Adult NP caring for children?

[gapeach427]

I just started my first NP job last week at an allergy/asthma office. From conversation and the interview, I was under the impression I would be caring for adults, or at least adolescents. Well, the physician is expecting me to care for children of all ages. While he says he'll sign off on all of my charts, there will definitely be times when I'm on my own and he's out of the office. No part of that sounds right to me. I'm going to call my state's (Indiana) board of nursing tomorrow.

What ages are ANPs allowed to care for in practice? Where did you find this info?

[mammac5]

The ANCC certification exam for ANP starts at age 13; I was told when I started my clinical rotations that I could see kids ages 12+.

I can't imagine that any state BON would be okay with an ANP seeing any child under adolescent age...it would be akin to an Internal Med physician seeing children. No no.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

It depends on your education. I'm an adult health CNS and can see adults over the age of 18. As a peds CNS, I can see birth to age 18. ACNPs can see pts above the age of 13.

I would bet for ANPs, its 16 or 18 and above. Don't get into trouble by seeing those outside your scope.

[gapeach427]

I'm only an ANP, no other specialties. When he mentioned that, red flags went up. I'm still on orientation and have not seen any patients on my own. Is there anything in writing I could refer to?

I'm going to be resigning from the position.

[mammac5]

Peach - I would definitely contact the Indiana BON and speak with a human being. Then you can go to the supervising doc and tell him/her that there was some misunderstanding about the population you are licensed to treat, and ask if changes can be made to your position. If not, resignation is a good solution to keep yourself out of trouble. Perhaps he/she will let you stay and see only your approved age group until you can find another job, since it was an honest misunderstanding.