Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License Defense Attorney in Kansas and Missouri
- Are you being investigated???
- Remember, everything you say can and will be used against you.
- Call Sanger Law Office BEFORE you contact your licensing Board.
Advanced practice registered nurses, or APRNs, were once a rarity in the American healthcare system, but are now widely recognized as medical arts practitioners who are a cost-effectiveyet a highly competent alternative to a physician in many circumstances. An APRN is any registered nurse who holds at least a Master’s Degree in Nursing but also receivesspecialized training in any number of disciplines. Before being admitted to practice, the APRN must pass an examination required of their chosen concentration and become nationally certified. All APRNs must be registered nurses first.
One of the most common designations for an APRN in practice today is a Nurse Practitioner or NP. Many medical practices have included NPs in their offices. Nurse anesthetists,certifiedmidwives, and clinical nurses all fall under the rubric of an APRN.
Many APRNs, but more commonly NPs, have collaborative practice arrangements with Medical Doctors (M.D.) and Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O). Midwives and nurse anesthetiststypically work in hospital settings but can also have offices and work in surgical clinics, depending on the arrangement. All APRNs must practice under the supervision of an M.D. or D.O. who is a “responsible physician.”
APRNs work in a variety of medical settings such as in emergency rooms, independent medical practices, healthcare clinics, urgent care practices, and other specialized medical facilities. Nurse practitioners, in particular, take on the role of a primary care physician. Nurse practitioners work closely with patients on a one-on-one basis. They have authority to prescribe medication, administer treatment modalities, and perform other tasks consistent with the care required by the patient’s condition at the time of presentation.NPs can order diagnostic testing such as x-rays and blood tests.
However, some state laws and regulations can limit the types of medication APRNs are allowed to dispense. In Kansas, for example, ARPNs must follow a written protocol established by the supervising physician and must also register with the DEA or Drug Enforcement Administration.Missouri’s regulations are quite similar. Additionally, Missouri’s regulations require that the collaborating physician clearly set out in writing the types of drugs that the APRN may prescribe.
Missouri’s APRN regulations were amended over the last several years. There is no mandate that the collaborating physicianphysically ispresent with the ARPN, most notably the nurse practitionerwhen treating a patient and prescribing medication. Initially, Missouri allowed a collaborating physician to be as far away as 30 miles. Now, the collaborating physician can be a maximum of 75 miles away from the attending nurse practitioner.
Rely On Experience If You Face Allegations of Unprofessional Conduct In Kansas Or Missouri
If you have received a complaint or if you are being investigated by the state board of nursing in Kansas or Missouri, speak with Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License Defense Attorney Danielle Sanger immediately. Attorney Sanger possesses vast experience in representing healthcare professionals.
Call Attorney Sanger today at 785-979-4353 (Kansas) or 816-520-8040 (Missouri) for your free and confidential consultation and learn your rights and responsibilities if you are a nurse facing professional discipline.
