN) (Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, 2018, para. 1). Specifically, bill 225 ILCS 65/65-40 states that a nurse must possess a “mid-level practitioner controlled substance license” in order to receive the prescriptive authority (Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, 2018, para. 3).
The described regulations seem to deviate from the standard principles set in other states. Specifically, the New York Nursing Board does not allow NPs to prescribe medication to patients (New York State Education Department, 2019). Therefore, the standards set in Illinois can be seen as rather lenient toward NPS.
In Illinois, the process of obtaining the license to prescribe medications is quite basic for an NP. Obtaining the license that allows an NP to prescribe controlled substances implies receiving a notice filed by a physician or a pediatrician (Chesney & Duderstadt, 2017).
Afterward, the note will be considered and transferred through the Division and the Prescription Monitoring Program before the board decides to grant an NP permission for a prescription (Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, 2018). The procedure in question requires DEA registration and permission from a health practitioner for an NP in New York (New York Department of Health, 2019). The differences in the process of granting licensure are defined by the specifics of local healthcare providers and allow for effective patient care.
References
Chesney, M. L., & Duderstadt, K. G. (2017). States’ progress toward nurse practitioner full practice authority: Contemporary challenges and strategies. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 31(6), 724-728. Web.
Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. (2018). Prescriptive authority. Web.
Jiao, S., Murimi, I. B., Stafford, R. S., Mojtabai, R., & Alexander, G. C. (2018). Quality of prescribing by physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in the United States. Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy, 38(4), 417-427. Web.
New York Department of Health. (2019). Licensing and certification. Web.
New York State Education Department. (2019). Nursing. Practice information: Frequently asked practice questions. Web.